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| Herps found in the Sydney area |
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| Broad-tailed geckos, Phyllurus platurus, was one of the most commonly found herps |
This eastern water dragon, Intellagama l. lesuerii, was a strange find on the side of a cliff |
Another P. platurus that demonstrates how their amazing camo works |
This adult was found on the granite ridge. It has a regenerated tail. |
There were many small skinks found, like this tree-base litter skink, Lygisaurus foliorum |
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| Big old male I. l. lesuerii was out sunning on the lawn |
Eastern water skink, Eulamprus quoyii, in situ |
We found many Lesuer's velvet geckos, Amalosia lesuerii, which blended with the granite |
This lace monitor, Varanus varius, had some nice blues on the face |
Some nice aboriginal paintings in a cave along a granite ridge |
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| This big V. varius moved from the road onto this tree |
This communal nesting site of A. lesuerii was found along a granite rock ledge |
This eastern small-eyed snake, Cryptophis nigrescens, was found under a caprock |
A black-bellied swamp snake, Hemiaspis signata, is another small elapid like the Cryptophis |
This tusked frog, Adelotus brevis, was found by a small swamp |
| Herps found in Western Australia |
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| First big find of the trip was this nice southern pygmy spiny-tailed skink, Egernia depressa | Tantilla hobartsmithi, no wait, a monk snake, Parasuta monachus | This was a nice looking Bynoe's gecko, Heternotia binoei | The western beaked gecko, Rhynchoedura ornata, is a beautiful gecko | A variegated dtella, Gehyra variegata |
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| Awesome female mid-line knobtail gecko, Nephrurus vertebralis | Found this nice E. depressa | This lozenge-marked dragon, Ctenophorus scutulatus, was a fast lizard | This was a nice, and fast, ornate dragon, Ctenophorus ornatus | We managed to pick up this nice male yellow-spotted monitor, Varanus panoptes rubidus |
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| He was a bit perturbed upon release, but it made for some awesome shots |
Defensive posturing from the V. panoptes rubidus |
A nice western spotted ctenotus, Ctenotus uber uber, from near Newman |
We found a nice pair of ringtail dragons, Ctenophorus caudicinctus, near the Ctenotus |
This sharp-snouted delma, Delma nasuta, was the first legless lizard of the night |
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| In addition to this Lialis burtonis, we also found a Pygopus nigriceps-not pictured |
The Pilbara dtella, Gehyra pilbara, was a nice looking gecko |
There were several marbled velvet geckos, Oedura marmorata, in Karijini |
A very cool zebra huntsman spider along the trail in Karijini |
Juvenile O. marmorata |
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| There were several Goldfields crevice-skink, Egernia formosa, in the canyons of Karijini |
I was amazed to see fruit bats flying above fern pool in Dales gorge! |
This black-headed monitor, Varanus tristis tristis, was basking in the morning |
This is the silhouette that an experienced herper looks for |
Better photo of the V. t. tristis by Steve Sharp |
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| Russet snake-eyed skinks, Cryptoblepharus ustulatus, were everywhere in Karijini | Another E. formosa hiding out | A male striped rainbow skink, Carlia munda, in breeding colors, was chasing a female | The female C. munda was found near a fire-tailed skink, Morethia ruficauda-not pictured | Interesting rocks in Karijini |
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| Almost looks fake how angular the rocks are in Karijini | Some of the rocks almost look fake here | Some happy herpers looking at a southern Pilbara rock monitor, Varanus hamersleyensis | Closeup of the female V. hamersleyensis | This V. tristis tristis was hanging out in a crack near where we found the pilbara rocks |
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| Awesome male V. hamersleyensis | This male V. hamersleyensis blends in perfectly with the rock in Karijini | This rock ctenotus, Ctenotus saxatilis, was one of the many small skinks we saw | We found this western Stimson's python, Antaresia s. stimsoni, was found hiking in Karijini | This spinifex slender blue-tongue, Cyclodomorphus m. melanops, was found on the road outside Knox gorge |
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| Hamersley gorge had some amazing geology | Beautiful reflection |
Swimming down the pool in Hamersley | It was fun to watch the C. ustulatus chase each other around on the rocks! | Nice waterfall in Hamersley gorge. Love the color of the water. |
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| The western hooded scaly-foot Pygopus nigriceps, is a cool legless gecko, photo by Steve Sharp | Cool reduced pattern on this banded knobtail gecko, Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus | Here is the same N. w. cinctus from head on | The southern phasmid gecko, Strophurus jeanae, has some beautiful markings and are quite striking! | Nice Pilbara death adder, Acanthophis wellsi, was found near Karijini |
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| Headshot of A. wellsi. This species is differentiated from A. pyrrhus by the smooth head scales | Closeup of a nice western-shield spiny-tailed gecko, Strophurus wellingtonae | Nice shot of a northern spiny-tailed geckos, S. c. aberrans, photo by Steve Sharp | Nice Pilbara A. s. stimsoni | Full body image of this western Stimson's python |
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| Millstream Chichester NP is an amazing place! | Spotted this Pilbara rock monitor, Varanus pilbarensis, hiding from the heat in Millstream-Chichester NP | These monitors have to be some of the best looking monitors on the planet! | Great Pilbara rock monitor habitat in Millstream Chichester | The state flower of WA |
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| Steve found this western Pilbara spiny-tailed skink, Egernia cygnitos, just before dark | Such a cool skink! We were very happy to find them before leaving the Pilbara | Found this anthill python, Antaresia perthensis, on the Coastal Highway headed south of Karratha | Pygmy pythons are one of my all time favorites! | This N. wheeleri cinctus was quite dusty and blended in well |
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| Long-nosed dragon, Gowidon longirostris, recently changed from the genus Lophognathus | We found a couple northern spiny-tailed geckos, Strophurus ciliaris aberrans, in Cape Range NP | Love the yellow bars on the tail of this western spiny-tailed gecko, Strophurus strophurus | Very boldly-patterned S. ciliaris aberrans | Sad to see this recently hit A. s. stimsoni near Exmouth. Another nice example of this subspecies. |
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| My dream lizard, the perentie, Varanus giganteus! Was really hoping to find one on this trip | The reticulated pattern on the neck is so beautiful. He cruised through the park under the picnic pavilion. | They blend in so well with their environment. This experience made the trip a success in my book for sure! | A very nice P. nigriceps found on the way to Coral Bay, photo by Steve Sharp | Many fat tailed geckos, Diplodactylus conspicillatus, were found on the way to Coral Bay, photo by Steve Sharp |
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| This nice Mottled ground gecko, Lucasium squarrosum, was found crossing the road, photo by Steve Sharp |
A north-western shovel nosed snake, Brachyurophis approximans, photo by Steve Sharp |
This S. strophurus was found on the road to Coral Bay, photo by Steve Sharp |
Nice green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, in Turquoise Bay, Cape Range NP, Photo by Mike Fredrickson |
Cool ray seen in Turquoise Bay, Cape Range NP, Photo by Mike Fredrickson |
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| Very sad to see this absolute monster A. s. stimsoni dead on the road. It measured 47 inches in length! | Living rocks! These are the stromoliths that are near the turnoff to Shark Bay. | This emu was cruising down the road in Denham in the Shark Bay region | Shark Bay is an amazingly beautiful place with such blue water. | This male western netted dragon, Ctenophorus reticulatus, was found on the Useless loop road. |
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| Beautiful C. reticulatus female found near the male. | Another male C. reticulatus showing off the cryptic nature of their patterning | This amazing red sand desert is beautiful | Sunset on Shark Bay | This was the first of many western smooth knobtail geckos, Nephrurus levis occiendentalis, found in the Shark Bay area |
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| Juvenile N. l. occidentalis showing a bit of defensive posturing | This N. l. occidentalis pair was found in very close proximity of each other | Blinded by the light. This echidna did not ball up when found on the side of the road | There were several soft spiny-tailed geckos, Strophurus spinigerus, on the road near Nambung NP | This S. spinigerus pauses to clean its face. Photo by Steve Sharp |
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| Rain brought out the frogs, like this motorbike frog, Litoria moorei | These moaning frogs, Heleioporus eyrei, were out with the rains | Amazing formations in the Pinnacles area of Nambung NP | So awesome to see Galahs perched on the top of pinnacles | Such a cool desert area! |
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| Found this juvenile shingleback, Tiliqua rugosa rugosa, on the road south of Jurien Bay | A dark juvenile sand monitor, Varanus gouldii, hanging out by the visitors center |
This nice sand dune was running along side of this section of pinnacles | Juvenile dwarf bearded dragon, Pogona minor | So cool to find a SW carpet python, Morelia imbricata, in the pinnacles! |
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| Moved from the pinnacle into a neighboring tree | Very beautiful despite being in shed! | Nice closeup of the SW carpet python in defensive posture | This female dwarf bearded dragon was full of eggs | One of many emus seen in Nambung |
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| Interesting locomotion to avoid detection | Find the shingleback | Beautiful, high white shingleback | Interesting orange vines | Several of the shinglebacks were quite pugnacious |
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| Feisty guy on the side of the dune under a bush | Profile picture of a nice sand monitor, Varanus gouldii | Closeup shot of V. gouldii, picture by Steve Sharp |
Varanus gouldii, Nambung | Ring around the Pinnacle |
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| Shingleback couple | Pair following one another through the Pinnacles | Nice pair showing difference between sexes | So long tongue shot | Pinnacles farewell shot |
| Species
List: |
| Acanthophis wellsi Adelotus brevis** Amalosia lesuerii Antaresia perthensis Antaresia stimsoni stimsoni Brachyurophis approximans Carlia munda** Chelonia mydas Cryptoblepharis ustulatus Cryptophis nigrescens Ctenophorus nuchalis Ctenophorus ornatus Ctenophorus reticulatus** Ctenophorus scutulatus Ctenotus saxatilis Ctenotus uber uber** Cyclodomorphus m. melanops Delma nasuta** Diplodactylus conspicillatus Diplodactylus pulcher Egernia cygnitos** Egernia depressa** |
Egernia formosa
Eulamprus quoyii Furina ornata Gehyra pilbara** Gehyra punctata** Gehyra variegata** Gowidon longirostris Heleioporus eyrei** Hemiaspis signata Heteronotia binoei Intellagama lesuerii Lialis burtonis Litoria moorei** Lucasium stenodactylum Lygisaurus foliorum** Menetia greyii Morelia imbricata Morethia ruficauda** Nephrurus levis occidentalis Nephrurus vertebralis Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus Oedura marmorata** |
Parasuta monachus** Phyllurus platurus Pogona minor minor** Pseudonaja mengdeni (DOR)** Pygopus nigriceps Rhynchoedura ornata Strophurus ciliaris aberrans Strophurus jeanae Strophurus spinigerus spinigerus Strophurus strophurus Strophurus wellingtonae** Tiliqua multifasciata (DOR) Tiliqua occipitalis (DOR) Tiliqua rugosa rugosa Varanus gouldii** Varanus hamersleyensis Varanus panoptes rubidus Varanus pilbarensis Varanus tristis tristis Varanus varius **New species observed this trip |