Wildlife experts - what is it?

Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:08
ThreadID: 55146 Views:2263 Replies:4 FollowUps:15
This Thread has been Archived
Image Could Not Be Found

It came around the campsites where my daughters were camping.

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:18

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:18
It looks like a Bandicoot. how big was it and were did you find it??

Cheers Steve.
AnswerID: 290619

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:21

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:21
Try this link.

Southern Brown Bandicoot.

Cheers Steve.
0
FollowupID: 555974

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:28

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:28
Hi Steve - It does, but pictures of bandicoots i have found all have pinkish noses and claws, whereas this fellow has black. Bandicoots came to mind first, as when we were camped at Cape Tribulation a bandicoot came foraging around the camp sites in the evening.

My daughter described it as 'about the size of a possum'. It was at a Emu Point CP Albany. She has further photos of it's small tail from when it visited again, but she was having trouble with internet connection from her sister's tent so i haven't any more photos.

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 555978

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:31

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:31
Well there you go it was a Southern Brown Bandicoot for sure based on your location. 100% sure, no doubt.

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 555981

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:32

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:32
Yes (overlapping replies), that is the site i was just on, but pink claws, whereas this one has very black claws. Almost all the small marsupials appear to have pink claws.

Mh
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 555982

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:38

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:38
Just found this link: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/bandicoot.html
I'd say the images show the same species.
0
FollowupID: 555985

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:44

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:44
Thanks guys - I knew i'd get the answer here

Mh
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 555989

Reply By: The Explorer - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:28

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:28
Hello - my guess is Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) - also now as Brindled Bandicoot. There is also a Southern Brown Bandicoot - very similar but smaller - found south of Sydney and SW WA.

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

AnswerID: 290623

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:29

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:29
Hi Greg - As per my comments to Steve above, the pictures i have found of Southern Bandicoots have pink claws.

Mh
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 555979

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:38

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:38
Hello cant really see the claws that well and Im no expert of bandicoot claws but I can assure you it is a Southern Brown Bandicoot - I have caught many in my time doing fauna surveys in south west. Keep in mind these things dig for food so could be just darker because of dirt.

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 555986

Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:08

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:08
Just a thought - seen the bandicoot was solved so quickly - how about this?

Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 290633

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:10

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:10
Ooops - a bit quick on the trigger finger

Image Could Not Be Found

It is tiny - about an inch tall at the most, found on the Eyre Peninsular

Mh
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 555999

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:18

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:18
Anja thinks it's the wilted female flower of a yam of sorts, I think it's a cigarette butt. LOVL

Cheers Steve.
0
FollowupID: 556004

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:51

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:51
Forget 'Pick this Place'. We could have a 'What is it' quiz!

Good try Anja; Steve is sort of closer - but truth is I still don't know.

Mh
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 556012

Follow Up By: Member - Dennis P (Int) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 05:02

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 05:02
Motherhen,
I think it is a form of toadstool or fungus similar to a 'puff-ball'.
Seen them in the Mallee.
Dennis
0
FollowupID: 556093

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 23:15

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 23:15
Hi Dennis - it is clay - like mud-daub.

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 556254

Follow Up By: Member - Dennis P (Scotland) - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 00:26

Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 00:26
Hi Motherhen,
Must belong to some insect then, might be termite as some-one has suggested or could be spider or ant related.
Is there a big money prize for getting it right??
0
FollowupID: 556263

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:50

Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:50
Pity there is no prize. When i saw it i thought it looked like a wasp nest (mud dauber type), and called it a 'clay pipe wasp nest', but i have been unable to prove what it is. We have a lot of termites, but i have never seen anything like that in association with a colony.

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 556368

Reply By: Eric Experience - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:57

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:57
Motherhen
Termites swarm annually. When they do they grow wings which are very soft until they dry out, the drying process takes about 2 seconds so they build a launch tower like in your photo so when they take off the wings dry just before they hit the ground. When they land up to 100 metres away the wings fall off. Eric.
AnswerID: 290659

Sponsored Links