by Peter Rowland | Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Tropicbirds (Family Phaethontidae) These gull-like birds have long tapering wings and the adults are characterised by long central tail streamers. Three species in Australia, none of which are endemic. The Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda (2 subspecies) and...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
True Bugs (Order: Hemiptera) Very large order with 119 families, containing over 6,000 species found in Australia. Split into four suborders, largest being Heteroptera with 67 families in Australia, followed by Sternorrhyncha with 29 families, then Auchenorrhyncha...
by Peter Rowland | Tuesday, October 27, 2020
True Crocodiles (Family: Crocodylidae) The 25 species of this family are all semi-aquatic carnivorous predators, which are specially adapted for feeding underwater by modified palatine and pterygoid bones and a fleshy valve that seals off the respiratory system from...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
True Toads (Family: Bufonidae) Widely distributed around the world, but with two introduced species in Australia, the Cane Toad which was released at Gordonvale in Qld in 1935 to control pests of sugarcane, and has since become a major pest, and the Black-spined Toad...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Twisted Wings and Stylops (Order: Strepsiptera) Largely undescribed order, with six families containing 42 species described, and over 150 species presumed to occur in Australia. Males possess enlarged, membranous hindwings, with little to no visible venation, and...
