(Quotes taken from The Handbook of Nature Study) I didn't think the Outdoor Hour Challenge for this month - Reptiles & Amphibians - was going to work for us. We haven't been able to find any tadpoles but on a bush walk earlier this month we came across a goanna, or I should say he came across us. We quickly made way for this one as we all have memories of Grandad's encounter with a goanna who mistook him for a tree and ran up his leg. Take a look at his claws!
There are five families of Australian lizards. The Goanna family (Varanidae) also known as monitors or iguanas, is the family with the largest lizards, and they can grow to about 2.5m or 8 feet. Their tongues are long and forked, a bit like a snake's, and they are skilled at climbing trees. This particular goanna is a common goanna or Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) and is found from Cape York in Northern Queensland all the way around Eastern Australia, to the eastern part of South Australia.
There are five families of Australian lizards. The Goanna family (Varanidae) also known as monitors or iguanas, is the family with the largest lizards, and they can grow to about 2.5m or 8 feet. Their tongues are long and forked, a bit like a snake's, and they are skilled at climbing trees. This particular goanna is a common goanna or Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) and is found from Cape York in Northern Queensland all the way around Eastern Australia, to the eastern part of South Australia.
One of my goals for nature study this year has been to get out in the bush for a good walk on a regular basis. This particular day was on the weekend so there were nine of us which made for a bit of fun.
'Nature study is for the comprehension of the individual life of the bird, insect, or plant that is nearest at hand.'
'Nature-study is an effort to make the individual use his senses instead of losing them; to train him to keep his eyes open to all things so that his powers of discrimination shall be based on wisdom.'
Australian wildflower - I think it is a Crowea Saligna which belongs to the Boronia family
Water views along the walk
'Nature-study is science brought home.'
Back on the home front.....a beetle our youngest found in some water at a fountain outside our local shopping centre and brought home
A contribution from the feline member of the family.....sorry, it's dead
I get a buzz from propagating plants. This one started off with a piece this size....
And about once a year it flowers spectacularly. It is a type of tropical cactus: Schlumbergera or Zygocactus
Also known as Crab's claw
'It is not years which make people old; it is ruts and a limitation of interests. When we no longer care about anything except our own interests, we are then old, it matters not whether our our years be twenty or eighty.'
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