I just found this in my backyard...

[Zeke]

Little critter was trying to steal a sip from my dog's water bowl!

http://www.zeke.com.au/temp/bluey.jpg

[G3]

Ahh, yes...the old Blue Tongue Skink. Cool critters. Nice shot, too.

[Zeke]

Ahh, yes...the old Blue Tongue Skink. Cool critters. Nice shot, too.

Cheers.

He was abot 40cm long, and quite fat!

[drisley]

Cute cat!
:shock:
Here kitty, kitty!

Nice pic!
:D

[drisley]

Whoa, I just noticed that thing has legs.
What the heck is that!!!! :shock: :o

[Zeke]

Whoa, I just noticed that thing has legs.
What the heck is that!!!! :shock: :o

A blue tongue lizard - direct to you from Tasmania, Australia!

[drisley]

oH, ok, a lizard.
At first glance, it just looked like a snake!

[Zeke]

This is the puppy dog in question:

http://www.zeke.com.au/temp/zoe_beach.jpg

[G3]

Man, that's one BIG water bowl. :)

Seems like you could afford to let the Blue Tongue have one sip from that....

[Josh]

and I thought we had big lizards in texas...wow am I wrong...the biggest I have seen here is 15cm. Do you have anymore pics of it?

[Zeke]

and I thought we had big lizards in texas...wow am I wrong...the biggest I have seen here is 15cm. Do you have anymore pics of it?

Sure, I've got a few... I'll post them when I get a chance to upload them.

[Osmium]

FYI, we also have Monitor lizards which grow to over a meter...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/goanna.htm

[karusel]

Nice one, did you feed it some mice? :)

[Josh]

FYI, we also have Monitor lizards which grow to over a meter...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/goanna.htm

Wow....lizards arent bad....its the snakes that get me (had one fall on my head when I was 8) now I cant stand them.....the largest I have seen here is 3-4ft long....what are they like there?

[Zeke]

FYI, we also have Monitor lizards which grow to over a meter...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/goanna.htm

Wow....lizards arent bad....its the snakes that get me (had one fall on my head when I was 8) now I cant stand them.....the largest I have seen here is 3-4ft long....what are they like there?

We have Amethystine (Scrub) Pythons which grow up to six metres (20ft), but the largets venomous snakes are the Coastal Taipans which grow to about 3 metres (10ft), as seen below:

http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/snakes/images/BCT001.jpg

[PacAce]

FYI, we also have Monitor lizards which grow to over a meter...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/goanna.htm

Wow....lizards arent bad....its the snakes that get me (had one fall on my head when I was 8) now I cant stand them.....the largest I have seen here is 3-4ft long....what are they like there?

If lizards don't bother you, then snakes shouldn't either. Snakes are just skinny lizards with legs so small they don't come out of the body. :D

Just keep you distance from the poisonous ones. :shock:

And, of course, fromthe big ones, too, that really like to show their affection for your by giving you a big hug. :lol:

[Josh]

FYI, we also have Monitor lizards which grow to over a meter...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/goanna.htm

Wow....lizards arent bad....its the snakes that get me (had one fall on my head when I was 8) now I cant stand them.....the largest I have seen here is 3-4ft long....what are they like there?

We have Amethystine (Scrub) Pythons which grow up to six metres (20ft), but the largets venomous snakes are the Coastal Taipans which grow to about 3 metres (10ft), as seen below:

http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/snakes/images/BCT001.jpg

Well I have just promised myself I am never leaving Texas for fear of really big snakes!

[daaaveman]

How would you like to find this in your backyard?? It was supposedly found by a crew of Florida Power and Light workers......Somebody needed a change of pants I'm sure!

http://www.uselessjunk.org/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10507/Snakes.jpg

[karusel]

Crikey, I bet even the crocodoyle huntah would've dropped his eyeballs... :shock:

[Lamplight]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

[Lamplight]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

[IndyJeff]

Ahhhh shucks, when you said you found something in your backyard I was hoping you found my 200 2.8 L lens. Anyone find one? If you did, it is mine. I will gladly pay postage to get it back and a $50 finders fee. Keep an eye out for it.

Oh, nice shot of the blue tongue too. He sure looks thirsty.

[Osmium]

Actually, it's not that bad in Oz. We don't have many large predators to worry about. Our dangerous animals are mostly venomous but are generally more afraid of humans than we are of them! The exception being the Taipan, above, which is a nasty, aggressive creature.

Most bites from our venomous companions are the result of us stumbling over them or putting our hands into dark places (where redback spiders or funnel webs lurk). Fatalities are rare and mostly limited to the very young or old. Our North Eastern coastal waters do have box jellyfish and relatives which are just plain deadly. Folks don't swim much during the jellyfish season...

Crocodiles up North can be a problem. But apparently not so much for locals - they seem to enjoy a diet of American Tourists... sorry about that...

[cgratti]

FYI, we also have Monitor lizards which grow to over a meter...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/goanna.htm

I was once the proud owner of a NILE MONITOR, about 4 feet long, and NASTY.. It would draw blood on me every time I took it out.

[G3]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

Yes, they are Rattlesnakes, but it's doubtful this photo was taken in Florida. They would be Eastern Diamondbacks (Crotalus adamanteus) if that were the case. Some of these are Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis ssp.) and some look like they may be Western Diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox) and possibly Mojave Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutellatus). So, if they were photographed in Florida, someone put them there because none of them are native to Florida.

[daaaveman]

G3, how did you become such an expert on rattlesnakes? I'm impressed. I doubted the validity of that too but the article (on a not-so-trustworthy site called www.uselessjunk.net) said that they had found an 18-foot alligator and this barrel of rattlesnakes on the same day. Never trust what you read on the internet - unless it's from this forum.......

[G3]

G3, how did you become such an expert on rattlesnakes? I'm impressed. I doubted the validity of that too but the article (on a not-so-trustworthy site called www.uselessjunk.net) said that they had found an 18-foot alligator and this barrel of rattlesnakes on the same day. Never trust what you read on the internet - unless it's from this forum.......


:) Because my formal education is in Biology and Zoology with an emphasis on Herpetology.

[Zeke]

Because my formal education is in Biology and Zoology with an emphasis on Herpetology.

You studied herpes? :shock:

[G3]

:) Tough crowd here.

[BDM]

Little critter was trying to steal a sip from my dog's water bowl!

http://www.zeke.com.au/temp/bluey.jpg

Yipes!! Is he poisonous?

Bruce

[BDM]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

Yes, they are Rattlesnakes, but it's doubtful this photo was taken in Florida. They would be Eastern Diamondbacks (Crotalus adamanteus) if that were the case. Some of these are Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis ssp.) and some look like they may be Western Diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox) and possibly Mojave Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutellatus). So, if they were photographed in Florida, someone put them there because none of them are native to Florida.

Lord, I'm glad Ohio has no rattlesnakes except for the very, very rare small variety which I've never seen. Most of our dangerous animals are the two legged variety.

Bruce

[Belmondo]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

Yes, they are Rattlesnakes, but it's doubtful this photo was taken in Florida. They would be Eastern Diamondbacks (Crotalus adamanteus) if that were the case. Some of these are Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis ssp.) and some look like they may be Western Diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox) and possibly Mojave Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutellatus). So, if they were photographed in Florida, someone put them there because none of them are native to Florida.

Actually, that picture looks like it was probably taken at the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup (or similar event). http://www.rattlesnakeroundup.com/index.html This is an annual event in which they catch as many rattlers as they can, milk them and then eat the poor little guys. I'm sure it must be great fun. I've seen this thing on television a few time, but just haven't experienced any great desire to attend the thing in person.

[G3]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

Yes, they are Rattlesnakes, but it's doubtful this photo was taken in Florida. They would be Eastern Diamondbacks (Crotalus adamanteus) if that were the case. Some of these are Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis ssp.) and some look like they may be Western Diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox) and possibly Mojave Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutellatus). So, if they were photographed in Florida, someone put them there because none of them are native to Florida.

Lord, I'm glad Ohio has no rattlesnakes except for the very, very rare small variety which I've never seen. Most of our dangerous animals are the two legged variety.

Bruce


Actually, there are two varieties of Rattlesnakes in Ohio. The Eastern Massassauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus), and the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). The eastern Massassauga is small and secretive, therefore not commonly seen. It is still relatively common in a couple of areas, such as Kildeer Plains and Mosquito Creek Wildlife Management Areas. The Timber Rattlesnake is much larger (up to 6 feet or so) and much more dangerous, but it is also much less common in Ohio. There are still several remnant colonies in southern unglaciated Ohio in areas such as Zaleski, Pike, Shawnee and Tar Hollow State Forests. Northern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix mokeson) are still relatively common throughout most of Ohio. Both species of Rattlesnake are protected by Ohio law, but I'm not sure of the protection status of Copperheads.

[G3]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

Yes, they are Rattlesnakes, but it's doubtful this photo was taken in Florida. They would be Eastern Diamondbacks (Crotalus adamanteus) if that were the case. Some of these are Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis ssp.) and some look like they may be Western Diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox) and possibly Mojave Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutellatus). So, if they were photographed in Florida, someone put them there because none of them are native to Florida.

Actually, that picture looks like it was probably taken at the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup (or similar event). http://www.rattlesnakeroundup.com/index.html This is an annual event in which they catch as many rattlers as they can, milk them and then eat the poor little guys. I'm sure it must be great fun. I've seen this thing on television a few time, but just haven't experienced any great desire to attend the thing in person.

Yep...that's quite possible.

[Josh]

Great picture. :) I'm convinced that Australia has the largest number of menacing animals of any place on earth. :D


BTW, that last picture completely freaks me out, even though I generally don't mind snakes. They look like Rattlesnakes, but it's hard for me to tell.

Yes, they are Rattlesnakes, but it's doubtful this photo was taken in Florida. They would be Eastern Diamondbacks (Crotalus adamanteus) if that were the case. Some of these are Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis ssp.) and some look like they may be Western Diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox) and possibly Mojave Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus scutellatus). So, if they were photographed in Florida, someone put them there because none of them are native to Florida.

Actually, that picture looks like it was probably taken at the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup (or similar event). http://www.rattlesnakeroundup.com/index.html This is an annual event in which they catch as many rattlers as they can, milk them and then eat the poor little guys. I'm sure it must be great fun. I've seen this thing on television a few time, but just haven't experienced any great desire to attend the thing in person.

we have that here in Texas....and everytime my brother goes...and I just look at him and say..."dont be stupid like you always are and jump in!!" lol

[ron chappel]

Nah,not poisonous :)
They have a cool looking blue tongue though.

Yes,dangerous animals are waaaaaaay overblown in OZ.As someone above said ,we have zero large predators.It's just a few poisonous things that one must occasionally worry about.Most of 'em want to run away when they see humans

WHALEOILBEEFHOOKED that taipan is big :shock: :shock: i didn't realize they got so fat

[terrijo]

I sure hope that was taken with a zoom lense :-)

[G3]

Nah,not poisonous :)


WHALEOILBEEFHOOKED that taipan is big :shock: :shock: i didn't realize they got so fat

Yes, that one does look fat. It actually looks like it may be a gravid (full of eggs) female. Taipans, like a lot of fast elapids, can be very difficult and dangerous to handle.

[cgratti]

[quote=Zeke]Little critter was trying to steal a sip from my dog's water bowl!

Yipes!! Is he poisonous?

Bruce

No, he is not poisonous, actually they are quite docile.

[pradeep1]

That is one mean looking dinosaur. :P

[G3]

[quote=Zeke]Little critter was trying to steal a sip from my dog's water bowl!

Yipes!! Is he poisonous?

Bruce

No, he is not poisonous, actually they are quite docile.

No, they aren't "poisonous" or venomous. And, the are normally pretty docile. However, if they decide to bite, they do have a bite that has to be felt to be truly appreciated...like a little vice with teeth.

There are only 2 species of truly venomous lizards in the world, the Gila Monster anf the Beaded Lizard of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Some Monitor Lizards, most notably the Komodo Dragon have a bite which is highly toxic and can be deadly to humans, but it is not due to the presence of venom, but rather high concentrations of bacteria which cause a rapidly developing and potentially quite deadly systemic infection which results in rapid failure of vital organs.

There are a few species of lizards, such as some north American skinks which are actually poisonous. There is a difference between poisonous and venomous. These skinks are toxic if they are eaten, which makes them poisonous. Cats and dogs often fall victim to this. Venom is sort of a souped-up saliva that is injected into the bloodstream and muscle tissue by either grooved teeth or hollow hypodermic-style fangs.