08/03/2024

Archive

Wildlife groups A to Z | Amphibians

  Amphibian vs reptile: what’s the difference? Many people confuse amphibians and reptiles, or bunch them together. But while they share some similarities they have more very clear differences, as this expert guide explains. Amphibians and reptiles are two very distinct groups of animals, yet they are often confused for each other or thought to be the same thing. Individuals from each group might look very similar, for example newts and lizards, but in reality, there are far more differences...

Book Review | Secrets of the Saltmarsh

Secrets of the Saltmarsh By Claire Saxby; illustrated by Alicia Rogerson CSIRO Publishing, 2023 isbn 9781486317141 (hbk) https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8101/ It’s not every day that you think of , or use the words ‘salt marsh’. Wetlands, yes, vaulable and quickly disappearing habitats,  a habitat type thatwe are losing each year to drainage to make way for farmland. However the specific label of ‘saltmarsh’ is not in your roadside cafe. To clarify, Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water...

Botany on Tuesday | The Tarkine

Australia habitat with close links with New Zealand What is special about the Tarkine? The Tarkine is the largest wild natural region in north west Tasmania and is a vital haven for flora and wildlife. There are more than 60 species of plants and fauna that are either endangered or rare. The Tarkine (Indigenous name: takayna), officially takayna / Tarkine, is an area in the north west Tasmania, Australia, which contains significant areas of wilderness. The Tarkine is noted for...

Brilliant marine mammal guide in updated ‘Encyclopaedia”

The Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises Eric Hoyt, Principal photography by Brandon Cole, Illustrations by Uko Gorter  A Firefly Book  ISBN 13-987-0-2281-0435-3   “Back on the sea, the wind in my face, the smell of salt water, the crack an explosive spout off the bow, the rapid-fire of cameras clicking cameras as the broad back and dorsal fin appear, the plop of a hydro-phone to eavesdrop on the whalesong…..’    We enter the world of whales, dolphins and porpoises – the so-called...