Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Hi There,

We decided to do quite a few touristy things in Alice Springs and the Reptile Centre was one of those we visited.  We got to meet a whole range of creatures, some new and some we were just reacquainting ourselves with.  From the outside the Reptile Centre didn’t look like much but as always, never judge a book by its cover.  There were heaps of different Geckos, quite a few snakes, Goannas, lizards and Terry the Salt water Crocodile.

Above is the Olive Python, Liasis olivaceus.  My goodness this fella was huge, lucky the glass didn’t just vanish hey!  Adults can reach over 4 metres in length, the second largest snake species in Australia.  Dinner also includes the below pictured, Rock Wallaby, Yum!  That’s quite a mouthful….

Here’s something a bit more pleasant and smaller to look at.  Two of the many Geckos, top photo being the Mesa Gecko and bottom one is the Knob Tailed Gecko.  There is a Gecko Cave at the reptile centre holding about 13 species from habitats in the Northern Territory.

Pogona vitticeps, aka the Central Bearded Dragon pictured below can grow up to 60cm in length with the tail accounting for approximately half of its length.  Central Bearded Dragons can be seen with a range of different colours, browns, reddish-brown,  red, white, orange and yellows.

See his scary beard under his chin, used to intimidate would be tacklers!  When threatened they flatten themselves, puff up their throats and open their jaws to look bigger and more fearsome.  The photo below shows a different coloured Dragon, they change colour to regulate their temperature.

We were able to pass this fella around which was pretty cool!  Quite soft to touch apart from his claws.

Here is the Centralian Carpet Python, Morelia bredli growing to 2 metres and in captivity its known to get to 3 metres or more.  Don’t think we need to dwell on this anymore, moving right along!!

This is the Western Brown Snake, Pseudonaja mengdeni , a mouthful I know and one scary looking snake also known as gwarder(aboriginal name) which means “go the long way around”, great advice I say!  I refer to the Australian Museum website, “The snake’s fangs are quite short (only 2-3 mm), however the venom is very potent and has high neurotoxic and haemolytic activity. A bite from any species of brown snake should be treated as life-threatening and medical attention sought without delay.”

Talking about Brown snakes, here’s the King Brown, Pseudechis australis.  Another one to give a miss or go the long way around!!

Luckily its a bit out of focus so it wont see you!!  Here’s a few more animals from the Alice Springs Reptile Centre.

Last but not least is Terry, Crocodylus porosus , the Salt Water Crocodile.  We learnt a few things about Terry that I didn’t know before.

Never ever touch croc infested water, if you do you will be dead(most likely),  vibration for them is like pollen to a honey bee.  If you see their eyes break the water surface, you have just been triangulated, they know where you are.  If you’re walking past croc infested waters – make sure you have a small dog with you.  They are far more interested in small animals than they are in you.  There is no such thing as a death roll, you are already dead, they are just trying to rip a piece of you off yourself because their hungry. They kill their prey by drowning them and it only takes a minute or so, no rolling required  Their teeth are quite blunt and they tear pieces off, so that’s why you get rolled around. . See, not a death roll, more like a subway sub being prepared!  So on that happy note, have a great day and look out for Terry!

Cheers!