Matilda (Tilly)
Sugar Glider
(Petaurus breviceps)
About:
Small marsupials with a shiny grey-silver coat and dark stripe that extends from the middle of the head to the mid-back region. Approx. 40 cm long from nose to tail and weigh just 150g. Gliding membrane extends from their wrist to their ankle.
Tully
Sugar Glider
(Petaurus breviceps)
About:
Diet comprises insects, nectar, gums of wattle and eucalyptus trees, pollen and sap. Considered Least Concern in QLD and by the IUCN. Major threats are from feral predators (cats, foxes and dogs) and from habitat clearing and fragmentation.
Paola and Pedro
Regent Parrot
(Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides)
About:
Slim, medium-sized, fast flying, long-tailed, yellow or green parrot with contrasting blue-black wings and tail. Length approx. 37 – 42 cm; weight approx. 160 – 190 g. Regent Parrots are confined to the semi-arid interior of SE Australia in the Lower Murray-Darling basin region of Vic, NSW and SA). Nationally threatened species and listed under the EPBC Act 1999 as Vulnerable.
Pablo
Murray-Darling Carpet Python
(Morelia spilota metcalfei)
About:
Contrasting colour patterns. Located throughout the Murray-Darling Basin along major watercourses and rocky outcrops in the north of Victoria. Diet comprises predominantly mammals and birds, however reptiles and amphibians may also be eaten. Classified as Endangered in Victoria and listed as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Santiago
Gammon Ranges Carpet Python
(Morelia spilota imbricata)
About:
Similar patterns to the Murray-Darling Carpet Python, although more brown in colour. Extremely rare in the wild and located in the Flinders Rangers, SA along rocky gorges and creek lines with River Red Gum trees. A nocturnal species which feed upon mammals and birds. The species is specially protected in WA.
Atacama
Woma Python
(Aspidites ramsayi)
About:
Confined to the arid zones of central Australia, and in the SW of WA, near Shark Bay. Distinctive banded patterning of alternating light and dark browns. Woma pythons are active hunters and prefer a diet of small reptiles. The species is considered Vulnerable in NSW, Specially protected in WA and Rare in QLD and SA.
Pin-head
Children's Python
(Antaresia childreni)
About:
Named after the naturalist John George Children, this python has an average body length of approx. 1m. They generally don't have defined blotches like the Stimson's python and are located in rocky outcrops, escarpments and woodlands in tropical northern Australia (Kimberely in WA through to NW QLD). Nocturnal ambush predators.
Alice
Stimson's Python
(Antaresia stimsoni)
About:
Sometimes referred to as the large-blotched python due to the large brown blotch patterning. Generally <1m in length and contain heat sensing organs on their lips to locate its prey.
Standley
Stimson's Python
(Antaresia stimsoni)
About:
Located across most of arid to semi-arid environments of Australia, this species is very adaptable but prefers rocky habitats. May shelter in burrows, hollows and in termite mounds. Considered vulnerable in NSW due to predation by foxes, cats and habitat loss etc.
Stimpson
Sand Monitor
(Varanus gouldii)
About:
Widespread over most of mainland Australia, preferring dry open habitats and sandy deserts. This terrestrial, diurnal monitor species is between 1 - 1.5m in length with a diet comprsing insects, reptiles, birds, mammals and carrion.
Olga and Nori
Shingle-Back Skinks
(Tiliqua rugosa)
About:
Common names include "Stumpy-tailed lizards", "Sleepy Lizards" and "Two-headed Lizard!" (due to the tail resembling the head!). Shingle-backs are one of the Australia's largest skinks with a snout-vent length of approx. 30 - 40 cm. The short blunt tail acts as a fat store. They are found throughout dry to arid southern parts of Australia (southern QLD, NSW, NW Vic, SA and Southern WA) within most open habitats. Omnivorous and produce 1 - 3 live young.
Gerald
Western Blue-Tongue Skink
(Tiliqua occipitalis)
About:
Slender with a long banded body and tail and smooth scales with a snout-vent length of 30 – 40 cm. With a dark stripe from eye to above the ear and a fleshy blue tongue which gives them their name! An arid zone species located in SW NSW, NW VIC, SA and southern NT and WA. Considered Vulnerable in NSW and Near Threatened in Victoria due mainly to feral predation and habitat loss.
Ranfurly
Hooded Scaly-foot
(Pygopus nigriceps)
About:
Nocturnal legless lizard, approx. 20 cm in length (excluding tail) and with dark markings on its head and neck. Widespread in central and western Australia (QLD, SA, NT and WA) and occurs in a variety of dry habitats, particularly sandy deserts.
Terrick
Hooded Scaly-foot
(Pygopus nigriceps)
About:
Diet comprises predominantly of arthropods - insects, spiders and scorpians and they shelter in soil cracks and under debris. It's relative, Pygopus shraderi is considered critically endangered in Victoria under the advisory list of threatened fauna.
Ivan and Irene
Strong Stick Insects
(Anchiale briareus)
About:
Active, hardy little critters ranging in colour from green, brown and red. Males are usually between 8 - 10 cm in length and can fly well, while females grow between 12 - 17 cm in length and can glide short distances. They are native to north eastern QLD and are adapted to a variety of habitats and can tolerate a range of temperatures and humidity. Diet comprises a variety of food plants including Eucalyptus and Acacia species. Females can reproduce with a male (sexual reproduction) or without a male (parthenogenic reproduction) and can produce a total of 2,500 eggs during a life time of between 6 - 12 months!