While heading back from a surf break north of Carnarvon with some friends we spotted this rather large Perentie feeding on another smaller road-kill Perentie. As I took a closer look it decides I'm in the way of it's escape route and takes a lunge at me to get me to back up. This is a common bluff larger monitors use to warn off any would be predators. I follow it up to the cliffs on the coast where it decides I'm not much of a threat anymore. The massive lizard was happy to chill there for 20min while my friends went back to camp for my camera. After the I got my photos I went back to the road and brought his meal back for him to enjoy as a thank you for being such a legend.
Tags: Reptile reptiles lizard squamata varanus varanid monitor goanna species tail scales terrestrial claws claw herpetology herping nature conservation wildlife fauna flora animals animal Habitat deserts sand beach sun sunset sky rainforest storm clouds northern western red green blue yellow travel outback holiday Photography canon wide-angle macro SLR lens camera photo image shot 700D Perentie Varanus giganteus Gnarloo Carnarvon australia western Australia
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THE WESTERN DESERT TAIPAN!
Myself and a mate embarked on a trip to the Great Victoria Desert some 1500km inland of Perth to find and photograph a Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis). Following a long 2 day drive we got within range by 1am in the morning, then we were up at 4:30am with the sun to begin our search. At 8:10am we were ridiculously lucky to come across this beautiful 1.7m female specimen.
This is the 3rd and most recently discovered Taipan in Australia; only being officially described in 2007. This large, fast and highly venomous snake inhabits the red sandy deserts of inland Australia and because of this remote distribution, very few people have found and photographed this species; I believe under 20 however aboriginal people would have been encountering these snakes for many many years.
Although Taipans don’t have a good reputation in Australia amongst the general public, I can vouch for this individual and say that it was one of the most calm, inoffensive and intelligent reptiles I have ever encountered.
Tags: awesome snake habitat photos in habitat large snake reptile photography herp photography red sand Tamron SP 15-30mm canon 5D iii Australian reptiles desert reptiles Australian venomous snakes elapid venomous snakes western desert taipan temporalis Reptile reptiles snake snakes squamata venomous animals venomous reptiles Venomous Australian Snakes Australian Snakes snakes of Australia teeth fangs tail scales terrestrial arboreal herpetology herping nature conservation wildlife wildlife photography Australian wildlife photography Ross McGibbon Ross McGibbon Photography professional wildife photographer professional reptile photography Snake Photography Australian fauna Australian animals Australia habitat photography canon canon 5d mk iii wide angle nature photography Tamron 15-30mm Tamron lens
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THE NOTORIOUS DUGITE - Ask yourself how dangerous you think this snakes is and then read on. The Dugite (Paeudonaja a. affinis) is one of 9 brown snake species in Australia. On average snakes cause around two human fatalities per year in Aus. Brown snakes have a bad reputation as they are attributed to the majority of these deaths (52 in total from 1980-2016, 33 involving brown snakes).
In the Dugite's case a bad reputation is extremely undeserved! In my experience, and in the case of this individual, I find them to be very shy and inoffensive preferring to flee when encountered by anything larger than them - this includes livestock as well. That being said they will defend themselves if cornered, harassed, stepped on, or attacked.
The Dugite's are the most common snake removed from Perth backyards yet they have only been attributed to 2 deaths since 1980 (both elderly people over 70). If they have learnt how to coexist with humans so well shouldn't we offer them the same deal? The European honey bee and horses kill more Australian's each year than snakes, yet we don't go around shooting horses and hitting Bee's over the head with shovels. Next time you see a Dugite (or any other snake for that matter) don't treat it like a pest that must be killed in order for you to feel safe, but rather treat it as you would a honey bee - keep your distance and let it play its role in nature (vermin control). Alternatively call a snake catcher to have it safely relocated.
Tags: Reptile reptiles snake snakes squamata elapid venomous snakes venomous animals venomous reptiles Venomous Australian Snakes Australian reptiles Australian Snakes snakes of Australia teeth fangs tail scales terrestrial arboreal herpetology herping nature conservation wildlife wildlife photography Australian wildlife photography Ross McGibbon Ross McGibbon Photography professional wildife photographer professional reptile photography Snake Photography Reptile Photography Australian fauna Australian animals Australia habitat photography canon canon 5d mk iii wide angle nature photography Tamron 15-30mm Tamron lens
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Red sandy deserts, woodlands and scrublands throughout the interior of Australia are the favoured habitat types for Woma Pythons. These arid areas harbour an abundance of other reptile species and thats exactly what Woma's prey on. They emerge from their subterranean shelter sites on dusk to hunt for sleeping reptiles such as dragons, monitor's and even venomous snakes! Possessing no venom, the Woma must overcome its prey with bruit strength, constricting its victim until it suffocates or is weak enough to swallow whole.
Unfortunately the Woma has almost disappeared from its original distributions in southwestern Australia due to habitat destruction for agriculture and the introduction of feral animals. Since the early 1990’s Peron Peninsula where I photographed this individual has been protected by a 3km predator fence providing one of the last ‘safe havens’ for these snakes in the southwest.
Tags: snakes reptiles pythons rare endangered herpetology photography canon wide-angle serpent australia western red sand desert shark-bay South-west Woma Aspidites ramsayi nature fauna 700D wild sunset dusk snake Canon 700D Herp photography wildlife scales habitat Squamata reptile python constrictor nonvenomous snakes Australian Snakes Australian reptiles snakes of Australia teeth tail terrestrial arboreal herping conservation wildlife photography Australian wildlife photography Ross McGibbon Ross McGibbon Photography professional reptile photography professional wildife photographer Snake Photography Reptile Photography Australian fauna animals Australian animals in-habitat photography canon 5d mk iii nature photography Tamron 15-30mm Tamron lens
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LIKE A COBRA!
It’s just before sunset on the long drive into the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia when I come across a Mulga Snake (Pseudechis australis) on the side of the road. As I approached the snake began to show me its best impression of a Cobra. This is a typical Mulga snake defensive display designed to intimidate any would-be predators. For maximum intimidation Mulga snakes flatten out their neck and raise their fore body high up off the ground. This behavior is mostly bluff but can result in a bite if you don’t back away and give the snake the space it deserves.
Tags: Reptile reptiles snake snakes squamata elapid venomous snakes venomous animals venomous reptiles Venomous Australian Snakes Australian reptiles Australian Snakes snakes of Australia teeth fangs tail scales terrestrial arboreal herpetology herping nature conservation wildlife wildlife photography Australian wildlife photography Ross McGibbon Ross McGibbon Photography professional wildife photographer professional reptile photography Snake Photography Reptile Photography Australian fauna Australian animals Australia habitat photography canon canon 5d mk iii wide angle nature photography Tamron 15-30mm Tamron lens
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