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Crocodiles
The Gulf of Carpentaria harbours two species of crocodiles, Crocodylus
porosus (saltwater crocodile) and the relatively harmless freshwater variety.
The latter usually only bites when handled or cornered, and the bite although
nasty is rarely fatal.
Meet the original Crocodile Dundee: Donald
Thomson
Turtles
A living
fossil was recently found in Lawn Hill Creek.
The gulf snapping turtle (Lavarackorum
elseya) has been identified as a denizen of the remote Lawn Hill Gorge
in the Gulf of Carpentaria Savannah. The find is of major international
significance as the turtle was believed to have become extinct due to massive
climatic change during the Pleistocene age. Previously the only evidence
of the ancient turtle was a single fossil found at Riversleigh.
 This
photograph is of a turtle found in the Gorge in September 2001 near the
Rainbow Serpent painting. The specimen appeared to be dying as it made
no effort to move when approached very closely. Ants crawled over its head,
and claw marks can be discerned in the treetrunk to the left of the front
right appendage. Another turtle in fine condition was observed on the same
day. (This is not to say that these turtles were identified as snapping
turtles.)
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White, A.W., Archer, M., 1994. Emydura lararackorum, a new Pleistocene
turtle (Pleurodira: Chelidae) from fluviatile deposits at Riversleigh,
northwestern Queensland. Records of the South Australian Museum 27: 159-67.
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Skink - Lawn Hill Gorge
Other Flora & Fauna of the Gulf
Birdlife
Birdlist at Savannah
Aviation - includes links
Birdlist at Sweers Island
Canetoads
Fish and Fishing Links
Native
Fish Australia
Fishinternet
Fishing
World magazine
Prawns
by CSIRO
Trepang Links (Sea Cucumber or Beche-de-Mer)
Trepang
Industry
Sharks
Electronic Zoo |
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