Reptile Salvation

Pythons are generally arboreal, that is, they occupy trees and broadly considered to be a longer lived snake and the ball python is no exception. They are the world’s largest snakes. Pythons are exothermic or cold blooded and can reach a length of 25 feet. Pythons are vertebrates. All pythons are members of the family Boidae. Unlike boas, pythons are egg layers.

Burmese Pythons are typically 18″ to 24″ long at birth. Burmese pythons are one of the largest snakes in the world, able to exceed 20 feet in length. These pythons are jockeying with the native alligators for the top spot in the in the Florida Everglades food chain.

African Rock Pythons are tan with brown spots that have black outlines.

Adult Ball Pythons are usually a little over one meter long, that’s 36 – 48 inches in American measurement. Ball pythons are popular due to their small size and docile temperament. They can also be anyone’s favorite snake to keep and breed. Ball Pythons are native to Central and Western Africa and are ‘crepuscular’ being most active at dusk and dawn. Ball pythons are one of the longest-lived snakes.

Reticulated Pythons are meeting extinction within the subsequent fifty years.

Pythons are also one of the few snakes that exhibit parental behavior. Most pythons are rather ill-tempered, contrary to the boas. Most pythons are terrestrial to semi-arboreal, and a few, such as the green tree python (Morelia viridis) of Australia and New Guinea, are strongly arboreal. The pythons are possibly the only species aside from humans that can take on alligators. Royal pythons are most operational at night, when they hunt for their food. Contrary to what one might think, pythons are gentler and easier to maintain than rats.

BOAS

Boas are a type of snake that is members of the Boidae family. These boas are very secretive and mostly nocturnal or crepuscular. Calabar Boas are a burrowing species, and rarely come above ground during daylight hours. Nearly all Halmahera Island Boas are wild caught; this species is hard to breed and even harder to rear. Boas are very strong, and can easily topple such a structure when moving about.

Pythons and Boas are both of the Family Boidae. Boas are known for their placid temperament, which make them ideal as pets. Boas are live bearers; a small litter of babies is born 6 to 8 months after mating. Red tail boas are a very tame and docile snake.

Boas are also non-poisonous snakes that usually reside in Central and South America and are from the same family as the python and anaconda. Emerald green tree boas are solitary. Generally Boas are much nicer in temperament. Boas are ambush predators and rely on this camouflage to capture their prey.

By: Arjun Mukherjee

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The Australian Silky Terrier is thought to have been bred from crossing the Yorkshire Terrier with the Australian Terrier. This mix of the two breeds was meant to produce a toy dog with the gentle qualities of a small house pet and the inquisitive character and hunting skill of a terrier. Families who have Silkies will attest to the effectiveness of the cross.

It is obvious from the coloring of the Australian Silky that a Yorkshire Terrier had a part in its development, for it carries the gun metal blue coloring with rich tan points and silvery blue topknot quite similar to the Yorky. When the dog is born he is much darker and as he grows the tan markings fade to a lighter fawn shade and the gun metal blue becomes quite silvery. The ” Silky Terrier” is called the Australian Silky Terrier in Great Britain and in Australia, but is called the “Silky Terrier” elsewhere. In any case, the dog is definitely a terrier and meant to have the attributes of a terrier as far as its ratting and rodent killing abilities and in the case of the country of Australia, the little terrier is adept at killing snakes. The Silky is smaller than an Australian Terrier but larger than a Yorkie and the skull and muzzle are not as broad nor heavy as the Australian Terriers’, nor as long as the Yorky. In short this little dog has an almost equal mix of the qualities of the two breeds.

The coat care is simple enough, he requires a daily brushing and an occasional bath. Of course as always nails should be trimmed on a regular basis. The ears are erect and need only an occasional cleaning as they are not prone to ear infections. The hair on the face presents a bearded look and there is always more care on this type of muzzle as far as keeping the whiskers free of bits of food. Trimming can be done if necessary but his coat is easy to comb since it is exactly what it is called : “silky” and there is no undercoat. It lies flat to the body and does not tangle in the manner of a double coat.

The little dog is highly intelligent and is definitely a one family dog. It is wary of strangers and makes a good watch dog. When properly introduced it will accept strangers into the household but still will not be overly friendly. He is a very clean house pet and will get along with other animals in the household if he is raised with them. Of course the terrier temperament will come out if he is confronted and he can certainly do a good job of defending himself when necessary. Obedience competitors have found that the Silky is competitive in the Obedience ring and he is a favorite in the Conformation ring in most of the European countries, more so than in the United States.

By: Michael Russell

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Deep down, we’re all looking for that “authentic” travel experience. We don’t want The Hilton Australia. No, we want to stay with an Australian aboriginal family in the bush. We don’t want to eat at McDonalds Australia; we want to eat a vegemite sandwich or an emu burger.

We don’t want to visit the Queensland Australia zoo; we want to take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle right out into the Australian outback where we can catch a glimpse of wild dingoes and red kangaroos in their natural habitat. To visit Australia is to peer into a rich cultural heritage and experience a more laid-back beach lifestyle, if only for a week or two.

Australia has wildlife! It is one of twelve “megadiverse” countries that accounts for 75% of the world’s biodiversity, says the Department of Environment and Climate Change. The existence of Australian animals on the island fascinates biologists, who attribute the tremendous biodiversity to being allowed to proliferate without human interference for so many years. Remember, Australia wasn’t even officially declared a country until 1901.

It’s not every day that you can see 45 species of kangaroo hopping through the brush, an enormous emu running with its gangly ostrich-like legs, or hear a laughing kookaburra in the tree. Some animals can only be found down under. The Tasmanian devil, for instance, is only found in Australia.

To Australian guides, it may be nothing to see a playful platypus, 100 varieties of poisonous snakes, 56 species of parrots, a koala or a wild dingo, but travelers are always somewhat bewildered by the sudden emergence of animals they had only previously seen on TV or at the zoo. The bush and the Australian outback are unique experiences, so try to arrange a four-wheel-drive tour to catch the wildlife in their natural habitats!

Visit Australia to see natural wonders. The Great Barrier Reef next to the party town of Carins is the best place to dive in the world. Backpackers can take an “introductory dive” with a tour company for $75 AUD per trip. For a more in-depth view that’s off-the-beaten-path, you’ll need your scuba license or a fair amount of cash to get on a private boat.

Another amazing natural wonder is Uluru, which is also called “Ayers Rock.” The Anangu Australian aboriginal people believe this 348-meter, color-changing rock holds sacred power and it is situated right in Kata Tjuta National Park, where you can traverse many different hiking trails. Thirdly, at Monkey Mia you’ll have the chance to feed wild dolphins in Shark Bay, a protected World Heritage area.

Also, Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest (the oldest in the world) is home to 30% of the nation’s frog, marsupial and reptile species, 65% of the bat and butterfly species, and 20% of the country’s birds. These are just a few of the natural wonders you will be privy to on an Australian vacation. Australia also boasts some of the best hiking, road trips and a “Little Sahara” desert region.

Visit Australia to experience music. In addition to having thriving jazz and country scenes, Australians love a whole host of rock, but offer up certain distinctive styles. For instance, The Atlantics played surf-oriented rockabilly, much like what was happening in California during the 1950s – 1980s too. The Bee Gees, The Loved Ones, Olivia Newton-John showcased some of the diversity found down under.

Australia is also home to many “pub rock” bands like: Mental As Anything, Midnight Oil, The Angels, Cold Chisel, Icehouse, INXS and Men at Work. In the 90s, AC/DC, Savage Garden, The Living End and Silverchair brought notoriety to sleepy beach towns of Australia.

Today, “pub rock” still thrives as the traditional Aussie sound, with bands like The Vines, Jet, Airbourne and Wolfmother. Australian music is a great reason for any young artist type to embark on an Australian adventure.

By: MIKE SELVON

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I absolutely adore frogs especially the green tree frogs that live in our beautiful lush tropical garden in our home in Australia near Byron Bay.

Green Tree frogs are wonderfully curious and have individual personalities and antics. There are quite big ones and also tiny little ones that stick to the windows and look longingly to come inside. They are great for catching insects and have a great song particularly when it rains which it does often during the wet season.

A frog is a popular pet for many children, however I would prefer that they be left to enjoy their natural habitat particularly as many people do not know how to handle a frog properly. If you are going to handle a green tree frog you should only do so with wet hands as it is easy to burn their skin when handled by humans.

Frogs are adorable even from the tadpole stage and we have many tadpoles and young frogs living in one of the ponds in our backyard garden. Green Tree frog tadpoles are quite different looking to many other tadpoles and fortunately significantly different looking to the awful cane toad tadpole.

The cane toad was introduced to Australia during the 1930’s with the intention of combating the sugar cane beetle, however the introduced species did nothing to alleviate the beetle problem and became a prolific producer of it’s own species and began to destroy many of the indigenous wildlife of Australia.

Many people find it a bit difficult to identify the cane toad or to distinguish a cane toad from another toad or frog, however there are many pictures of frogs and toads available on the internet and in books so once you have a bit of practice it is quite easy.

Another outstanding frog is the Bullfrog. Renowned for its bellowing song and it’s passion for living in drain pipes you don’t often see the bull frog, however if you are sharing your environment with a bull frog or two you will certainly here them as they call out in very loud song and communicate with each other. Like many other frogs they can be particularly active during rain or wet seasons.

Frogs are beautiful creatures to enjoy so if you have a garden and the right climate make sure you have a pond or water feature with the right conditions and you will attract the local frogs in your area and like with our pond you can develop a natural breeding ground and they will provide you with great music, fun, entertainment and bug catching.

A final word of advice to any new frog enthusiasts, please ensure that if you are not familiar with the frogs that are indigenous to your area get yourself a good frog identification book and check on the internet to make sure you know how to create the right environment for your new amphibian friends.

By: John Thomson

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You can find all sorts of beauties and great things in Australia. Certainly, the island continent is a unique land of natural wonders, wide open spaces, deserts, woodlands, grasslands, mountains, beaches, and oceans. It is the marvelous country of numerous action packed wonderful outdoors sites, and fantastic cities, such as cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, and Canberra.

Australia is a vast country comprised of the continental mainland and the major island of Tasmania and a number of other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the southern hemisphere. Surely, you can find a one C of things to see & do in Australia, but here are top 10 things that that you just can’t ignore.

Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Located on the south-east coast of Australia, the Harbor City certainly is globally influential in the fields of culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. The city is home to the Australia’s two most iconic structures Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can enjoy the vibrant life of the dynamic city.

Sydney Opera House, designed by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, is one of the wonders of the modern world. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, the opera house is the most iconic building of Australia. It is the most famous performing arts venues in the world. You can enjoy the world famous theatrical, musical, and dance performances at this World Heritage Site.

Australian Museum, originally known as the Colonial Museum or Sydney Museum, is located in College Street, Sydney. Famous in the fields of natural history and anthropology, it is one of the oldest museums in Australia. You can enjoy witnessing wondrous collections of vertebrate & invertebrate zoology, mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology, and exhibitions at the museum.

Melbourne is undoubtedly the culinary, sporting and cultural capital of Australia. Often dubbed as one of the most cultured cities of Australia, Melbourne is widely known for its Victorian-era architecture, many cultural institutions such as museums, galleries and theaters, and large parks and gardens. You can enjoy every bit of Melbourne.

Royal Botanic Gardens, located near the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, are the finest in Australia and the best in the world. On the south bank of the Yarra River, the Royal Botanic Gardens are 354,000 square metres (35 hectares or 87 acres) of beautifully landscaped gardens. You can see a wide range of flora and enjoy the refreshing scenic beauty of the gardens.

Great Barrier Reef, located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia, is a “must visit” site in Australia. It is often dubbed as one of natural wonders of the world. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1981. It is very popular tourist destination. You can enjoy scuba diving and boating in the warm clear waters of the reef.

Gold Coast is a wonderful coastal city in the southeast corner of the state of Queensland. It is often dubbed as Surfers Paradise. The city is famous for its sunny subtropical climate, popular surfing beaches, grand waterway & canal systems, beautiful skyline & skyscrapers, active nightlife, and countless tourist attractions. You can enjoy the beaches, lovely airs, and vibrant nightlife of the city.

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is a very popular destination. You can enjoy shopping at Queen Street Mall in central business district (CBD); enjoy eating & walking at restaurants, cafes, & boardwalks in South Bank; enjoy vibrant nightlife in Fortitude Valley; enjoy shopping & eating at artsy shops and cafes in West End; enjoy dinning at trendy dining places in New Farm; and cruising on the Brisbane River at Brett’s Wharf.

Belair National Park is located 13 km south of Adelaide in South Australia. The park is known for many of its areas of interest, which include Old Government House, the park Nursery, Playford Lake, and the Adventure Playground. You can enjoy playing tennis, walking, biking, or horse riding at numerous tennis courts, ovals, and walking, bike and horse-riding trails in the park.

Daintree National Park, in Far North Queensland, is a popular tourist destination. Founded in 1988, the park consists of two sections, with a settled agricultural area that includes the towns of Daintree Village and Mossman. Home to numerous with tropical birds, butterflies, reptiles and countless species of wildlife, Daintree Village is a nature-lover’s paradise.

By: James Burrows

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