P-a-L R: Aussie Invertebrates

Funnel-webs...giant cockroaches...the most ant diversity in the world (purple ants with yellow mandibles, not joking, I saw them, but they moved too fast to photograph, sadly)...the snails...the spiders! By God! Enjoy the pics,

Prefect

P-a-L R: Endemic Australian Reptilia

Australia hosts more species of reptiles than any other country on earth. 89% - EIGHTY NINE PERCENT - of these species are endemic. 795 species of extant native reptiles. That means 708 endemic reptiles. This means one tenth of the world's reptiles live ONLY in Australia.
Australia is also host to some of the most outrageous and venomous snakes in the world, including the world's most venomous, the FIERCE snake (see picture of the late great Steve Irwin). In the top ten of this list is also the Tiger Snake, one of which was found trying to sneak into my Kangaroo Island trailer (see picture).
In contrast to the Australian mainland, Kangaroo Island only has 2 snake species, but it is host to an endemic species of the Goanna lizards (see picture).
Snakes really are everywhere in Australia; I can't tell you how many slithered over my feet in the bush or even on the streets of the Sydney suburbs.
Sadly for me, New Zealand is completely lacking in these legless wonders.
Until next time,
Da Prefect

P-a-L-R: The Geology of Australia

Although Oz is infamous for its Outback, its barren oxide-rich dust plains and beautiful sandy surfing beaches, it is chock-full of some of the most stunning, outrageous, and unique geologic formations this side of the equator. During my travels in the Great Dividing Range and along the dynamic coastline of eastern Australia, I was fortunate to catch glimpses of some of these rocky phenomena. Here is a photographic account of several such outcrops, holes, how'd-tha-happens, and whazzits of the Australian litho-scene. For a thrilling account of their orogenies and windblown trials throughout geologic time, I am afraid you will have to wait for my conclusive presentation upon my return next semester. Or look it up yourself...but I guarantee the presentation will be cooler.
Yours, tall and truly,
Prefect Keen

Pictured: The Three Sisters (Blue Mountains National Park), The Remarkable Rocks (Kangaroo Island, South Australia - a crazy random granite uplift), the 12 Apostles (Great Ocean Road, Victoria), Razorback (Great Ocean Road), King George Bay (Kangaroo Island)