Category: Five Easy Species

by Jamie Oliver

Insects & Spiders

Insects and spiders belong to the Arthropod phylum (Euarthopoda), which encompasses invertebrates with a hard exoskeleton, segmented bodies and paired jointed appendages. Crustaceans, centipedes, millipedes and many other lesser known insect-like invertebrates are also Arthropods. Paluma has a very high diversity of arthropod species, but many are either difficult to find or, once found, very hard to identify.  The following species are quite common around Paluma:

1.    Ulysses Butterfly (Papilio ulysses)

This is one of the most recognisable butterflies in north Queensland and an iconic resident of our tropical rainforests. The brilliant iridescent blue upper surface of its wings makes it highly visible in open sunny areas, and it is commonly seen foraging around the village. This large (~14cm) butterfly is a member of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae) and can be found in New Guinea and surrounding islands as well as in NE Australia. The underwings are not nearly as colourful with black and grey-brown patterning and orange-brown spots along the margin of the hindwing. Males and female are very similar in appearance but the female can often be recognised by the small blue crescents at the bottom of the hindwings.  The favoured host plant for the Ulysses is Melicope species (Euodias or Corkwoods).

2.    Australian Rhinoceros Beetle (Xylotrupes australicus)

This very distinctive and large (up to 6cm) beetle has two large horns (upper and lower) with forked ends. Horns only occur on males. The females are similar in size but without horns.

Rhinoceros beetles are harmless but can make a hissing noise when threatened and their claws are sharp enough to grip tightly to (but not injure) a finger or hand. The horns are used by males to fight each other during the breeding season. In Thailand they are kept as pets and for gambling over beetle fights.

Adult beetles feed on bark. The larvae burrow into and eat leaf litter and rotting wood and are often found in mulch or old compost piles in Paluma gardens. They can take up to two years to reach full size, by which time they can fill the palm of your hand.

Despite their armoured and heavy appearance Rhinoceros Beetles have fully functional wings under their carapace and are strong flyers. Males are nocturnal and attracted to light. The Australian Rhinoceros Beetle occurs in moist forests in eastern Australia and the Northern Territory. It has previously been referred to as Xylotrupes gideon or Xylotrupes ulysses, but current thinking is that these species do not occur in Australia and that our Rhinoceros beetle (X. australicus) is a separate species.

3.    Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion)

The Cairns Birdwing is another iconic (and endemic) butterfly of the Queensland tropics, occurring in rainforests from Cooktown to Mackay. It is the largest endemic butterfly in Australia (its almost identical cousin, the northern or New Guinea Birdwing is the largest Australian butterfly).

Male Cairns Birdwings can have wingspans up to 12.5cm, and have brilliant green, black and yellow wings. The larger females (15cm wingspan) have similar markings but in shades of grey and white.  Both sexes have bright yellow abdomens with a blotch of red on the side of the thorax. In gardens, adults are attracted to Lantana, Hibiscus and Bouganvillea flowers. Around Paluma they also feed on Agapanthus and the red Pagoda plant.

The main food plants of the larvae are Aristolochia acuminata (sometimes called by its synonym A. tagala)in lcoastal areasbelow 500 m and Pararistolochia deltantha in upland forests including Paluma. Mature larvae can be as thick and long as your thumb. If disturbed, they extrude distinctive reddish horns (osmeterium)  that  produce a fetid terpene compound to deter predators.

4.    Golden Orb Spider (Nephila pilipes)

The Golden Orb spiders (genus Nephila) are a group of large web building spiders that have grey abdomens and swollen and often yellow leg joints. The silk of the webs is distinctly yellow and surprisingly strong. In some South Pacific islands the silk is formed into a ball by local fishers and used as a sticky lure to entangle the serrated beaks of garfish.

In Paluma the common species is Nephila pilipes, and it can be seen in forest clearings and in gardens around the village. Despite their daunting size the bite of this spider is not dangerous. It captures and eats a variety of insects and the occasional small lizard that gets caught in the web. Very small birds have been recorded (very rarely) in Nephila webs, but it is highly unlikely that they would be fed on.

Two other spiders can frequently be seen sharing the web of the large female Nephila. The first is a small brown spider the size of a fingernail. This is actually the male Nephila, which can be distinguished by the enlarged brown palps near the mouth and shaped a bit like boxing gloves. Males of many orb-building spiders live a precarious existence, driven by an attraction to the much larger females, who must be suitably seduced by a complex pattern of plucks to the web before they are safe to approach for mating purposes. If the seduction fails, or wears off too soon, the hapless males are likely to be devoured by the target of their attraction.

The second spider often found on Nephila webs has a tiny silver teardrop body and belongs to the genus Argyrodes (most likely Argyrodes antipodianus). These spiders act as “kleptoparasites” stealing smaller food items from the larger spider’s web, or even from its mouth. To avoid being eaten by Nephila it builds a separate web intertwining its host’s, thus avoiding attention from its movements in search of prey to steal.

5.    Jungle Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda jugulans)

The jungle (or brown) huntsman spider is another large, long-legged spider that is commonly seen in and around houses and sheds in the village. Its long legs (longer in front) are often held in a crab-like pose. This spider does not build a nest, but hunts at night chasing small insects, which it kills with a bite to the neck from its curved fangs. Although capable of biting humans, the bite produces only local pain and redness for less than an hour.  They tend to be timid animals and will quickly flee if approached. During the day they will hide under the flaking bark of trees or in the cracks and corners of walls or behind pictures in houses.

By Jamie Oliver

Vines (as well as woody lianas) are a common and defining feature of tropical rainforests. Because they rely on rapid overgrowth of other plants for support, they are most frequently found in disturbed areas where there is ample light for rapid growth. 

Vines and climbers share a growth form but (like animals that swim or fly) belong to many different and unrelated groups. They use a variety of methods to grow up from the forest floor and into the light near the canopy without having to invest in growing their own heavy and rigid trunks. Some climbers use thorns that catch on to adjacent leaves and branches, others use tendrils to clasp or twine around other plants, and others use modified roots to cling on to tree trunks.

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1.    Climbing Pandan (Freycinetia excelsa)

The climbing pandan is a very common leafy climber found growing up trees in the rainforest and is easy to see along Paluma walking tracks. It is related to the large Pandanus palm-like trees seen in open forests along the coast. Leaves are narrow and pointed with fine teeth along the margin near the base. Some stems can also be found growing along the ground near the base of their host tree.

Fruit are rarely seen but are red to orange elongate clusters of seeds. Flowers are surrounded by orange leaf-like bracts.

A second species of Freycinetia (F. scandens) also occurs around Paluma. It can be distinguished by its much broader leaves, which have a more uniform length.

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2.     Pothos or Candle Vine  (Pothos longipes)

Pothos is another very common climbing plant found growing up tree trunks along the village tracks. The distinctive leaves provide the inspiration for its other common name – candle vine. The leaves have a constriction near the apex, with the remaining apical leaf portion shaped a bit like a flame. No other climber has this leaf shape. Pothos are another very common climbing plant found growing up tree trunks along the village tracks.

The leaves get progressively bigger as plant grows and change from upright and pressed against the tree trunk to long pendulous and downward-pointing. Larger stems can also be found growing along the ground near the bases of trees.

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3.     Yellow Lawyer Cane (Calamus moti)

 This is one of a group of climbing palms variously referred to as Lawyer Vine, Wait-a-while, or rattan. They are most frequently found in forest openings and gaps caused by fallen trees or cyclones.

 Several species of lawyer vine or wait-awhile can be found around Paluma. The most readily identified is the Yellow Lawyer Cane with its distinctive, robust, yellowish spines arranged in diagonal spiral rows along the cane stems below the leaves. The canes are often noticeably thicker than in other species. 

The other common species along the tracks is the Hairy Mary (Calamus australis), which has finer brown spines and a frond with broader leaflets.

All species have palm-like leaves and spines growing from a sheath that covers the stem (cane). They also all have tendrils with vicious hooks emerging from the leaf bases. These tendrils hook on to adjacent trees which provide the support needed to climb up to the forest canopy.  In older plants the lower part of the cane loses its leaves and spines and becomes a tangle of smooth flexible canes winding along the ground and up into the trees. In this form they clearly reveal rattan cane – the material that is widely used to make cane furniture.

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4.     White Supple Jack (Ripogonum album)

While this common vine has large bright green leaves, it is most easily identified by the leafless matt-green stems with irregular curved green spines that wind their way through the foliage at eye-level. The stems can be up to 3cm in diameter.

They are more common in areas that have been opened up to the light by a tree fall or along the margins of the rainforest around the village where there is ample light. There are some good examples of this vine along Lennox Crescent opposite the Paluma Pottery, and around the edge of the adjacent car park. Ripogonum has small white flowers and globular red fruit.

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5.     Atherton Raspberry (Rubus probus)

This rambling climber favours open areas and can be found in rainforest openings and at the start of the H-track on Whalley Crescent. There is another patch on the other side of the H-Track near the old fenced-off miner’s test pit and viewpoint over the adjacent creek.   It usually grows no more than a few metres high and tends to lean over adjacent plants rather than growing up tree trunks towards the canopy. 

R. probus has compound ovate leaves with 5-9 leaflets and the stems have widely-spaced fine thorns that are exceedingly sharp. The fruit looks like a small commercial raspberry.

There are 3 other species of native raspberry which can occur around Paluma and one of these (R. queenslandicus) is very similar, with slightly narrower and more pointed leaves. Based on leaf width,  most of the raspberry patches around the village appear to be R. probus, but it’s possible that some are R. queenslandicus. To be perfectly safe when casually encountering a raspberry around Paluma you can have a bet each way and refer to it as Rubus probus/queenslandica.   The fruit of both species is edible

by Jamie Oliver

Orchids are the most diverse of all the flowering plant families with around 25,000 species world-wide and around 1,600 in Australia. They can be terrestrial or grow on rocks (lithophytic), or on other plants such as trees (epiphytic), or on rotten logs. While some have large, showy flowers, many can be small, inconspicuous plants with tiny delicate flowers of various hues.

While there are several orchids that can be found around the Paluma village and surrounding tracks, their scientific names are currently in a state of flux, with 4 of the ‘5 easy species’ listed here having had their names changed by one group of scientists, but contested by another!  Here we will use the names published by the Atlas of Living Australia, but if you use the very good online key to Tropical Rainforest Orchids, you will need to be aware of the alternative scientific name given after the “=” sign).

Remember that it is illegal to collect any orchids from the wild. Several species have suffered from serious decline due to unscrupulous collectors.

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1.    Christmas Orchid (Calanthe australasica)

This is one of the most common and easily recognized species around Paluma.  It is a terrestrial orchid with large pleated leaves.  As its name suggests, it flowers around Christmas time (October – February) with a rather showy mass of white flowers on one or more stems.  Under the shady canopy of the closed rainforest these orchid plants occur at irregular intervals, but in more open areas on the edge of the forest they can spread to form substantial patches. There are good examples of this orchid along all the village tracks.

2.    Slender Cane Orchid (Dendrobium adae = Thelychiton adae)

This is the most common of the epiphytic orchids that can be seen on the upper trunks and limbs of trees along the village tracks. You can also find it at ground level on the limbs of recently fallen trees or on large rock outcrops. It can be identified from the cluster of distinctive pencil-thin, often grooved canes with a few (max. 6) leaves near the tip. It can also be found on rocks.  The white to pale yellow flowers are small (around the size of a 5 or 10 cent coin) and appear from July to October.  There are several good examples of this orchid along the H-Track and in several open areas around the village. This species is restricted to high altitude rainforests and sheltered areas of wet forests from above 700 m from Paluma to the Tablelands.

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3.    Rock Orchid (Dendrobium speciosum = Thelychiton jonesii var. bancroftianum)

This is a well-known and widely distributed lithophytic and epiphytic orchid with large bulbous stems (pseudobulbs) topped by large leathery leaves. It is common in many Paluma gardens where it can form massive clumps. Large clumps of this orchid can be found on rocky outcrops in full sun along tracks around the Paluma Dam (Lake Paluma), but along tracks around Paluma village it forms smaller, less conspicuous clusters, usually high up on trees. Flowers mostly vary from white to creamy yellow and appear from September to November.

There is another species recorded from this area which looks nearly identical (Dendrobium jonesii = Thelychiton jonesii var. jonesii) and can only be distinguished by its slightly smaller flowers and earlier flowering period (September-November). Some taxonomists have lumped both into a single species, so it might be safer to call any of these orchids Dendrobium speciosum/jonesii and leave the final determination to be resolved by the experts!

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4.    Cupped Strand Orchid (Bulbophyllum newportii = Adelopetalum newportii)

This native north Queensland orchid is quite common but often overlooked due to its small size. It has a creeping rhizome that grows up trees or rocks and produces regularly-spaced, small, globular, green pseudobulbs (8-15 mm), each with a small, sturdy, green leaf up to 70mm. It produces bunches of up to 8 small (50mm), white to cream or greenish flowers from September to December.

In areas at the edge of clearings or on fallen trees it can be found near the ground but otherwise it is higher up in the forest canopy where the light is stronger.  It can be found around many of the public areas in the village.

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5.    Buttercup Orchid (Dendrobium agrostophylla = Trachyrhizum agrostophylla)

This beautiful small epiphytic or lithophytic orchid can be found in open forest near the edges of rainforest or on tree branches overhanging open sunlit streams. In favourable conditions it can form dense patches.

It has slender cane-like stems that look a bit like Dendrobium adae (see above) but they are more spaced out along a creeping rhizome rather than occurring in bunches. It also produces leaves along a greater portion of the stem. The perfumed flowers are bright yellow, appearing from July to November.

By Jamie Oliver

This selection of 5 easy mammals includes a mix of monotremes (platypus and echidna), marsupials (kangaroos and relatives), and placental mammals (all other mammals).  While monotremes and marsupials are mostly restricted to Australia, New Guinea and neighbouring islands, there is occasionally a misconception that Australia has no native placental mammals.  This is far from the case. Australia has a very rich diversity of native bats and rats which actually outnumber marsupials in terms of species. Recent scientific work also suggests that the dingo should be considered a native mammal.

In general, it will require more effort and a bit of luck to see the “easy” species listed here compared to other groups in this series. They are pretty easy to recognise, but unfortunately, they are not regularly encountered.

The majority of mammals in the Wet Tropics are either nocturnal (most active at night) or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). For three of the following 5 easy species of mammal your best chances of seeing them would be along the village tracks or roads after dark with a spotlight.

Dingo and platypus can be seen during the day but more frequently in the morning and evening.

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1.    Northern Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles pallescens)

Bandicoots are marsupial mammals with rear- facing pouches.  The northern long-nosed bandicoot is now considered to be a separate species from the long-nosed bandicoot found further south. However, most nature guides will still refer to animals in this region by the earlier name – Perameles nasuta.

The northern long-nosed bandicoot is a common evening visitor in most gardens around the village, where it leaves round conical holes in lawns.  It has grey-brown fur on its back and a pale belly. Its most distinctive feature is its long, finely-tapered nose, which it uses to detect and dig out insects and other invertebrates near the soil surface.

One other species of bandicoot that can be seen in the area is the northern brown bandicoot. It is a bigger animal with smaller rounded ears, a darker brown back with streaks of black, and a shorter, less finely-pointed snout. 

Bandicoots are commonly seen along the local walking tracks at night and can be detected from their eyeshine. They will occasionally make a grunting or squealing sound if disturbed.

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2.    Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmata)

Pademelons are diminutive relatives of kangaroos that live in rainforests and dense bushland. The red-legged pademelon is frequently seen on grassy lawns after dark or foraging near the local walking tracks. They can be picked up from their eye shine if you are using a torch. It is often heard before it is seen, giving one or more thumps with its hind foot at it runs away into the bush. If you get close enough, you will see it has, in addition to ruddy-brown legs, a distinctive pale cheek stripe and horizontal hip stripe.

In the forest pademelons eat fallen leaves, but many gardeners in Paluma will attest to the fact that they are partial to certain fresh leaves of ornamental plants such as Gardenia, as well as lawn grass.

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3.    White-tailed Rat (Uromys caudimaculata)

The white-tailed rat is a placental mammal whose reputation matches its size. It is one of the biggest rats in Australia, weighing up to 1 kg and is nearly 30cm long.

It is active at night in the forest and around homes. You are most likely to see the results of this rat’s nocturnal activities around village houses rather than sighting the culprit.  These rats have tremendously strong teeth and jaws and readily chew through wood and hard plastic – including wheelie bins!  Some locals call it the “tin-opener rat” and swear it has opened tins to get at the contents!

If seen, the rat is easy to identify from its size (like a small cat) and its distinctive tail, which is half to two-thirds white.

White-tailed rats can be seen along the tracks as well as throughout the village at night and can be picked up by their eyeshine if you are using a torch.

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4.    Dingo (Canis dingo)

The Dingo is a placental mammal and has frequently been considered a subspecies  of the wolf (Canis lupis) together with domestic dogs. Recent scientific papers have argued that they should be considered a separate species (Canis dingo) and that they are true native mammals to Australia.

Dingos are very similar in size and shape to some domestic dogs. They are most frequently light golden brown in colour with a white chest, belly, paws and tail tip. There is a second colour morph that can be seen around Paluma that is dark brown and tan.  Dingos used to be very common around the village up until the local tip was closed. Now you are most likely to spot them in the early evening or morning along the side of the road out to Hidden Valley and to the Dam.  Like all mammals they can be detected by their eyeshine at night if you are using a torch. Like other canines, they hunt in packs and eat a variety of other mammals, lizards, birds as well as carrion.

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5. Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

The duck-billed platypus is one of two monotreme (egg-laying) genera of mammals in Australia (the other is the echidna).  Platypuses are often considered be a rare inhabitant of the bush, but they are actually quite common. Semi-aquatic, they can be found in most medium-sized streams and billabongs in a variety of habitats throughout eastern and south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.

They are mainly nocturnal but can be readily seen in the early morning or late evening diving down to catch a range of invertebrate prey, which they locate using electromagnetic sensors in their bills. Once hunted for their soft fur, platypuses are unmistakable! If you are lucky enough to get a good view, notice the leathery bill, webbed feet, and flattened naked tail when it comes to the surface to chew on the food it has gathered from the bottom. They are an irregular visitor to larger streams around Paluma, including Ethel Creek, Birthday Creek and the Village weir. Permanent populations can be found on Paluma Dam and Running River

By Colwyn Campbell and Jamie Oliver

Trees are the principal structural element of rainforests, creating a variety of climates and microhabitats for numerous plants and animals. The Wet Tropics hosts a huge diversity of trees (about 920 species) with over 100 species typically found in just 1 hectare.

The main visible parts of trees in a mature rainforest are the trunks, which are not particularly different among most species. This makes tree identification difficult for the inexperienced visitor. Three of the 5 easy species listed here are among the few with highly distinctive trunks and bark. The remaining two are common along the main roads of the village where their distinctive leaves and fruit are easy to see.

1.    Paperbark Satinash (Syzygium papyraceum)

This is one of the most distinctive trees in the Paluma rainforest and is quite common, especially along the Andrée Griffin Track. It has bright orangey-brown flaky bark and roots. It grows to a height of 20 to 30 metres and often has buttresses.  While the flowers are not very distinctive the bright purple fruit, which litter the ground under the tree from December to February, are readily identifiable. Leaves are glossy dark green obovate (with the narrower end towards the leaf-base).

Cassowaries, Bush Rats, White-tailed Rats and Musky Rat Kangaroos eat the fruit.

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (July 2018).

2.    Refrigerator Tree (Gossia bidwillii)

This tree gets its name because its trunk, when compared with other surrounding trees, is very cold to touch.  It is also known as the Python Tree perhaps because its mottled green and tan colouring and slightly twisting trunk resemble the marking and sinuous form of a large python. This combination of a smooth mottled bark and cold feel is what makes the tree easy to identify.

Growing to a height of about 25 metres it this tree can sometimes form buttress roots.  The simple leaves are about 80 to 105 mm long and elliptical or ovate in shape.  When crushed they have a slightly eucalyptus smell.

While not abundant in the forest track around Paluma, specimens can be seen on the Rainforest Track, H-Track and the main track towards Witt’s Lookout. See if you can spot them, growing among trees similar in appearance. 

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (May 2018).

3.    Bleeding Heart (Homalanthus novo-guineensis)

The striking feature of this tree is the scattering of brilliant red and orange heart-shaped leaves. Rather than a mass seasonal colouration change, only a few a leaves at a time turn bright red before dropping. Its leaves are simple with a smooth, glossy upper surface and a glaucous (pale) underside. The stems exude a milky sap when broken.

The tiny flowers are white or cream, have no petals making them difficult to detect. Flowering can occur in any month. The fruits which follow are small green to purplish. The fruit is eaten by many bird species, notably Rifle-birds, Bower-birds and Pigeons. Possums eat the leaves.

These trees are most easily seen along the roads in the village. A good example of the tree can be seen along the McClelland’s Lookout path and they are also commonly found along the village roads.

The Bleeding Heart is also the host tree for the Hercules Moth, which is the largest moth in the World.

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (September 2018).

4.    Northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis)

This tree is also known as the Bull Oak. Although it is quite common along the forest paths, the trunk is not particularly distinctive, so it is most commonly identified from the carpet of “butterfly seedlings” that occur near mature trees during the late wet and early dry seasons. A month or so after germination the first true leaves develop and the butterfly shape is lost.  Around the village roads there are several good specimens of the Northern Silky Oak that can be identified by the large prominent seed pods.

The fragrant white or cream flowers grow in terminal racemes or spikes, crowning the tree spectacularly from October to December. Then, in January, standing proud on long stems above the tree canopy, the large oval seedcases are silhouetted against the sky. The empty seed capsules are brown and woody and lie like miniature cobblestones on a bumpy pavement but they quickly decompose back into the soil.

The dark, oak-like timber of this tree is highly regarded and sought after for furniture and cabinet making. It once made up 15% of all timber production in the area.

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (March 2020).

5.    Pimply Ash (Balanops australiana)

This species is one of the larger common trees along the rainforest tracks, with a round symmetrical trunk whose diameter can exceed 1 metre in mature specimens. It can be identified by its distinctive trunk, which is covered in pale “pimples” or lenticels. Larger trees also have distinctive raised, round, sinuous roots extending out several metres from the trunk.

All species in this genus have separate sexes with individual trees being either male or female.  The orange fruit on female trees are small, solitary and oval.  They are eaten by pigeons.

By Jamie Oliver

About 162 species of reptiles can be found in the Wet Tropics. The concentration of endemic species (that are found nowhere else) is greater (18 species) than anywhere else in Australia. Likewise, the Wet Tropics hosts an impressive variety of frogs (amphibians). Out of the 212 species known to Australia nearly 29% can be found in the region[1]. Unfortunately, reptiles and amphibians tend not be as visible to the casual Paluma visitor. Frogs are most active at night during the wet season, while many reptiles seek the shade of logs and rocks when the sun is high. Nevertheless, there are two species of reptiles that are often out and about in gardens and along the roads and open tracks of the village. Two of the frogs listed here are best found by going out with a torch at night and listening first for their distinctive calls. With luck you may be able to trace the call to its origin and be rewarded with a view of the frog itself. The third frog can be found along the H-Track using a torch to look for eye shine on warm, wet, summer nights

[1] https://www.wettropics.gov.au/plants-animals

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1. Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)

This is the most commonly seen snake around Paluma village, and can often be found sunning itself on a rock in gardens and along the road.  They hibernate during the winter but can be found most other times of the year. They are relatively thick bodied and a uniform dull black above and pale below with a series of red blotches long the side.

Although it belongs to the venomous elapid family, for its size the Red-Bellied Black Snake is probably the least dangerous elapid snake in Australia. Despite the number of bites received every year, very few human deaths have resulted. You should still be very cautious when encountering this snake. Keep your distance and stamp your feet to encourage it to move away.

Red-bellied Black Snakes are the only species in the genus Pseudechis that have live young (the other species are all egg-layers). They feed on a variety of vertebrates including fish, tadpoles, frogs, lizards, snakes (including its own species), and mammals.

For a more detailed account of the Red-bellied Black Snake and it’s habits see the post by Colwyn Campbell. Addition notes and  observations by Linda Venn were also presented in a recent post here.

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2. Eastern Water Skink (Eulampris quoyii)

Skinks are small, smooth-bodied lizards, with most species having no defined neck. They are the most common type of lizard seen around gardens throughout Australia and there are about 389 different species. The Eastern Water Skink is a large species (28cm long) that can often be seen and heard rustling in the leaf litter in search of small prey.

They shelter in holes and burrows, under logs and rocks, and near streams and ponds feeding on a diet of water beetles and other aquatic insects, snails, tadpoles, spiders, small fishes, smaller lizards, and native fruit.   They can become quite tame and will quickly learn to eat small bugs and meal worms out of your hand. Birds, big lizards, and black snakes all prey on these skinks. Eastern Water Skinks breed in spring and as many as nine live babies are born in summer.

Further notes and  observations on the Eastern Water Skink by Linda Venn can be found here

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3. Orange-thighed Tree Frog (Litoria xanthomera)

This frog is arguably the most photogenic in tropical Australia, with a deep green upper surface, deep red-orange eyes, and lemony-orange sides to its legs and toes. It is quite common in Paluma and during rainy nights it can often be heard calling near garden ponds and gutters around the village.

Its call is very distinctive, and you are more likely to hear this species than see it. However, if you are able to trace the calls, you should be able to find a male perched on a leaf or twig near a pool or puddle. Watching a male inflate its yellow throat as it calls is a great reward for diligent searching.

During the day these frogs hide in the foliage and can have very different pale green and white skin and whitish eye colour.

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4. Mottled Barred Frog (Mixophyes coggeri)

This large mottled frog can frequently be found beside the road on Lennox Cr. and along the H-Track at night during the wet season. They can be picked up from their eye-shine using a torch and tend not to move when approached, so it is easy to get close enough for a clear identification.

They are also found (and heard at night) around the Village Weir. The call is a loud croak that can be heard at some distance.

There is one other species of mottled frog (Northern Barred Frog – Mixophyes schevilli) that can be found around Paluma that looks very similar but has a distinct continuous stripe down its back, whereas M. coggeri has an irregular and discontinuous series of dark blotches.

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5. Southern Ornate Nursery Frog (Cophixalus australis)

This tiny frog has an amazingly loud call that is so common in the evenings at Paluma that it becomes part of the background soundscape. It hides out in the foliage and on the forest floor and is seldom seen. Even tracking down a calling male can be a frustrating and often futile exercise. However, the call itself is so distinctive that you can confidently claim you have identified one just by hearing it.

There are 13 species of nursery frogs in the Wet Tropics and many of them have highly restricted distributions with some occupying only a single mountain top forest. Consequently, Nursery Frogs are considered to be one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates in the Wet Tropics bioregion. However, the Southern Ornate Nursery Frog has a much wider distribution and is not considered threatened.

Nursery Frogs have direct development (eggs are deposited under rocks or logs in moist soil and the froglets hatch directly from the eggs). The male has been known to guard the eggs during development – hence the common name.