Brigalow reptile hunting

In January I went out to the southern Brigalow Belt twice. Once to look for pale-headed snakes (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) and once to look for yakka skinks (Egernia rugosa). Both trips were highly successful. The yakka skink trip turned up not only the skinks, but holy cross frogs (Notaden bennetti) and a Dunmall’s snake (Furina dunmalli). Dunmall’s snakes are quite rare and hard to find. We were in the right habitat for them, but never really expected to see one. We were all blown away when we saw one crawling through a clump of grass.

Here are some photos.

Lake Broadwater, looking for pale-headed snakes

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus). One of the few truly arboreal elapids we have here in Australia. They like to shelter in tree hollows and under exfoliating bark on trees along waterways. They generally eat lizards and frogs, but are capable of delivering a serious bite to a human.

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)

Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)

Eastern bearded dragon (Pogona barbata)

Lace monitor (Varanus varius) – Bell’s form

Lerista timida

Robust velvet gecko (Oedura robusta)

Moretha boulengeri male showing throat in breeding colour

Moretha boulengeri male showing throat in breeding colour

Cyclorana verrucosa

Eastern snapping frog (Cyclorana novaehollandiae)

Spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)

Condamine and Glenmorgan, looking for yakka skinks

Brigalow scrub

Yakka skink (Egernia rugosa)

Red-naped snake (Furina diadema)

Broad-banded sand-swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii)

Broad-banded sand-swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii)

Broad-banded sand-swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii)

Broad-banded sand-swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii)

Dunmall’s snake (Furina dunmalli)

Dunmall’s snake (Furina dunmalli)

Dwyer’s snake (Parasuta dwyeri)

Dwyer’s snake (Parasuta dwyeri)

Burns’ lashtail dragon (Amphibolurus burnsi)

Burns’ lashtail dragon (Amphibolurus burnsi)

A muddy spotted black snake (Pseudechis guttatus)

Spotted black snake (Pseudechis guttatus)

Spotted black snake (Pseudechis guttatus)

Eastern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus williamsi)

Holy Cross frog (Notaden bennetti)

Holy Cross frog (Notaden bennetti)

Sand goanna (Varanus gouldii gouldii)

Eastern blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides)

De Vis’ banded snake (Denisonia devisi)

De Vis’ banded snake (Denisonia devisi)