Over the Christmas period - our yard is filled with the cacophony that is male cicada's looking for a mate!
While 'spotlighting' for Cane Toads with the kids - we came across - this little gecko - I believe it's correct name is " Strophurus krisalys" or Kristin's Spiny Tail Gecko. As for the type of cicada - I have no idea! (Postscript: I have been advised (21 Jan 2014) by the Entomology Unit of University of Qld that this Cicada is most likely a "green grocer" (Cyclochila australasiae).
For More information on the Green Grocer Cicada please visit the following link:
Green Grocer Cicada - Uni of Qld
For your interest, this is a Cane Toad - also known as Rhinella marina (formerly known as Bufo marinus)
Cane Toads (Rhinella marina) were introduced in 1935 from Hawaii to help eradicate two different beetles that were attacking the Sugar Cane crops in North Queensland. It did not work!!
Only 101 toads were brought over from Hawaii to create the 'other' New Australia Colony. Within 6 months of their introduction 60,000 young toads were released, SIX MONTHS!!!!!
A female toad can lay between 8000 & 35000 eggs in ONE spawning - she will spawn more than once (unless I find her first and put her in the freezer. This is considered the most humane way to eradicate them) a year.
They tolerate a wide range of environmental and climatic conditions, and have been known to travel 30-50km a year in the Northern Territory.
The photo below is of one lovely beast who was chilling out in the pets (chickens, cats and dog) waterbowl. Now before you get all 'bajiggerty' because I clobbered it, these toads are HIGHLY poisonous and their toxin is unique to them.
Information from the CSIRO states:
TOXIN: Cane toads have large swellings on each shoulder, the parotoid glands, from where poison is squirted when threatened or handled roughly. They are toxic in all their developmental stages: eggs, tadpoles, toadlets and adult toads.
The venom contains 14 different chemicals causing
rapid heartbeat, excessive salivation, convulsions and
paralysis. No humans have died in Australia from cane toad poison, however they will make you very, very unwell - and in the case of a small child - this would be terrible.
Cane toads have no known predator in Australia, with the possible exception of keelback snakes. Freshwater crocodiles, goannas, tiger snakes, dingos and western quolls are known to eat cane toads, but have died from the venom secreted by the toad. Some animals turn the toads on their backs and attack the soft belly, which is only mildly poisonous!!
The Cane Toad has been linked to the rapid decline of many native Australian animal's, and many a well loved pet has not faired too well when taking on the challenge of a chase with a cane toad.
For more information on the History of the Cane Toad check out http://www.qhatlas.com.au/
or
or
Cane toads in Australia on Wikipedia.
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