More Australian Beasts

[aggienaut]

THIS my fine friends is a picture that shows ... my complete and utter inability to make a posed smile. I really can't do it. It ends up looking like I'm trying to show you something stuck in my teeth. Hence why I wasn't smiling in two of the three potential profile pictures from my recent entry, and was making a ridiculous sort of "smile" in the third.

So the picture came out looking like I'm freaked out or something, but, you know, its hard to get a good picture from that angle and its the only one that came out with my friend here Winston St Andrews properly in focus. Winston is a "St Andrews Cross" spider and has been riding around with me for four days now, hanging out right there in the passenger seat at head height.



Interesting fact I learned, "Charlotte" of "Charlotte's Web" fame is actually a closely related species (same genus), that looks about the same and is called a "Writing Spider" in the US. So there's a literary tradition of these guys having a personality!

Also I learned that no one knows the purpose of the "decorations" they make in their web. How interesting!

As part of my slow descent into insanity I often find myself saying things like "Hey Winston why don't you roll down the window over there?" or "Hey Winston can you pass me that notebook?" Yes, out loud even.


Also yesterday while I was working I kept hearing branches break above me. I looked around hoping to see a koala or something but couldn't see anything, had to conclude maybe the strong winds we'd been having had just broken a bunch of branches ... and then I finally spied THIS guy:



I believe that's a lace monitor, Australia's second largest goanna. It looked to be about four feet long, with the body mass of a small child. And it was clambering around just over my head -- the lizard of Damocles!

Comments

[blythe025.livejournal.com]

Spider!!! Gah!

But it's pretty..., but GAH!!!

[spilt-erum.livejournal.com]

Omg! Amazing on both!

[ryl.livejournal.com]

I've heard that every animal in Australia is made of deadly poison. I didn't know they were also gigantic. Note to self: stay in this hemisphere.

[millysdaughter.livejournal.com]

You talking to Winston is normal. When Winston starts answering, there is a problem.
When he DOES roll down the window -- stop the truck and exit quickly!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Hehehehehehe.

I don't know if it IS because he sits right at head height with me when I'm driving or what, but while it feels weird to talk out loud to the bees I don't really have any compunction with saying things out loud to Winston all the time.

[cookie-chef.livejournal.com]

Love your photos! The spider looks a lot like our common garden spiders here in NC. They spin huge webs (up to several feet big if left undisturbed). Year before last year our Charlotte :) left us a little papery nursery pouch with her wee ones incubating in it and we let it overwinter on a withering tomato stalk.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Oh how fun. I'm not sure but I think Winston has acquired a sack full of eggs?? Haven't examined it carefully yet. Also he spun a different type of web decoration today. Instead of the long zigzag he usually makes he made a small circle in the center of his web.

[cookie-chef.livejournal.com]

Adding I would want to play with the monitor lizard!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking about bringing him an egg.

[dumpsterdiva.livejournal.com]

I actually love spiders. I don't love them in my face, though.

Excellent pic.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'm hoping Winston continues to respect the personal space of my face (:

Thanks! (:

[gaeln.livejournal.com]

Did he actually tell you his name is Winston St Andrews or if you just decided to call him that, is there any actual significance, because...yes I did google the name and...no I didn't find anything except that apparently, St Andrews at Winston is an apartment complex somewhere in the sunshine state of Florida. Otherwise, nothing. The goanna is pretty cool looking. I hope he's a friendly sort.

Things are working out okay, apparently?

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Winston was relatively random, I was looking for a butler-esque name. St Andrew is because he's a "St Andrews Cross" spider. Maybe he has a vacation home in Florida? ;D

I don't think the goanna is friendly to birds ;) its really cool seeing him way up in the tree stalking birds. I was thinking about bringing him an egg, and placing it nearby while I'm working and seeing if he comes and eats it. But I won't be back in that field for a week probably.

Yeah things are working out alright. Though I appear to be paying over 30% in taxes, which is a bit steep and painful. It really is very expensive to live here, I'm not sure I'm going to end up lining my pockets with doubloons like I hoped /:

[colt-4-5.livejournal.com]

dude your pics are awesome.. do you have facebook?

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah, facebook.com/321shenanigans should get you there ;D

And thanks! :D

[colt-4-5.livejournal.com]

done! :D

[inertiacrept.livejournal.com]

What's in that web? Is that... is that a BAT?!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Considering that bats here are the size of small cats, that would be very impressive!! Unfortunately I believe its probably just a bee.