UNADORNED ROCK WALLABY

Photographed at Peter Faust Dam, Proserpine, Queensland, September 2019

112              UNADORNED ROCK WALLABY                  Petrogale inornata

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS                112                   

Scattered colonies in coastal ranges from s. Of Rockhampton to Home Hill, near Townsville; also Whitsunday Islands. Part of the Eastern Queensland Rock Wallaby complex.  Mostly nocturnal, but some diurnal activity. GrEgarious, form long-lasting pair bonds, and practice allogrooming. Shelter by day in rock piles and caves, also climb sloping trees. Feed on green vegetation.

ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN

Photographed sw of Ashmore Reef, March 2019

111                   ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN                   Steno bredanensis  

AUSTRALIAN                  111

Found in deep warm and tropical waters around the world; inhabit Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea. Estimated world population 150,000. Very social animals, always in pods, usually between 10 and 20.

AUSTRALIAN SNUBFIN DOLPHIN

Photographed near Broome, March 2019

110               AUSTRALIAN SNUBFIN DOLPHIN                 Orcaella heinsohni    

AUSTRALIAN.           110

Also known as Irrawaddy Dolphin. Restricted to coastal and estuarine waters, mostly less 20 m deep, in n. Australia from Onslow, WA to Brisbane River., se Qld. Prefers brackish water, will travel long distances up tropical rivers. Inconspicuous, little activity above water. Occurs in small groups of 2-5.

BILBY

109                BILBY                  Macrotis lagotis 

AUSTRALIA              109

Also known as Greater Bilby, Rabbit-eared Bandicoot, Rabit Bandicoot, Dalgyte. Distribution has reduced markedly; now in scattered colonies in acacia scrubland and hummock grassland from tatami Desert, NT w to Broome and s to Warburton, WA; also clay and stony downs in Channel Country sw Queensland. Vulnerable. Mostly solitary; constructs long, deep burrows for day-time use, forages well after dark. Eats arthropods, tubers and fungi. 

TAMMAR WALLABY

Taken on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, January 2019

108                     TAMMAR WALLABY                Macropus eugenii

AUSTRALIA               108

Also known as Dama Wallaby or Darma Wallaby. Severely reduced range and also introduced into New Zealand.  Has the ability to drink sea water. Nocturnal; spends nighttime in grassland and daytime in scrubland. Herbivorous.

SPINNER DOLPHINS

Photographed from shore on Christmas Island, December 2018

107                  SPINNER DOLPHINS                Stenella longirostris

AUSTRALIA                   107

Sometimes referred to as Long-snouted Dolphin. Found off-shore in tropical waters around the world.    It has four sub-species. 

Photographed off Ashmore Reef, Western Australia, November 2019

GRASSLAND MELOMY

Photographed on Coburg Peninsula, October 2018

106                             GRASSLAND MELOMY                     Melomys burtoni

AUSTRALIA                     106

Also known as Grassland Mosaic-tailed Rat, and locally as Rusty or Rusties.  Abundant in grasslands, sedge lands, cane fields, edges of rainforests, sclerophyll forest and wetland with grassy understorey; in NT and Wa in grassland, riparian vegetation, monsoon forest and mangroves. Nocturnal. Terrestrial but adept climber.