1, The Black
1.
Black Mountain is composed of
numerous massive granite boulders,
between which there are a myriad of
cracks, crevices and passages – some
large enough to allow human access.
The place is of cultural importance to
the local Aboriginals, and earned a
bad reputation amongst early
European settlers due to a number of
mysterious disappearances – it
certainly has a ‘spooky’ appearance.
Black Mountain is also home to three
unique endemic species: the Black
Mountain Skink (Liburnascincus
scirtetis); the Black Mountain Gecko
(Nactus galgajuga); and the Black
Mountain Boulder Frog or Rock
Haunting Frog (Cophixalus saxatilis).
‘’You would think that a
Mountain Skink
(Liburnascincus
scirtetis) is
beautifully
adapted to its
environment.
2. Black
Mountain
Boulder Frog
(Cophixalus
saxatilis).
3. A Macleay’s
Water Snake
(Pseudoferania
polylepis) found
near Cooktown.
We started searching for the skink
early in the morning and found them
to be quite common. It’s just that it’s
not easy to sneak up on them. They
are swift and maneuverable and can
jump considerable distances between
boulders. After sitting down to have a
drink and a rest, I noticed them
slowly getting closer; the best way to
bright yellow frog
would stand out amongst the black boulders, but it
just looked like a leaf.’’
2.