jungle lobster!

DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
edited March 24, 2008 in Wildlife
OK fine, it's not really a lobster, it's a crayfish. But regardless, it was lobster-like and it was roaming down a track in a rainforest, many many meters from a creek or waterfall (of which there were many). It was such an odd brightly colored thing to find on a trail that at first I thought it was a toy. I mean, look at the colors, does that belong in a 100% covered in green rainforest?


Get off my trail!!
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You win, I'll hide here till you leave.
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MrsIt's feet for size reference (see him under the root, bottom right).
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After we got back from our hike (20km worth, what an awesome outing) we stopped at the trail center and found out that indeed they are not some freak land loving beast, but in fact travel from creek to creek, but only in very wet times. So we were lucky, it had indeed been very, very wet. Can you tell?
:D

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By the way, location is Lamington National Park.
Since 2004...

Comments

  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited March 12, 2008
    Mmmm lamingtons.... :D Hungry.....


    Cool shots! I used to keep them as pets and the brilliant blues used to amaze me. Good find, and thanks for sharing thumb.gif
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,270 moderator
    edited March 12, 2008
    That first shot would make a good Laughing.gifCat. Just say'in. deal.gif
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • kitvankitvan Registered Users Posts: 243 Major grins
    edited March 12, 2008
    what an awsome little creature! eek7.gif

    that looks like the vacation of a lifetime?
    do you travel a lot?>
    "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so."
  • JohnDCJohnDC Registered Users Posts: 379 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    Thanks for the interesting shots. The last time I was in a wet Australian rainforest (on the Mareeba Plateau, west of Cairns), my lower legs were covered with terrestrial leeches, bloated up with blood. Given that your photos don't show blood running down your legs, I'm guessing you missed that experience.
  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    U.S.A! U.S.A! Looks like he's waving the flag... What, he's in the wrong country?
    Chris
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 13, 2008
    JohnDC wrote:
    Thanks for the interesting shots. The last time I was in a wet Australian rainforest (on the Mareeba Plateau, west of Cairns), my lower legs were covered with terrestrial leeches, bloated up with blood. Given that your photos don't show blood running down your legs, I'm guessing you missed that experience.
    I pulled two off, and we were prepared with Aerogaurd (thanks gus nod.gif)

    i reckon it was already a bit cold for them to be super active. don't think it went above 21 the whole weekend, especially under the canopy.
    Since 2004...
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 13, 2008
    ChrisJ wrote:
    U.S.A! U.S.A! Looks like he's waving the flag... What, he's in the wrong country?
    lol3.gif good call, I didn't think of that, but he is quite patriotic, in a misplaced way.
    Since 2004...
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    I love that little guy... er, well, not so little. As a yank I can't get over how odd it is to see shellfish in the wild on land.

    "I peench! I peench! Why no peench? Maybe leetle peench?" rolleyes1.gif
    SmugMug Editor / News Flash!
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    Love that first shot Erik clap.gif and thanks for the 4th shot to give us some perspective on its size.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • darkdragondarkdragon Registered Users Posts: 1,051 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    Love the first two shots. I've never seen such a colorful crayfish before. Anytime I've seen them they were just brown or gray or dead.


    i was thinking 'man i'd like to do a hike there' until i read about the leeches. eek7.gif
    I think i'll just stay in the desert for now.
    ~ Lisa
  • cmasoncmason Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    darkdragon wrote:
    Love the first two shots. I've never seen such a colorful crayfish before. Anytime I've seen them they were just brown or gray or dead.


    Or pink...........with red hot sauce....yummm
    Photos
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    "Get off my trail" rolleyes1.gif

    Awfully tough for such a small guy in comparison, i love itthumb.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    Great find Erik! Now be honest did you add those colors in ps! rolleyes1.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 13, 2008
    schmoo wrote:
    "I peench! I peench! Why no peench? Maybe leetle peench?" rolleyes1.gif
    one of my favorite commercials of ALL TIME!!! lol3.gif
    Since 2004...
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 13, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Love that first shot Erik clap.gif and thanks for the 4th shot to give us some perspective on its size.
    Thanks Harry thumb.gif

    all shot with 30D + 70-200/4, high ISO, and just a bit of onboard flash. it's really much darker in the rainforest than it appears when you're standing there.
    Since 2004...
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 13, 2008
    dadwtwins wrote:
    Awfully tough for such a small guy in comparison, i love itthumb.gif
    If only the photo could capture the hissing! he was pissssssed! :D
    Since 2004...
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 13, 2008
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Great find Erik! Now be honest did you add those colors in ps!
    I'm not nearly that creative. :D
    Since 2004...
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2008
    shot #1 :ivar wings.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited March 15, 2008
    DrIT:

    I am really enjoying your overseas assignment! You are finding such time to do neat things and take advantage of being there.

    Thanks for sharing, I for one think its very cool and like seing what you are up to!

    Z

    PS: Great pics,too!
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • CookieSCookieS Registered Users Posts: 854 Major grins
    edited March 23, 2008
    I wonder if some junglebirdie dropped him on his way to lunch?
  • slflashslflash Registered Users Posts: 186 Major grins
    edited March 24, 2008
    I love # 1! Great shot!!!
    Sheila
    http://sheilalatta.smugmug.com
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 24, 2008
    CookieS wrote:
    I wonder if some junglebirdie dropped him on his way to lunch?
    that would be one heck of a junglebird! lol3.gif


    Nah, if I didn't mention it, they do indeed hike from creek to creek looking for more food to eat. They can't get as big as they are eating from one little spot!!!
    Since 2004...
  • mepaparazzimepaparazzi Registered Users Posts: 29 Big grins
    edited March 24, 2008
    Thanks for showing us a friend who most of us might never get to see! thumb.gif

    In the first frame - the fella looks almost unreal! Nice work! thumb.gif
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,952 moderator
    edited March 24, 2008
    mepaparazzi wrote:
    Thanks for showing us a friend who most of us might never get to see! thumb.gif

    In the first frame - the fella looks almost unreal! Nice work! thumb.gif
    thanks, and you're welcome :D
    Since 2004...
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