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25.01.2022 MY 2021 CALENDAR HAS ARRIVED! Pre-order yours now and save. http://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar/ 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the Global Snakebite Initiative. The RFDS help countless Australians each year in need of remote medical care and the GSI are a non-profit, charitable organisation working hard on many levels to ease the burden of snakebite around the world.

25.01.2022 WANT ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS SORTED? My 2021 Calendar features 12 of my best images from the year and raises money for the RFDSand the Global Snakebite Initiative. (Shop link at top of page)

24.01.2022 MY 2021 CALENDAR IS OUT! This year Im supporting 2 worthy causes: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the Global Snakebite Initiative. Grab one for the home, office or to gift as a Xmas present.

24.01.2022 GOANNAS GALORE Australia is home to more than 30 species of monitor lizards, or goannas as we like to call them in Oz. Thats over one third of the worlds total species. Black-headed monitors (Varanus tristis) are one of the most wide-spread goannas in Australia. I found this juvenile near the remote aboriginal community of Warburton in Western Australia. For the most part they live in hollow trees (as seen in this image) but they also occupy rocky outcrops and gorges. Its their ability to exploit more than just one niche that makes this species so successful across Australia.

24.01.2022 % - ’ . & https://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar-1/

24.01.2022 A RARE ORANGE SQUARE-NOSED SNAKE I recently struck gold by locating a wild orange Square-nosed snake (Rhinoplocephalus bicolor) from the Mount Romance region of Western Australia. This species is usually dark grey or black, with yellow to red flanks, so you can imagine how surprised I was to locate this completely orange colour form. To my knowledge, this is the first orange individual to be recorded in the wild. Square-nosed snakes are small venomous snakes with an average ...total length of around 45cm. They have prey specific venom, which is not considered dangerous to humans. Furthermore, these snakes are very disinclined to bite. Sometimes they rear up and try to look tough, but they are all bluff and no bite. If you are unfamiliar with this species, Ill post a comparison image in the comments, so you can see what they usually look like. - PRINTS AVAILABLE - See more

23.01.2022 , [WATCH WITH VOLUME] With up to 780,000 visitors per year, Rottnest island is the most popular island getaway for people in the south-west of Western Australia. Visitors walk and cycle all over the island, often right past highly venomous Rottnest Island Dugites (Pseudonaja a. exilis) while remaining oblivious to their presence. Despite the masses of visitors to the island, bites are rare. Furthermore, there have been no recorded human fatalities from Dugites on Rotto. That said, it pays to keep your eyes open and your kids supervised when visiting the island. If you see one, remember they are shy in nature and will generally flee when disturbed or remain still to avoid detection, like this little fellow.

22.01.2022 DO AUSTRALIAN SNAKES HIBERNATE DURING WINTER? The Australian climate does not remain cold enough for long enough in winter for Australian snakes to hibernate. Our snakes are simply less active in the cooler months and generally spend more time sheltering. This inactive period is called Brumation, which is a fancy name for ‘less active’. In tropical/ northern parts of Australia, where the temperature is extreme in summer, some snakes, such as the Coastal Taipan (pictured below...), prefer to breed over winter. Male taipans are often more active in winter as they search for females. Therefore, in some parts of Australia, it is a mistake to believe that you won’t encounter snakes during winter. Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) Mount Molloy, QLD - PRINTS AVAILABLE

22.01.2022 KING BROWN VS MULGA SNAKE A stunning golden Mulga snake aka King Brown (Pseudechis australis) from the Barkly Tablelands, Northern Territory. Often confused with the Eastern Brown (Pseudonaja textilis), the mulga snake is actually a black snake and is closely related to the red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus). It is sometimes called a King Brown because of its often brown colouration, large size and tendency to eat other snakes (King). The name has nothing to do... with which genus it belongs to i.e. Black snakes or Brown snakes. Apart from it upsetting snake enthusiasts who grow tired of correcting people that the king brown is actually a black snake, the name King Brown is quite accurate when referring to the general description of this snake. In many ways King Brown is arguably more accurate than Mulga snake. Mulga refers to a type of tree (Mulga trees) that occur in parts of this snakes habitat, however, King Browns are found in a wide variety of habitats ranging across about 80% of mainland Australia, not just mulga dominated habits. Therefore, calling it a mulga snake is not entirely accurate either. In my opinion, King Brown more accurately describes this species. With all that said, this is why we have formal scientific names (Pseudechis australis) - PRINTS AVAILABLE -

21.01.2022 Most residents in the south-west corner of Western Australia are familiar with the highly venomous Dugite aka Spotted brown snake (Pseudonaja affinis) as they account for around 80% of snakes relocated from people’s homes. For those who don’t know, Dugites also occur on Rottnest island, however they have evolved a little different over there. The island was believed to seperate from the mainland around 7000 years ago; long enough for the Rottnest ...Island Dugite (Pseudonaja a. exilis) to evolve sufficiently distinguishing characteristics to be considered sub-species of their mainland counterparts. The Rottnest Island Dugite is a dwarf form, only growing to around 1m, where as the mainland Dugite can reach almost double that length. Generally speaking, the Rottnest Dugites are very dark in colour and lack the speckles or spots common on the mainland Dugites. The remaining differences lie in the scales, but I won't go into that to keep thing brief. Stay tuned for a video tomorrow night... PRINTS AVAILABLE

21.01.2022 WANT ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS SORTED? My 2021 Calendar is now on sale. Raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the Global Snakebite Initiative. (Link in comments) Stock credit: Wildman Adventures

19.01.2022 WINNERS ANNOUNCED Thanks to all those who participated in may 2021 Calendar give away. The 3 most popular images are below and the 3 lucky winners of a free Calendar are; R. Thompson, K. Andrews & P. Graham. For those who didnt win, please consider purchasing one from my online shop to help with my fundraising efforts for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the Global Snakebite Initiative. https://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar-1

19.01.2022 LAST CHANCE TO VOTE BEFORE SUNDAY...

19.01.2022 IN THE DESERT WITH A DEADLY DESERT TAIPAN In 2017 I embarked on an expedition into the Great Victoria Desert with fellow snake enthusiast, Tim Squires. We travelled 1500km inland of Perth to find and photograph one of Australias rarest highly venomous snakes - The Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis). This taipan is the 3rd and most recently discovered species of taipan in Australia. It was described in 2007, 128 years after the inland Taipan (O. microlepidotus) and ...140 years after the Coastal Taipan (O. Sctuellatus). This large, agile and highly venomous snake inhabits the red sandy deserts of inland Australia. Because of its remote distribution, very few people have laid eyes on this species, with no more than 20 individuals being recorded in the wild. That said, local aboriginals would have been familiar with these snakes for hundreds of years. With some luck, we encountered this beautiful 1.7m specimen on the first morning of our search, fulfilling a long-awaited dream of mine - to find and film all 3 taipan species in the wild. Although Taipans have a fearsome reputation among the Australian public, this individual was one of the most calm and inoffensive snakes I have ever encountered. this is evidenced in the footage you see here.

19.01.2022 A WESTERN SLENDER BLUE-TONGUE (Cyclodomorphus celatus) from Jurien Bay, Western Australia. The average size for this species is only 12cm in length (SVL). They are significantly smaller, and as their name suggests, more slender than the whopping 30cm+ Blue-tongues (belonging to the genus Tiliqua) that we are used to seeing in our gardens and in captivity. They can be quite common in coastal health around Perth and north along the west coast of WA. No matter how many I find, I never get sick of seeing these cool little skinks. PRINTS AVAILABLE

18.01.2022 Most Australians are familiar with Shingleback lizards (Tiliqua rugosa), aka Bobtail, Stumpy-tail, Sleepy lizard, Pinecone lizard, as they occur throughout a lot of the bottom half of Australia and are closely related to the Blue-tongue lizards. They can be extremely common in parts of their range such as around the greater Perth region in Western Australia. For those who didn’t know, they also occur on Rottnest island, however they have evolved ...a little different over there. The island was believed to seperate from the mainland around 7000 years ago; long enough for the Rottnest Island Shingleback (Tiligua rugosa konowi) to evolve sufficiently distinguishing characteristics to be considered sub-species of their mainland counterparts. The Rottnest Island Shinglebacks are smaller in size and their pattern and colour is quite unique: usually dark grey with pale peppering. Due to their rarity and sought-after colour form in the commercial trade, the Rottnest island population has suffered form illegal poaching, making it harder to see them in the wild compared to their mainland counterparts. I was lucky during my second visit to the island and found this healthy fellow near an inland lake. PRINTS AVAILABLE

18.01.2022 PREDATOR VS PREY A Centralian Blue-tongue Skink (Tiliqua multifasciata) and a Mulga snake - aka King Brown (Pseudechis australis) Centralian blue-tongues inhabit grasslands throughout central Australia. They are tough lizards that are well suited to tough environments. They also have some pretty tough predators to contend with as well, including one of Australias largest venomous snakes; the Mulga snake. ... Mulga snakes will eat just about anything, but in hot and dry regions, they specialise in eating reptiles. When they predate on a blue-tongue, they dont always succeed at taking down these tough lizards. Ive seen a large Mulga snake trying its best to subdue an adult centralian bluey for over 10 minutes. Despite a valiant effort by the snake, the bluey kept rolling out of the mulga snakes attempts to bite it. Their tough, tightly woven scales make it difficult for the snakes fangs to penetrate. Blueys also have a strong defensive bite, some rather intimidating visual displays and a loud audible hiss they use as anti-predator strategies. Large adult blueys certainly dont go down without a fight.

15.01.2022 MY 2021 CALENDAR IS OUT! This year I'm supporting 2 worthy causes: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the Global Snakebite Initiative. Grab one for the home, office or to gift as a Xmas present.

15.01.2022 PREHISTORIC PERFECTION During a trip to North Queensland in 2019, I was intent on locating one of these beautiful Boyds forest dragon (Lophosaurus boydii) in the wild. I found this vibrant individual in the rainforests of Julatten, Queensland. One glimpse of these dragons, and its clear they are one of Australias best looking species of lizard. Their colorful blue, green, yellow and brown scales, together with their prehistoric appearance, resemble miniature dinosaurs. A...s a young boy I was obsessed with dinosaurs until I realised reptiles were living miniature versions, then my attention quicky transferred over to what I could see and touch. Interestingly, Boyds forest dragons do not need to bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature, like so many other reptiles do. Due to the high humidity in the tropical places they inhabit, they simply let their body temp rise and fall with their environment. PRINTS AVAILABLE

15.01.2022 VOTING NOW OPEN: VOTE TO WIN A FREE 2021 REPTILE CALENDAR! To enter you must: 1) CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW and arrange the 15 images from MOST to LEAST favourite. 2) Finish your vote by entering your email (so I can get in touch with the winners)... 3) Like this post 4) In the comments of THIS FACEBOOK POST, tell me which is your favourite image and why. https://poll.app.do/2021-calendar-competition-vote-to-win

15.01.2022 THE BEAUTIFUL KIMBERLEY DEATH ADDER Death adders are a variable and stunning genus of highly venomous Australian snake. This Kimberley Death Adder (Acanthophis cryptamydros) is one of 7 currently recognised species of Australian Death Adder; this one was described only 5 years ago in 2015. I found this vivid individual during the day while climbing around a rocky escarpment looking for monitor lizards near Warmun, Western Australia in 2017. I couldnt believe my luck; not only was it my first Kimberley Death Adder, it was among the best looking wild death adders Ive even seen. - PRINTS AVAILABLE -

14.01.2022 Boyds Forest Dragon (Lophosaurus boydii) from the rainforests of Julatten, Queensland.

13.01.2022 WORLD SNAKE DAY & AUSTRALIAS BOGUS CLAIM TO FAME To celebrate world snake day, I present to you some of Australias most venomous" snakes, AND Ill correct a huge misconception about Australia having the "most deadly snakes in the world. (Read the caption of each image for interesting facts) Inland taipans are an impressive species of highly venomous Australian snake but they became infamous, when in 1979, they topped the charts (the LD50 test) for having the most potent v...Continue reading

13.01.2022 THE SPECTACULAR SPECKLED BROWN SNAKE (Watch with volume) The Speckled Brown Snake (Pseudonaja guttata) is one of 9 highly venomous species of Brown snake that occur in Australia. They occupy tussock grasslands of the arid black soil plains of central Queensland and the Barkley Tableland in the Northern Territory. They are also rarely encountered right up in the North-eastern corner of South Australia, which is where I filmed this one. Speckled browns are a diurnal species, ...meaning they are active by day. When inactive, they shelter in deep cracks in the dry, cracking black soil. These underground hide-outs allow them to escape the extreme temperatures that they are exposed to in inland parts of the country. Sheltering underground also keeps them safe form predators such as birds of prey, monitor lizards and feral cats. VENOM They possess strong neurotoxic venom that is used to acquire prey, such as frogs, reptiles and small mammals. Their venom is classed as dangerous to humans/ medically significant. Brown snakes in general, have a complex venom. Although the venom is predominantly neurotoxic, it doesnt kill humans by paralysing the respiratory system as you might think, but rather, it effects our blood chemistry. Properties in the venom, cause a large number of our clotting factors to activate all at once, which exhausts the bloods ability to clot and effectively thins the blood too much. In serious envenomings, this can be fatal to humans by way of sudden cardiac collapse, or in some cases, internal bleeding and strokes. The most important thing to do if someones collapses after a suspected snakebite is CPR, and this takes priority over the pressure immobilisation technique. BEHAVIOR Despite speckled brown snakes possessing venom, are shy in nature, as you can see from this footage. Given the chance, they will flee, which makes them not a very dangerous snake to encounter. If they feel threatened, they will give plenty of warnings in the form of defensive posturing - flattening the neck, fearing up and mock striking. Biting is usually a last resort. If they do bite, they have very short fangs of only around 2mm and closed in shoes and long pants can offer protection against a bite. Dry bites are also very common among brown snakes, and the general rate of envenoming for brown snakes is 20-40%, meaning dry bites occur between 60-80% of the time. It is now becoming widely accepted that snakes instinctively know the difference between biting out of defence, where it is better not to waste venom, and biting to acquire prey, where it is imperative that they use venom. These statistics further demonstrate that snakes only bite humans out of defence and they arent out to get you as some people still believe.

12.01.2022 **2021 REPTILE FUNDRAISING CALENDAR OUT NOW** This premium quality calendar features 12 of my best images from 2020. 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the Global Snakebite Initiative.... This calendar is a must for any wildlife lover wanting to support both a local photographer (me) and two important causes. PRE-ORDER HERE - https://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar/

12.01.2022 BIG AND BEAUTIFUL The Starred Knob-tailed Gecko (Nephrurus stellatus) are among Australias larger geckos, growing to around 10cm. Their big heads, wide mouths and strong jaws are perfect for crunching insects, spiders and even smaller geckos. Their name comes from the star-like pattern on their backs. This individual is from the population in Western Australia, which is isolated from the larger South Australian population. Because of this small range in Western Australia and their relatively remote location, members from this population are seldomly encountered or photographed, so Im pleased each time I locate these stunning little geckos. - PRINTS AVAILABLE -

11.01.2022 60% SOLD OUT Order yours before they’re all gone https://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar-1/

10.01.2022 THE BURTONS SNAKE LIZARD aka Burtons Legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) is one of Australias most successful species of reptile, occupying over 80% of the country. This lizard takes advantage of a wide range of habitats from coastal heath, open woodland, tropical forests, and desert. It is both diurnal and nocturnal and is an ambush, or sit and wait predator. They are a reptile specialist, preying exclusively on reptiles: mostly surface dwelling lizards, especially skinks, but also geckos, dragons, other Legless lizards, and even smaller snakes. Dispute being a very common species, its cool to remember they are still a badass little reptile. - PRINTS AVAILABLE

09.01.2022 THE DUGITE (Paeudonaja a. affinis) is one of 9 brown snake species in Australia. On average snakes cause around two human fatalities per year in Australia. Brown snakes have a bad reputation as they are attributed to the majority of these deaths. In the Dugites case, this bad reputation is undeserved. In my experience, I find them to be very shy snakes, preferring to flee when encountered by anything larger than them. That being said they, will defend themselves if cornered,... harassed, stepped on, or attacked. The Dugites are the most common snake removed from Perth backyards, accounting for about 80% of relocations, yet they have only been attributed to 2 deaths since 1980; both elderly people over 70 who didnt seek medical attention post bite. If Dugites have learnt how to coexist with humans so well, shouldnt we offer them the same respect? The European honey bee, horses, cattle and even domestic dogs kill more people in Australian each year than snakes, yet we dont go around shooting peoples horses and dogs or killing bees with shovels. Next time you see a snake, dont treat it like a pest that must be killed because you think its more dangerous than it really is. Instead, treat it as you would a honey bee; keep your distance and let it play its role in nature. Alternatively, call a snake catcher to have it safely relocated. PRINTS AVAILABLE

09.01.2022 LIZARDS ARENT THE ONLY THING CRAWLING AROUND THE DUNES Youll have to look closely to see the tick but this image demonstrates what Im attracting as I lay on the ground photographing a juvenile Western slender blue tongue (Cyclodomorphus celatus) among the sand dunes and coastal health of Jurien Bay, Western Australia. Whenever I photograph reptiles in this habitat Im often picking ticks off me for the rest of the day. This was the first time one has crawled onto the nose... of my subject though, so I thought Id capture that moment for you all. - PRINTS AVAILABLE - See more

08.01.2022 WANT ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS SORTED? My 2021 Calendar is now on sale. Raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and the Global Snakebite Initiative. (Shop link at top of page)

08.01.2022 THE SELDOM SEEN SQUARE-NOSED SNAKE Introducing the Square-nosed snake (Rhinoplocephalus bicolor) from the Mount Romance region of Western Australia. Square-nosed snakes are seldom encountered/ photographed because of their secretive nature and small size (about 45cm average total length). They possess prey-specific venom, which is not considered dangerous to humans. So unless youre a small lizard, you have nothing to worry about. Furthermore, these inoffensive snakes are v...ery disinclined to bite. Sometimes they rear up and try to look tough, but they are all bluff and no bite. - PRINTS AVAILABLE - See more

07.01.2022 An Excitable Delma (Delma tincta) from Exmouth, Western Australia. Tincta is Latin for painted and refers to their beautiful markings. Delmas are the largest genus of Pygopods (legless lizards) in Australia comprising of over 20 species. This accounts for almost half of Australias known species of legless lizards (at least 44 so far). I stumbled across this 25cm individual late in the afternoon as I knocked off work. My workmates all said they would have thought it was ...a baby brown snake if I hadnt been there to tell them otherwise. Its important to understand that numerous species of legless lizards and small/ harmless snakes are brown in colour (not just brown snakes), and it pains me to think how many of these harmless reptiles are killed by those who dont know the difference. PRINTS AVAILABLE See more

07.01.2022 MR FEBRUARY IN MY 2021 CALENDAR https://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar/ A Burtons Snake-lizard, aka Burtons Legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) from Jurien Bay, Western Australia. These snake-like lizards are among Australias most successful species of reptile, occupying over 80% of the country. They take advantage of a wide range of habitats from coastal heath, open woodland, tropical forests and deserts. They are both diurnal and nocturnal and are an ambush, or sit and wait predator. They are a reptile specialist, preying exclusively on reptiles: mostly surface dwelling lizards, especially skinks, but also geckos, dragons, other Legless lizards, and even smaller snakes. Dispute being a very common species, its cool to remember they are still a badass little reptile. - PRINTS AVAILABLE -

07.01.2022 TIGER SNAKE ISLAND Carnac island is located Just a few nautical miles off the West Australian coast near Fremantle and its quite literally crawling with tiger snakes. With no natural predators, and a reliable food source provided by a nesting seagull population, tiger snakes thrive on the island. Their density is estimated to be as high as 3 snakes in every 25 square metres. This makes my job a lot easier when visiting the island to photograph these snakes. Furthermore, thi...s population of tiger snakes have quite relaxed temperaments as a result of having virtually no natural predators. Their biggest concern is adult seagulls who protect their chicks by pecking the snakes when they come looking for an easy meal, resulting in visible damage to the heads and tails on some of the older snakes. It is rumoured that the majority of the snakes on the island are blind because they have had their eyes pecked out by seagulls. While this does occur on occasion, it is not true for the majority of the snakes. At this time of year, the nesting seagulls have stripped a portion of the island bare of vegetation to make nests for their chicks (as you can see in the background). The tiger snakes have only to wait until the eggs hatch for there to be plenty of food on offer. They mustn’t expose themselves for too long while hunting, or they risk being dive-bombed by a swarm of angry, squawking seagulls. There is about 20 overhead while I photograph this snake and if you look closely, you’ll notice a few in the frame. ----------------------------------------- PRINTS AVAILABLE

07.01.2022 - ? When a front-fanged venomous snake bites down with enough pressure, the muscles around the venom gland contract, forcing venom to flow along the venom ducts and through the fangs. A successful venomous bite generally depends on how effectively the snake has bitten the subject and whether the snake bites down hard enough to engage the muscles around the venom gland. When defending themselves against a predator, snakes often strik...e out to intimidate their opponent without intending to deliver venom. A dry-bite occurs when a snake bites a subject, but does not inject venom. Dry bites may just be quick defensive bites, or glancing bites, where the fangs contact the victim’s skin, but the snake does not hold on long enough, or bite down with enough force, to result in the successful delivery of venom. While further research is required on this topic, it is becoming widely accepted that venomous snakes instinctively know when to use, and when not to use their venom. Put simply, if a venomous snake bites a prey item, their intent is to inject venom 100% of the time, or they risk going hungry. Alternatively, when a venomous snake bites to defend itself, they don’t always inject venom, presumably for two reasons; 1) There is no situation where the snake benefits from using its venom on a non-prey item; it is a waste of venom and risks injury to the snake. 2) If a snake is faced with a life and death situation and a confrontation were to take place, no matter how venomous the snake is, its venom won’t act fast enough to stop the predator from killing the snake in the first place, rendering venom ineffective as a defensive strategy when delivered from a bite. With regard to Brown snakes, such as the Dugite - aka Spotted brown snake (Pseudonaja a. affinis) as pictured below, and the Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textillis) statistics show that the general rate of envenoming is approximately 20-40%, meaning dry bites occur in 60-80% of bite cases. With such a low rate of envenoming, it stands to reason that they instinctively know not to use their venom on anything they cannot eat. To summarise, I am not advising anyone to take their chances if they are bitten; always apply snakebite first aid and seek urgent medical attention if you believe you have been bitten. I am simply explaining the mechanics of a bite and what a dry-bite is for those who are unaware, as well as outlining that snakes such as brown snakes can, and often do, dry bite. Dugite, aka spotted brown snake (Paeudonaja a. affinis) from Lakelands Western Australia.

07.01.2022 TAZZIE TIGER A beautiful juvenile tiger snake found near Lake St Clair, Tasmania. After completing the 85km overland track hike, I had half a day to kill before our transport to the airport. In that time I was lucky enough to find and photograph this handsome little fellow. In this part of Tasmania tiger snakes are almost entirely black. Their darker pigment helps them absorb heat more efficiently in cooler environments. PRINTS AVAILABLE

05.01.2022 THE MYSTERIOUS MULGA DRAGON Mulga dragons (Diporiphora amphiboluroides) are a cryptic species of lizard that spend the majority of their day motionless among the branches of mulga trees, moving only when necessary. Their grey/ brown colouration provides excellent camouflage in their natural habitat of dead mulga woodland. This secretive behaviour, coupled with their camouflage, allows these lizards to operate as ambush predators, while remaining undetected from their own predators. This gravid (pregnant) female was incubating eggs at the time I encountered her. Gravid females need to bask in the sun longer, which caused her to expose herself in the open long enough for me to spot her near the Hamelin Pool region, Western Australia. PRINTS AVAILABLE

05.01.2022 2021 CALENDAR OUT NOW - PRE-ORDER NOW & SAVE Featuring 12 of my best images from 2020. Raising money for the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the Global Snakebite Initiative. This calendar is a must for any wildlife lover wanting to support a local wildlife photographer (me) and two important causes. PRE-ORDER HERE - https://rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar/

04.01.2022 MYTH BUSTED Australian snakes are more aggressive during breeding season And, the 3 most potentially dangerous snakes in Western Australia. During breeding season, some species of snakes engage in male to male combat to compete for the breeding rights of a nearby female. Males will "wrestle" each other, in what is sometimes confused with mating behavior, to determine who is stronger. Following a battle, the weaker male is forced to retreat and the victor wins the right to ...mate with a nearby female. While this behavior may appear aggressive towards their rival, there is no scientific evidence that male snakes show more aggression towards people during this period. I offer the following information to explain why some people believe snakes become more aggressive in breeding season. Following brumation (a dormancy/ inactive period through the cooler months of the year), the activity level of snakes increases dramatically, peaking in spring and summer. Warmer weather triggers snakes to mobilise in search of food and a mate. The most commonly encountered snakes during this period are males with only one thing on their mind - mating. Because males range over large areas in search of females, it causes male snakes to instinctually follow the scent of females, often blindly into residential areas. This is where increased levels of snake/ human conflict can arise. When a snake encounters a large human or domestic pet (the family dog for example) in close proximity, they can react defensively to protect themselves. This behavior has nothing to do with snakes being more aggressive during breeding season, they simply come into contact with humans and domestic animals more often during this period and will defend their personal safety when necessary, just as they would any other time of year. In summary, it is the increased number of encounters that leads to more conflict with snakes in breeding season, not increased levels of aggression in male snakes.

04.01.2022 GIVE ME A SNAKE AMONG THE GUM TREES! One of three beautiful Murray Darling Carpet Pythons I was lucky enough to find on a 2018 trip into inland QLD / SA. This individual was around 1.6m in length and in beautiful condition. They are also referred to as Inland Carpet Pythons. As the name suggests, they inhabit some pretty harsh environments of inland Australia. For safety, and to escape the extreme temperatures, they often shelter in the well insulated tree hollows. If there a...re no trees available, they utilise disused animal burrows. Lucky for us, all tree snakes were out and about when we encountered them. What beautiful snakes! Murray Darling Carpet Python (Morelia spilota metcalfei) Goyder lagoon, SA. - PRINTS AVAILABLE

04.01.2022 Each time I’ve visited Uluru, I would fantasize about finding a reptile in close proximity to the epic landmark so that I might be able to capture it in the background. My dream materialized during my 5th trip to the rock, when I encountered this Pygmy Mulga Monitor (Varanus gilleni) being harassed by some birds as it crossed open ground between some trees. The little Goanna climbed this tree to escape the pesky birds affording me the opportu...nity to capture this scene. These charismatic little monitors are one of Australia’s pygmy species of monitor lizard/ goannas, only growing to an average total length of around 38cm. They shelter under bark and in the cracks and hollows of trees throughout their range. These insulated hideouts provide the perfect retreat from extreme summer heat in the arid interior of Australia. The tree hollows also serve to keep the lizards safe from predators such as birds of prey, feral cats and other large monitor lizards that would make short work of these small monitors given the chance. PRINTS AVAILABLE

04.01.2022 WORLD LIZARD DAY To celebrate world lizard day I give you 10 of my best lizard images, showcasing some of Australias most iconic species of lizards. Australia is home to over 820 species of lizards, making Australia one of the most biodiverse continents on the planet for reptiles. Lets use today to celebrate how lucky we are to have such an abundance of amazing wildlife. 1. Northern Blue-tongue Skink (Tiliqua s. intermedia) Barkly Tablelands, NT 2. Inland Bearded Dragon (Po...gona vitticeps) Linden, QLD 3. Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) Tanami Desert, NT 4. Boyds forest dragon (Lophosaurus boydii) Julatten, QLD 5. Frill-necked dragon (Chlamydosaurus kingii) Darwin, NT 6. Burtons snake lizard aka Burtons legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) Darwin NT 7. Pilbara barking gecko (Underwoodisaurus seorsus) Hamersley Range, WA 8. Perentie (Varanus giganteus) Gnarloo, WA 9. Southern Pilbara Rock Monitor (Varanus hamersleyensis) Karijini NP, WA 10. Black-headed monitor (Varanus tristis) Warburton, WA - PRINTS AVAILABLE - #lizard Australian Geographic See more

03.01.2022 CANYONING WITH TIGER SNAKES Most years, my canyoning buddies and I visit the Blue Mountains in NSW to explore some of the many stunning canyons in the region. On this occasion, It was a sunny mid-November day in 2017 and about 2pm in the afternoon. The day was at its warmest (around 19C) and I was in a beautiful canyon called whungee wheengee in the Mount Wilson area of the Blue Mountains. The water was extremely cold as the light only shined into the canyon for a few hours ...a day. You might think this would be the last place you would encounter a snake, but tiger snakes are among the most cold tolerant Australian snakes and they are willing to brave the cold water and diminished sunlight in canyons search of their preferred prey of frogs. During the last 7 years of exploring these canyons, I have come across quite a few reptiles living in these beautiful environments, but non have I captured better than this beautiful 1m long tiger snake (Notechis scutatus). - PRINTS AVAILABLE -

03.01.2022 2021 CALENDARS GOING FAST! Grab yours now and save https://rmrphotography.com.au

02.01.2022 MYTH BUSTER: VENOMOUS AUSTRALIAN SNAKES DONT CLIMB Theres a bit of a myth in Australia that our venomous snakes dont climb. To bust that myth, heres a highly venomous juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textillis) my friend Richie and I found 2 metres up a tree in the Goyders lagoon region of South Australia. When we stumbled across a dam, we thought it was a good spot to stretch our legs and look for snakes. To avoid walking around the entire dam, my mate Richie us...ed his binoculars to scope out the opposite side. To my surprise he started yelling out Snake! Over there at the base of that tree. By the time we ran to the other side, we couldnt find it anywhere. After 30 seconds of searching, Richie spotted some movement. It wasnt on the ground, but rather 2 metres up the tree. This may seem like strange behavior for a ground dwelling species, but when there is a lack of ground cover to hide, juvenile reptiles like this little fellow will seek safety anywhere they can. Adult brown snakes also climb when they need to as well. Ive seen plenty of them raiding birds nests in bird aviaries during my time as a snake catcher. - PRINTS AVAILABLE -

02.01.2022 THE WINNING IMAGES A BIG THANKS to all who voted in my 2021 Calendar competition. Here are the winning images that will make up my new 2021 Fundraising Calendar. The 3 lucky winners of a free calendar are: A. Dyer, F. MacClure & J. Hurle... PRE-ORDER NOW rmrphotography.com.au/2021-calendar

02.01.2022 THE RARE AND REMARKABLE COLLETTS SNAKE! [Watch with volume] With its dark purple body and vivid red or orange cross-bands that make it look like a radioactive tiger snake, the Colletts Snake (Pseudechis colletti) is among the most stunning large, venomous Australian snakes. To add to their appeal, they are rarely encountered in the wild due to their ecology and remote distribution. They inhabit a relatively small range in the Mitchell Grass Downs region of inland Queensla...nd and live exclusively in black soil habitat. Due to the scarcity of rain in the region, the black soil becomes extremely dry, allowing cracks to form deep in the ground. This labyrinth of soil cracks enables the Colletts snake to shelter from the extreme heat of summer and bitter cold in winter. During warmer periods, they emerge from these cracks to hunt when the temperature on the surface is tolerable. Observing one of these snakes in the wild has been one of my dreams for many years, and in March of 2018, it became a reality. Please enjoy this footage of my encounter with the rare and remarkable Colletts snake.

02.01.2022 2021 REPTILE CALENDAR GIVEAWAY To celebrate the official release of my 2021 fundraising calendar, Im giving three (3) more random lucky Ross McGibbon Reptile Photography fans a chance to win a free calendar. To enter you must: 1) CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW and answer the mystery question... 2) Enter your details (so I can get in touch with the winners) 3) In the comments of this FACEBOOK POST, tell me which is your favourite image and why 4) Like this post https://poll.app.do/2021-reptile-calendar-giveaway

01.01.2022 LIZARDS AREN’T THE ONLY THING CRAWLING AROUND THE DUNES You’ll have to look closely to see the tick but this image demonstrates what I’m attracting as I lay on the ground photographing a juvenile Western slender blue tongue (Cyclodomorphus celatus) among the sand dunes and coastal health of Jurien Bay, Western Australia. Whenever I photograph reptiles in this habitat I’m often picking ticks off me for the rest of the day. This was the first time one has crawled onto the nose... of my subject though, so I thought I’d capture that moment for you all. - PRINTS AVAILABLE - See more

01.01.2022 ARGUABLY AUSTRALIAS COOLEST LIZARD! [Watch with volume] The Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) is a small lizard, growing to a total length of around 21cm. They are a harmless and inoffensive in nature, and unlike other reptiles, they have no speed, no strength, no large claws, sharp teeth or venom to defend themselves; but this doesnt mean they are completely helpless. To protect themselves from predators, thorny devils possess some remarkable adaptations that set them apart f...rom any other Australian lizard. Their most obvious anti-predator strategy is being covered head to toe in sharp, thorn-like spines. These sharp, rigid spines render them very unappealing to any animal that would try to bite and swallow them, such as monitor lizards or snakes. The two spines on the top of the head resemble devils horns; hence the name - The Thorny Devil. Another crazy adaption they have for withstanding an attack is the presence of a false head made from bulbous tissue on the back of their neck. If threatened by a predator, they lower their real head and present the false head to their aggressor. To escape a dangerous situation, thorny devils are capable of short scuttles, but if they want to move away more inconspicuously, they walk with a slow, jerky gait with a mid-stride pause. This method of movement is less obvious to predators, especially birds of prey, because it mimics an object swaying in the wind or blowing intermittently along the ground. They may be small and harmless, but they are tough and well adapted to live in some of the hottest and driest parts of Australia. In these regions water is often difficult to come by. To overcome this obstacle, they have another amazing adaption to obtain water. Due to specialised capillaries in their skin, all they need to do is come into contact with water with any part of their body. The moisture is then directed, or wicked towards their mouth via the skin. Remarkably, this allows them to obtain moisture simply by standing directly in the rain, a puddle, or even draw moisture from the air on a cold, dewy morning.

01.01.2022 When it’s 40C, I’d be chilling in here too if I was a large Panoptes Monitor, aka Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes). We played a fun game of cat out mouse, meeting each other at each end of the tunnel until he figured out he could just climb up the cement culvert to get around me. (More photos in comments) PRINTS AVAILABLE