The Red Playground

I spent most of September in the Simpson desert on my third trip with the 'ratcatchers' - that is, the Dickman lab. I've already posted bits and pieces about these trips on my photoblog, so I'll just share a few photos (as always, more in the gallery).

Central netted dragon, Ctenophorus nuchalis, Welford National Park.


Pebble-mimic dragon, Tympanocryptis intima


Smooth knob-tailed gecko baby, Nephrurus levis


Smooth knob-tailed gecko, Nephrurus levis


Spotted snake, Suta punctata


Desert skink, Egernia inornata


Rusty desert monitor, Varanus eremius


Canegrass dragon, Diporiphora winneckei


Bird-eating spider



That's the burrow entrance of the Slit spider, Fissarina ethabuka. The burrow is a sort of trap utilising a sand slipface.


And that's the little spider herself.


Water-holding Frog, Litoria (Cyclorana) platycephala.

The frog was a real bonus find - it turned up in a pool that we had dug to have a bathe in.

As always, this trip was a really good experience!