Australia hosts many unique and unusual creatures that I feel deserves this special category of Weird and Wonderful.
Lace Monitor - King of the Aussie Bush
Australia's Lace Monitor has adapted to both climb trees and swim large distances in search of prey. I have been fortunate to film this unique predator in its natural habitat doing what it does best.
Channel-Billed Cuckoo being fed by Currawong I captured this footage of a Currawong feeding a young Channel-billed Cuckoo that it had hatched and raised. Channel-billed Cuckoos are the largest species of Cuckoos in the world. These birds migrate south from New Guinea and Indonesia and lay their eggs in the nest of another large bird, in this zsscase a Currawong. It will be hatched by the Currawong who will then raise it as its own. The rapid growth of these birds means they will quickly overtake their adoptive parents, eventually reaching maturity where they will leave and return north. And the cycle begins
Coffin Ray
The Coffin ray or Australian Numbfish, is a species of electric ray endemic to Australia. It can produce a powerful electric shock reaching 200 volts for attack and defence. Although not fatal to humans, the coffin ray can deliver a severe, shock.
Echidnas-The Spiny Anteater
aEchidnas, sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are monotremes which are egg-laying mammals. Together with the platypus, they are the only surviving members of the order Monotremata and are the only living mammals that lay eggs.
Superb Lyrebird
The Superb Lyrebird is one of the world's largest songbirds, and is renowned for its elaborate tail and courtship displays, and its excellent mimicryIt is capable of mimicking both natural and mechanical sounds imitated and joined together in a rousing medley.Listen to this male bird belting out dozens of different sounds including a whipbird, currawong, cockatoo, lorikeet, kookaburra, wattlebird, rosella, robin, rock-warbler, thornbill and many more as well as mechanical sounds that I could only guess.
Blue-Ringed Octopus
The highly venomous Blue-ringed octopus can be found in tide pools and coral reefs all around Australia. Despite their small size they are recognised as one of the world's most venomous marine animals and potentially fatal. Their bites are tiny and often painless, with many victims not realising they have been envenomated until respiratory depression and paralysis start to set in.
All bites should be treated seriously and immediate medical attention sought.. * Note. Blue-ringed octopus are generally very shy and will not attack. Bites usually occur from people handling them, being totally unaware of their potential danger If you do come across one of these beautiful creatures OBSERVE, ENJOY AND PLEASE DO NOT HARM
Satin Bower Bird
Satin Bowerbirds, specifically the males are notorious for their love of blue things.The adult male has that striking glossy blue-black plumage, and a violet-blue eye.Males construct their bower, not as a nest, but as a bachelor pad – a place to impress the ladies!There are usually multiple bowers found in an area (called a lek) and the competing males all try to attract the attention of visiting females.Their bowers are always constructed on the ground in a north-south direction and they use interlaced sticks.Blue flowers, berries, bottle tops, pens, pegs and basically anything blue they can find are laid carefully around the bower.Once he attracts a female with his decorating skills, he also performs a ritualistic dance.If she is impressed, she will mate with him but that is where their relationship ends.He waits for the next female to come along, she goes off and builds a nest and raises her young (usually a clutch of 2 or 3), alone.
Monitor Swims Like Fish
Mertens' Water monitors are a member of the monitor lizard family found in the Top End of Australia. They are strong swimmers and feed both on land and in the water, mainly on fish, crabs, frogs and small mammals. These monitors have had a substantial decline in their populations attributable to the arrival of cane toads however their numbers are slowly coming back. I was fortunate to follow and film this unique creature around Kakadu National park and Katherine Gorge.
Wildlife Drops in for a Drink
Check out what happens when a motion activated camera is placed at a waterhole in Wombeyan-NSW. This waterhole was visited by, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Red Necked Wallabies, Wombat, Dingos, Wild Boars, Cattle, Kookaburra, Bowerbird (female), Lyrebird (male and female), Fox, Dove, Water Dragons, Currawong, Rosellas and Noisy Friarbird.
Red Jelly Black Snake Attacks
Light Blue Soldier Crab
The light-blue soldier crab, is a species of crab that lives on sandy beaches from the Bay of Bengal to Australia and is probably one of the most loved crabs in Australia. I filmed this amazing display in their masses as they scrambled across the tidal banks of Currambene creek in Jervis Bay
Satin Bower Bird (male)
Bower Bird (female)
Superb Lyrebird (pair)
