Dugongs | Animals I Birds

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COMMONLY SIGHTED ANIMALS

Scrub Fowl: The scrub fowl has a prominent head crest and the bulk of the plumage is rich brown. These birds can claim to be the builders of the world's largest nests. The trail in the Macushla area passes by some of these large nests.

Skinks: These common lizards can be observed if you stop quietly when you hear the undergrowth rustle and wait and watch. They are well camouflaged.

Goannas or Lace Monitors: These large powerful lizards can measure up to 2 metres in length.

Dugong: These once rare mammals are now commonly sighted in Missionary Bay, which is now a designated Dugong Sanctuary, where they graze on the extensive sea grass beds in the area. They grow up to 3 metres and weigh up to 420 kg.

Turtles: Loggerhead, flatback and green turtles are all present in the Hinchinbrook area and are commonly sighted.

Crocodiles: Crocodiles are NOT commonly sighted in the area. Whilst crocodile live in the area they are extremely timid and hide very quickly when approached. Crocodiles must be treated with respect however they are not considered a threat to humans as long as basic precautions are observed. The walking tracks, beaches, picnic areas etc. used by commercial operators are considered safe.

The tourist operator will point out any area that they consider has a potential crocodile threat.

Frogs and Reptiles of the Hinchinbrook Island region

SCIENTIFIC NAME	COMMON NAME
REPTILES
Crocodiles
Crocodylus porosus	Estuarine or saltwater crocodile
Turtles
Caretto caretta	Loggerhead turtle
Chelonia depresso	Flatback turtle
Chelonio mydas	Green turtle
Elseya lotisternum	Saw-shelled turtle
Geckos
Geyyro dubia	A dtella
Heteronotic binoei	Bynoe's gecko
Oedura rhombifer	Velvet gecko
Lizards
Lialus butonis	Burtons snake-lizard
Diporophora sp.	A small dragon
Phksignothus lesueurii	Easter water dragon
Varanus timorensis	Spotted tree monitor
Varanus vorius	Lace monitor
Carlic fusca	A four fingered skink
Carlic rhomboidolis	A four fingered skink or rainbow skink
Cryptoblepharus virgatus ( boutonii )	A skink
Cryptoblephorus litoralis	A skink
Ctenotus robustus	A skink
Egernio frerei	Major skink
Lompropholis delicato	A skink
Lcmpropholis basiliscus	A skink
Larnpropholis challengeri	Challengers skink
Sphenomorphus punctulctus	A skink
Sphenornorphus quoyii	Eastern water skink
Sphenornorphus tenuts	A skink
Snakes
Morelia spilotes	Carpet python
Morelia (liasis) amethistina	Amethystine python
Liasis chilreni	Childrens python
Acrochordus granulatas	Little file snake
Boigo irreguloris	Brown tree snake
Dendrelophis colligaster	Northern tree snake
Dendrelophis punctulotus	Common tree snake
Stegonotus cucallotus	Slaty-grey snake
Acanthophis antorcticus	Common death adder
Crytophis nigrescens	Easter small-eyed snake
pseudechis porphyriacus	Red-bellied black snake
FROGS
Litoria serrato	Green-eyed tree frog
Litoria infrafrenato	Giant tree frog
Cophixalus ornatus	A small frog
Cophixalus sp. (c.f exiguus)	A small frog
Rana doerneli	Wood frog
Bufo morinus	Marine or cane toad
SOURCE -The Land That Time Forgot Arthur and MargaretThorsborne 1988.