CASSOWARY:
Common name: Cassowary
Scientific name: Casuarius unappendiculatus
Size: Cassowaries stand between 1.5-2 metres in height and both sexes are simular in appearance.
Physical structure of interest: I love their striking glossy black plumage and bright blue neck with touches of red.
Physiological structure of interest: A very interesting adaption is how over time they've developed a Gentle digestion and weak digestive acids so that seeds that pass through the stomach unharmed so that the seeds can grow even after being swallowed.
Reproduction: Cassowaries do not mate for life or form permanent bonds. The female may mate with several males in a single breeding season (June to October), thus producing several nests. Once the eggs are laid, it is up to the male to incubate the eggs for 2 months and then raise the chicks at foot for a further 9 months.
Offspring: Females produce 3-8 pale green-blue eggs at a time. These large eggs are about 90 mm by 140 mm and weigh about 600 grams.
Where does it live in the ecosystem? Cassowaries live in the Daintree Rainforest, around creeks and freshwater.
Diet: Cassowaries are frugivores (fruit eaters) and are responsible for the distribution and germination of many North Queensland rainforest trees. Without Cassowaries, our rainforests may not be able to survive!
Predator or prey? Cassowaries have no predators in their natural environment, but when in different environments are attacked by foxes etc. And although they are frugivores they sometimes feed on snails and small invertebrates so they are a predator.
Interesting facts: The female is larger than the male and is also the more aggressive of the two.
Cassowaries are the heaviest bird in Australia!
Color of the head and neck can change depending on the mood of cassowary!
Common name: Cassowary
Scientific name: Casuarius unappendiculatus
Size: Cassowaries stand between 1.5-2 metres in height and both sexes are simular in appearance.
Physical structure of interest: I love their striking glossy black plumage and bright blue neck with touches of red.
Physiological structure of interest: A very interesting adaption is how over time they've developed a Gentle digestion and weak digestive acids so that seeds that pass through the stomach unharmed so that the seeds can grow even after being swallowed.
Reproduction: Cassowaries do not mate for life or form permanent bonds. The female may mate with several males in a single breeding season (June to October), thus producing several nests. Once the eggs are laid, it is up to the male to incubate the eggs for 2 months and then raise the chicks at foot for a further 9 months.
Offspring: Females produce 3-8 pale green-blue eggs at a time. These large eggs are about 90 mm by 140 mm and weigh about 600 grams.
Where does it live in the ecosystem? Cassowaries live in the Daintree Rainforest, around creeks and freshwater.
Diet: Cassowaries are frugivores (fruit eaters) and are responsible for the distribution and germination of many North Queensland rainforest trees. Without Cassowaries, our rainforests may not be able to survive!
Predator or prey? Cassowaries have no predators in their natural environment, but when in different environments are attacked by foxes etc. And although they are frugivores they sometimes feed on snails and small invertebrates so they are a predator.
Interesting facts: The female is larger than the male and is also the more aggressive of the two.
Cassowaries are the heaviest bird in Australia!
Color of the head and neck can change depending on the mood of cassowary!
TAWNY FROGMOUTH:
Common name: Tawny Frogmouth
Scientific name: Podargus strigoides
Size: The general plumage of the Tawny Frogmouth is silver-grey, slightly paler below, streaked and mottled with black and rufous. There size varies from 34-53cm. Physical structure of interest: Tawny Frogmouths have fairly weak feet due to them only using their beaks to catch their prey, this is the main difference between Tawny Frogmouths and Owls.
Physiological structure of interest: An interesting physiological adaptation is that thr Twany Frogmouth keeps its eyes open slightly even when sleeping, even 2 week old hatchlings can do this effectively making it almost impossible to approach a Tawny Frogmouth without triggering a response.
Reproduction: After mating, the female lays the eggs onto a lining of green leaves in the nest. Both male and female take turns sitting on the eggs to incubate them until they hatch about 25 days later.
Offspring: A female lays around 2-3 eggs at one time.
Where does it live in the ecosystem? The Tawny Frogmouth is found throughout Australia, including Tasmania, and of course the Daintree. It can be seen in almost any habitat but is found close on tall trees. They are not found in denser rainforests and treeless deserts.
Predator or prey? A Tawny Frogmouth is a predator, nothing kills it.
Diet: The bulk of the Tawny Frogmouth's diet is made up of nocturnal insects, worms, slugs and snails. Small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds are also eaten. Most food is obtained by pouncing to the ground from a tree or other elevated perch. Some prey items, such as moths, are caught in flight.
Interesting facts: There are many unfortunate instances of Tawny Frogmouths being hit by cars while chasing insects illuminated in the beam of car headlights, but the Tawny Frogmouth is safe and no where near extinction.
In Australia there are two other species of frogmouth. The Papuan Frogmouth and the Marbled Frogmouth.
GREEN TREE FROG:
Common name: Green Tree Frog
Scientific name: Caerulea means 'blue', which was the colour of the specimen that arrived in London in 1790.
Size: Their size is usually around 12cm.
Physical structure of interest: As they develop into frogs, they grow lungs, but retain the ability to absorb oxygen through their moist skin. To prevent infections on their skin, they secrete antibiotic and antiviral peptides. Isn't that awesome!?
Physiological structure of interest: Green Tree Frogs can change colour to their environment, camouflaging them from predators on the hunt.
Reproduction: A large amount of egg is released by the female green tree frog .The egg released is known as spawn. It is surrounded by a gel like membrane which thickens in the water and acts as a protection. The female lay the eggs in pond, leaf and in other wet conditions. Eggs that survive will hatch after 15 days into a tadpole and soon developed into a frog. After 12 weeks, they too can start the process of sexual reproduction of a green tree frog.
Offspring: The Green Tree frog lays around 400 eggs at one time, but many will not survive. This is a very small number compared to the Bull frog which lays up to 25,000 eggs at one time!
Where does it live in the ecosystem? They prefer to live near bodies of freshwater, and can often be found in the limbs of trees near lakes and ponds Although they are found everything throughout the Daintree Rainforest they have a habit of taking up residence in and around suburban houses, around shower blocks and water tanks.
Diet: They are capable of taking larger prey on the ground, including mice. They have also been recorded catching bats around cave entrances. (In suburban areas, Tree Frogs sometimes sit beneath outside lights at night to catch insects that are attracted to the light!)
Predator or prey? The Green Tree frog is prey of snakes and many birds.
Interesting facts: The Green Tree Frog population, like many frogs, has also suffered a decline over recent years. The species is long-lived and the oldest recorded captive frog died at 23 years of age. Because of this longevity the population decline went unnoticed for several years. Adults are still seen and heard regularly but young frogs are becoming scarce.
English scientists believed that they were blue because of the speciman that was sent to them in 1790! The alcohol preservation may have altered the frog's true colour, fooling the early scientists. Nevertheless sometimes blue individuals are found that lack the yellow pigment and, much more rarely, yellow individuals that lack the blue pigment.
Common name: Green Tree Frog
Scientific name: Caerulea means 'blue', which was the colour of the specimen that arrived in London in 1790.
Size: Their size is usually around 12cm.
Physical structure of interest: As they develop into frogs, they grow lungs, but retain the ability to absorb oxygen through their moist skin. To prevent infections on their skin, they secrete antibiotic and antiviral peptides. Isn't that awesome!?
Physiological structure of interest: Green Tree Frogs can change colour to their environment, camouflaging them from predators on the hunt.
Reproduction: A large amount of egg is released by the female green tree frog .The egg released is known as spawn. It is surrounded by a gel like membrane which thickens in the water and acts as a protection. The female lay the eggs in pond, leaf and in other wet conditions. Eggs that survive will hatch after 15 days into a tadpole and soon developed into a frog. After 12 weeks, they too can start the process of sexual reproduction of a green tree frog.
Offspring: The Green Tree frog lays around 400 eggs at one time, but many will not survive. This is a very small number compared to the Bull frog which lays up to 25,000 eggs at one time!
Where does it live in the ecosystem? They prefer to live near bodies of freshwater, and can often be found in the limbs of trees near lakes and ponds Although they are found everything throughout the Daintree Rainforest they have a habit of taking up residence in and around suburban houses, around shower blocks and water tanks.
Diet: They are capable of taking larger prey on the ground, including mice. They have also been recorded catching bats around cave entrances. (In suburban areas, Tree Frogs sometimes sit beneath outside lights at night to catch insects that are attracted to the light!)
Predator or prey? The Green Tree frog is prey of snakes and many birds.
Interesting facts: The Green Tree Frog population, like many frogs, has also suffered a decline over recent years. The species is long-lived and the oldest recorded captive frog died at 23 years of age. Because of this longevity the population decline went unnoticed for several years. Adults are still seen and heard regularly but young frogs are becoming scarce.
English scientists believed that they were blue because of the speciman that was sent to them in 1790! The alcohol preservation may have altered the frog's true colour, fooling the early scientists. Nevertheless sometimes blue individuals are found that lack the yellow pigment and, much more rarely, yellow individuals that lack the blue pigment.