Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Aye, there be dragons!


Sheath your sword; do not smote this beast. 'Tis no mythic fire-breathing devil-substitute from the Middle Ages, but a simple Australian Water Dragon. On the fight-flight axis, it is most certainly the latter that he will employ if you take one step closer. He will lift himself high onto four legs and scarper comically through the underbrush where he camouflages excellently.


Australian Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii), found on the east coast of Australia from Victoria north to Queensland. They are fast runners and strong climbers. When threatened, they seek cover in thick vegetation, or drop from an overhanging branch into water. They are able to swim totally submerged, and rest on the bottom of shallow creeks for up to 90 minutes, to avoid detection.

at

18 comments:

  1. UnknownNovember 08, 2011 12:34 am

    Very cool! Great images of this fellow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 08, 2011 1:27 am

    I'm so glad that this dragon hung around and gave you so many great poses. Cool that they can stay under water so long. I didn't expect that!

    ReplyDelete
  3. SharonNovember 08, 2011 1:56 am

    Handsome fellow!

    ReplyDelete
  4. BreathtakingNovember 08, 2011 2:28 am

    Hi Julie
    These are fantastic shots of the Water Dragon.What a versatile fellow!

    ReplyDelete
  5. lewi14@gmail.comNovember 08, 2011 3:13 am

    Wonderful shots of these little dragons.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mary AnnNovember 08, 2011 4:44 am

    Fantastic! We have little lizards scampering all around Beirut. I'd love to get a good picture someday. They move so fast it can be difficult to catch them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kay L. DaviesNovember 08, 2011 5:15 am

    Isn't he gorgeous in his own way, Julie? He looks a little like the marine iguanas we saw in the Galapagos, only this fellow is much handsomer, and not related.
    Fabulous shots, my friend!

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousNovember 08, 2011 8:06 am

    We saw one at a Blue Mountains lookout. It appeared unafraid and hanging around for a reason, which might have been food, but I don't know what tourists would have on their persons to feed a Water Dragon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. freefallingNovember 08, 2011 9:25 am

    Oh what a beauty!!!
    First shot is great.
    Love the tilt of the head.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bruce CaspersonnNovember 08, 2011 11:34 am

    My spirits are always lifted after seaching your blog. Well done Julie. I love the harbour shots too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnnNovember 08, 2011 12:21 pm

    You've got the focus spot on in the first one. I have lens envy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. JillyNovember 08, 2011 1:15 pm

    What a beauty. Super shots. Love that glimpse of red tummy.

    ReplyDelete
  13. BergsonNovember 08, 2011 7:49 pm

    so funny the first

    ReplyDelete
  14. Joan ElizabethNovember 08, 2011 8:10 pm

    The first shot if fab ... I like the way we get to have a close look at his/her 'hands' and lovely skin.

    ReplyDelete
  15. diane bNovember 08, 2011 11:14 pm

    Great shots especially the first one. I didn't know that they could stay under for so long. We have a family of them in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousNovember 08, 2011 11:43 pm

    He clearly loves having his photo taken!

    ReplyDelete
  17. JimNovember 09, 2011 7:15 am

    Awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownNovember 09, 2011 8:34 am

    Fantastic captures of a beautiful animal!

    ReplyDelete