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Wildlife
Of The Gemfields

The Gemfields of Central Queensland are the habitat of many species of birds and animals that are well known Australian icons. Here are just a few of them...

RAINBOW LORIKEET (Trichoglossus haematodus)
One of the better known birds of Australia is the Rainbow Lorikeet. Its bold nature makes it a favourite with tourists.These beautiful, friendly, and somewhat noisy birds gain their name from their plummage which is every colour of the rainbow. They feed upon the nectar of flowering trees, and are one of the largest members of this nectar-eating group of Australian parrots.

EMU (Dromaius novaehollundia)

MAGPIE (Gymnorhina tibicen)

KOOKABURRA (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Australia's giant laughing kingfisher is one of its best-known birds - one of the "popular" birds. It is a predator that feeds on any helpless or small creature it can find, including snakes.

BROLGA ()

FROGMOUTH ()

BRUSHTAIL POSSUM (Trichosurus vulpecula)
These nocturnal visitors soon become quite friendly. Be careful though. The Brushtail Possum is a wild animal and has very sharp teeth and claws! A comparatively large possum with the typical hand-like hind feet that distinguish possums, koalas and wombats from kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos. It has a large, powerfully built body with dense fur ranging in colour from grey to reddish-brown. Like other possums the Brushtail is nocturnal, sheltering by day in hollow trees. It's an extremely territorial animal with a disconcerting rattling call it uses to warn other possums away.

ECHIDNA (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

WESTERN GREY KANGAROO (Dacelo novaeguineae)

GREEN TREE FROG (Dacelo novaeguineae)

WESTERN BROWN SNAKE (Pseudonaua nuchalis)
This snake has a slender body and a small head which is barely distinct from the neck. The mouth lining is blackish, unlike the Eastern Brown which has a pink mouth. There are at least nine forms of this species with a great number of colour patterns. The basic colour varies from olive-grey to dark brown or orange-brown. Some forms have a black head and nape, and others broad dark cross-bands with or without intervening narrower cross-bands. It is a fast-moving diurnal snake, feeds on mammals and lizards and is venomous. It is capable of inflicting a potentially fatal bite.

NORTHERN BLIND SNAKE (Ramphotyphlops diversus)
The harmless blind snake can at first appear similar to the Brown Snake. It is brown to blackish-brown above, grading quite smoothly into the cream undersurface and is about 25-35cm long. However, it has no discernable "neck" and a rounded snout.

BLACK-HEADED PYTHON (Aspidites melanocephalus)
This non-venomous python is easily recognizable by the glossy black head and neck. The black pigmentation ends abruptly at the neck and is replaced by a body colour of cream to reddish-brown with dark brown cross-bands. It shelters within crevices, caves, hollow logs or burrows. It is mainly nocturnal but is sometimes active during the day, feeding mainly on reptiles but also eating small mammals and birds.

CENTIPEDE (Dacelo novaeguineae)