– KIMBERLEY WILDLIFE –
GILBERT’S DRAGON
MEET THE UNIQUE WILDLIFE OF THE KIMBERLEY
The Kimberley is home to many weird and wonderful creatures, which have evolved over thousands of years to co-exist, and survive within this sometimes extreme environment. Home to many threatened and endangered species much is being done to protect this pristine environment but with the threat of fracking for gas and the government and mining companies greed, the mineral rich Kimberley and the kimberley wildlife within it, is under attack.
This is my growing collection of the creatures that grace this remote part of the world. Included are Goanna’s, Green Sea Turtles, Wallabies, Black-headed Pythons, Dragon Lizards.
Please remember all images are copyright. If you wish to use any of these images please contact me.
Amanda McInerney
GREEN SEA TURTLE
Green sea turtles are the largest hard-shelled marine turtles, reaching 1.2m long and over 180kg. Named for the green fat under their shells, these herbivores use serrated jaws to eat seagrass and algae. They can live for over 70 years.
BLACK HEADED PYTHON
Black-headed pythons are calm, non-venomous snakes living 20–25 years and reaching 2–3m. To warm up safely, they poke only their dark heads from burrows; the jet-black scales absorb heat like a solar panel, circulating warmth to the hidden body.
GILBERT’S DRAGON
Commonly known as a Ta-Ta Lizard because they frequently stop running, stand still, and wave a single front limb in a motion that looks like a “ta-ta” goodbye.
They are strong swimmers and will dive right to the bottom of a waterhole or stream to hide from predators.
GOANNA
The Yellow Spotted Monitor is famous for standing completely upright on their back legs like a tripod (using their tail) to survey the landscape.
AGILE WALLABIES
It is not uncommon to see Agile Wallabies, but it is very hard to get close to them. These were photographed at the Golf Club at dusk.
FRILL NECK LIZARD
When threatened, they stand on their hind legs, gape their bright yellow mouth, snap open their large neck frill to look three times bigger, and hiss. If that fails, they bolt on two legs straight to the safety of the nearest tree.
