Corroboree
frog
Description
Habitat
The corroboree frog lives in the Kosciusko National
Park, it lives among the sphagnum moss in alpine bogs. The corroboree frog
hibernates in burrows under the snow in winter. The favoured habitat of the
corroboree frog is in moss or in shallow streams.
Food
Predators
The corroboree frog’s predators are snakes, birds,
fresh water turtles, cane toads and big bugs. big frogs also eat littler frogs.
The corroboree frogs are the first vertebrates
discovered that are able to produce their own poisonous fluids as opposed to
obtaining its via diet as many other frogs do. It has been described as a
potentially lethal weapon if swallowed. Also humans because humans use the
venom in darts. To protect its self the corroboree frog head buts its
attackers.
Bogong moths
Bogong moths live in rainforests in Mount Kosciuszko national park. They
eat a variety of plants including introduced crops and flowers juice. The large
Bogong moth is found throughout most of southeast Australia.
In spring and early summer, millions of moths across New South Wales
begin to migrate to the mountains and high plains that lie between Victoria and
New South Wales. The moths, called Bogongs by the local Aboriginal people,
cluster on the rocky heights and caves in their millions
The moths were a food source for Aboriginal people. The people in the
surrounding areas were called together to share in the feast. Large numbers of
people could feed on the moths for many days.
The moths cluster in heaps, and a large number at a time were easily
swept into a bag or dark dish. After being lightly roasted, the burnt wings
were brushed away, the head pinched off, and the body eaten.
Caves
The caves in Mount Kosciuszko are very big especially the South Glory.
There is a belt of limestone put in one of the caves 440 million years ago. The
caves there are very cold there is also a thermal pool in the cave. South Glory
cave is a self-guided cave, with ramps.
Glacier Lakes
The blue lake is located on the main range in Kosciuszko National Park.
In 1996 the areas biological significance was recognised when a 320 ha area,
comprising the lake and its surrounding and including nearby Hedley Tarn, was
designated Ramsar site 800 under the Ramsar convention on wetlands. Here we recognised
its geological significance as one of only four cirque lakes on mainland
Australia. Features such as cirque lakes and moraines are formed by glaciers.
Mount Pygmy possum
The Mount Pygmy Possum is the only hibernating marsupial. Their head size is 88.5mm and there tail length is 83.5mm and their weight is 14g.
The mount pygmy possum’s identification is that this smaller than the Eastern Pygmy Possum.It is pale fawn or reddish brown above, and whitish below.
The Mount Pygmy Possum is a solitary animal, curling up in a tiny ball when asleep and allowing its body temperature to drop so that it functions more slowly. At night, when it’s fully awake, it darts quickly among the small branches, looking for nectar and insects. It uses its prehensile tail as a fifth limb to help it clamber around.
