WILDLIFE SHOW
REX
EASTERN WATER DRAGON
Rex is one of our Eastern Water Dragons. They are a subaquatic lizard found around healthy waterways along the east coast of Australia. Largest of our Dragon lizards with males growing up to 80cm long. They can remain underwater for up to 1 hour and will rise to the surface to breathe. They feed on insects, frogs, yabbies, small mammals and occasionally fruits, berries and vegetation.
LYLE
ESTUARINE CROCODILE
Lyle is one of our Estuarine Crocodiles, also known as the Saltwater Crocodile. Found in northern Australia. Can grow up to 6-7metres with the strongest bite force of any living animal. They can live up to 100 years. Definitely an animal you don’t want to come face to face with in the water!
ZENA
BLACK – HEADED PYTHON
Zena is one of our Black-headed Pythons, found across the northern third of Australia in the semi-arid regions. Non venomous. They kill their prey by constricting. Feeds mainly on reptiles including lizards and other snakes, including venomous snakes but will also eat small mammals. The black head helps them absorb the sun and retain heat.
BUBBLEGUM
BLUE TONGUE SKINK
Bubblegum is one of our Blue Tongue Skink being the largest of the skink family, growing up to 60cm in length. Their large blue tongue is used to scare away potential predators. Feeds on snails, beetles and other slow moving invertebrates as well as fruits and berries. Although harmless, they do have powerful jaws and a nasty bite if provoked.
NOODLES
COASTAL CARPET PYTHON
Noodles is one of our Coastal Carpet Pythons, found along the East Coast of QLD and Northern NSW. Being a python makes them non venomous, having to rely on constriction to kill their prey. Can grow up to 4m. Great for controlling unwanted guests, such as rats, mice and possums who love to make homes in our ceilings.
HOMER
WOMA PYTHON
Homer is one of our Woma Pythons, found in arid regions of central and south-west Australia. Can be found in rock crevices and down in burrows. They use their tail as a lure to attract their prey. Feeding mainly on other reptiles such as lizards and other snakes, including venomous snakes.
LICORICE
OLIVE PYTHON
This is Australia’s second largest and heaviest snake, reaching over 4m in length. Found in northern Australia in rocky areas sheltering in caves and rock crevices. Feeds on birds, mammals, rock wallabies, bats and other reptiles including crocodiles.
TIM TAM
SHINGLEBACK SKINK
Tim Tam is one of our Shingleback skinks, found in the southern semi-arid areas of inland Australia. Also known as a Double Headed Lizard, Pinecone Lizard, Bobtail Lizard and more. It’s tail looks similar to its head which helps to confuse its predators. Feeds on insects, fruits and vegetation.
SPIKE
CENTRAL BEARDED DRAGON
Spike is one of our Central Bearded Dragons, found in arid to semi-arid regions of Central Australia. They get their name from their spiky beard on the underside of the neck.
Even though the spikes look sharp, they are soft to touch. Feeds on insects, small lizards, fruits and vegetation. They love flowers!
SHELLY
EASTERN LONG NECKED TURTLE
Shelly is one of our Eastern Lock-necked turtles, also known as the Snake neck turtle. The long neck helps them strike out at passing prey. Found in Eastern Australia living in dams, rivers, creeks and lakes. Their carapace (shell) can grow to around 25cm. They mainly feed on fish, tadpoles, insects, frogs and crayfish.
FREDDO
GREEN TREE FROG
Can grow up to 10cm and found in all states of Australia. Lives in urban areas, forests, woodlands and wetlands. Often taking up residence in suburban house in drainpipes, water tanks, letterboxes and even toilets.
POPPY
RED TAILED BLACK COCKATOO
Found in Western, Central, Northern and some Southern parts of Australia in Eucalyptus Woodlands and Forest areas. Feeds on a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits and insects and larvae. Declining in numbers in some areas due to Deforestation and lack of suitable nesting hollows.
LAUGHING KOOKABURRA
“GIGGLES”
The largest member of the Kingfisher family. They are not actually laughing when they make their distinct call. These birds are territorial, and they are warning other birds to stay away. Feeding on insects, worms, small snakes, mammals and frogs. They pair for life and rely on tree hollows and termite mounds for nesting.
DORIS
TAWNY FROGMOUTH
Doris is one of our Tawny Frogmouths. Being nocturnal they’re often mistaken for an owl. They are closely related to the Nightjar family. Often found sitting in the fork of a tree, their tawny coloured feathers help them to camouflage. These birds pair for life. Feeds mainly on insects, small mammals and frogs.
BLOSSOM
SQUIRREL GLIDER
Blossom is one of our Squirrel Gliders, found in Eucalyptus forests and woodlands along the East coast of Australia and into parts of SA. They’re a nocturnal Marsupial Mammal feeding on insects, nectar and pollen as well as sap and resin off the trees. They have a gliding membrane which extends from their front toe to their back foot which allows them to glide up to 60m. Females have a pouch, making them a Marsupial.
MATILDA
COMMON RINGTAIL POSSUM
Mathilda is one of our Common Ringtail Possums, found along the East Coast of Australia. They feed on leaves including Eucalyptus leaves, flowers, fruits and shrubs. They are nocturnal and build a nest to live in called a “Dray”. The females have a pouch, making them a Marsupial.
POPCORN
ALBINO DARWIN CARPET PYTHON
Popcorn is one of our Albine Darwin Carpet Pythons. Found in Kimberley areas of WA and Northern Territory Being albino means is has no black or brown pigmentation. Would normally not survive in the wild due to lack of camouflage.
BUGS GONE WILD SHOW
BARRY AND BARBARA
GIANT BURROWING COCKROACH
The world’s heaviest cockroach and can reach up to 8cm in length. They live in burrows up to a metre deep in the soil. Found along the coast of Northern QLD. They feed on dry leaves, twigs, and bark which they take down into their burrows to feed their young. They are important recyclers as they convert the leaf litter back into the soil.
SCARLET
SPINY LEAF INSECT
These are a species of Stick Insect belonging to the “Phasmid” family. With their “dead leaf” appearance, they are very well camouflaged in amongst the Eucalyptus trees in which they live. Male Stick Insects have wings which allow them to fly, whereas females must rely on their camouflage and will also arch their tail above their bodies toward the predator to mimic a scorpion.
SPEEDY
GIANT PANDA SNAIL
Being Australia’s largest land snail belonging to the “Mollusc” family, these snails can grow up to 10cm long. Found in sub-tropical rainforest in Southern QLD to the mid north coast of NSW. They feed on fungi on the forest floor. They are “hermaphroditic” which means they possess both sperm and eggs. Two snails will mate over night to exchange sperm and to fertilise each other’s eggs.
MILLIE
MILLIPEDE
Belonging to the “Myriapod” family, unlike their name suggests, they don’t actually have a thousand legs. Depending on the species, they usually have between 15-400 pairs of legs. Their bodies are made up of segments and have two pairs of legs coming out of each. Commonly confused with their close relatives, Centipedes. When threatened, they can emit a smelly and in some cases poisonous liquid which deter their predators.
SOCKS
CENTIPEDE
Belonging to the “Myriapod” family. Often confused with Millipedes. Unlike Millipedes, these have 1 pair of legs per segment. They have 2 pincers at the front right under the head which are linked to venom glands. Their bit can be very painful, but not deadly. Australian Centipedes can grow to around 140mm They feed on small lizards, insects as well as frogs. Found under rocks, pieces of wood, in leaf litter and under bark.
STING
SCORPION
Scorpions are “Arachnids” which are found all over Australia in gardens and forests as well as in the Desert. The like to hide under rocks and logs. They can grow up to 12cm long and can have between 6-12 eyes. They have a pair of pincers for catching their prey and a venomous sting on the end of their tail. Scorpions are fluoresced under ultraviolet light.
FLUFFY
AUSTRALIAN TARANTULA
Part of the “Arachnid” family, they are also known as a “Bird Eating Spider”, although mainly feed on insects, small frogs and lizards. Found from QLD, NSW, SA and WA. They make a burrow around 2m long and 1m deep. Not deadly, but can be aggressive and have a nasty bite. Can make you sick for around 8-12 hours.