Invertebrates, Frogs & Reptiles
AUSTRALASIAN Temperate Forest & Woodlands

Phylum Arthropoda

Subphylum Chelicerata

Class Arachnida

Trichonephila edulis. Formerly in the genus Nephila. Found in many habitats across Australia, as well as New Zealand. New Guinea and tropical Asia. It gets the specific epithet meaning 'edible', as it has been recorded to be roasted and eaten by people in New Guinea.

Subphylum Myriapoda: Millipedes & Centipedes

Millipedes and Centipedes and are long with many legs. The most obvious physical difference between them is that millipedes appear to have two legs per segment (on either side), while centipedes appear to have one leg per segment. They have other behavioural and ecological differences... 

Class Diplopoda: Millipedes

Millipedes are generally slower, and feed on decaying vegetation. Millipedes tend to roll into a defensive ball when touched, although they sometimes have chemical defences. Centipedes can have painful bites, and shouldn't be handled. 

Class Chilopoda: Centipedes

Centipedes are usually fast movers, and often hunt other invertebrates. Thus they can have painful bites, and shouldn't be handled. 

Order Scolopendromorpha

Subphylum Hexapoda

Class Insecta

Euploea core, 'Common Crow Butterfly'. One of the more common butterflies in Australia. Found in many wetter habitats across the eastern and northern parts of the continent and up into tropical Asia.

Tirumala hamata, 'Dark Blue Tiger Butterfly'. Found in wetter parts of Australia and into tropical Pacific islands and north into tropical Asia.

Cryptocheilus spp., 'Spider Wasp'. Known to kill even large spiders like Huntsman.

Family Formicidae: Ants

A track through Casuarina stems, made by ants.

Myrmecia spp. 'Bulldog Ants'

Large ants with large mandibles and eyes. They are known for their painful bite, among the most dangerous of insects. All species (except one in New Caledonia) are endemic to Australia, particularly the temperate woodlands of south-east Australia. 

Myrmecia forficata, 'Inchman'. Large ants, although not quite an inch in length. Purple-ish body, shiny black abdomen. Painful bites, considered the most toxic of all the Bulldog ants. Found in south-eastern Australia, most common at higher elevations (the Australian Alps) on the mainland, and lower altitudes in Tasmania.

Class Amphibia

Order Anura: Frogs

Ranoidea caerulea, 'Australian Green Tree Frog', 'Dumpy Tree Frog', 'White's Tree Frog'. Probably the most commonly seen tree frog in temperate Australian woodlands. Call is loud, rough and slow 'rawr.....rawr....rawr". Common in the pet trade. Found across Australia, sometimes even in toilet bowls.  

Class Reptilia

Family Scincidae

Carinascincus ocellatus,  'Ocellated Cool Skink', 'Spotted Skink'. Endemic to Tasmania.

Family Varanidae: 'Goannas'

Varanus varius, 'Lace Monitor'. The most commonly seen of the goannas. Found in various habitats, including around picnic areas, along entire length of east coast of Australia.

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