fauna flora nature
The alpaca (Lama pacos) is a species of South American camelid mammal. It is similar to, and often confused with, the llama. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller than llamas. The two animals are closely related and can successfully crossbreed. Both species are believed to have been domesticated from their wild relatives, the vicuña and guanaco. There are two breeds of alpaca: the Suri alpaca and the Huacaya alpaca.
Alpaca
The Australian Painted Lady Butterfly
The Australian Painted Lady or Vanessa kershawi (Nymphalidae), is one of the first butterflies to emerge in Spring. The ‘Painted Ladies’ as a group, are known to migrate in very large numbers. In 1889 it was reported that the migration was so vast, they blackened the sky and that trains were unable to get traction, because so many butterflies were resting on the tracks. This butterfly was photographed at the Heronswood gardens in Dromana, on the Mornington Peninsula Australia.
The Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) was formally described as a new and separate species in 2011 by MMFs Founding Director Dr Kate Robb (Charlton-Robb) and colleagues, based on multiple lines of genetic and morphological evidence.
Since then, numerous other studies exploring the entire genome, including Dr Kate’s current genomic study, have validated the Burrunan as a separate and valid species. Further to this, the Burrunan has now been identified as the most ancestral node for all ‘bottlenose’ dolphins worldwide, with the split dated at 1.03 million years ago!
With only two known resident populations in Victoria (Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes) we have been able to have the Burrunan listed as ‘Critically endangered’ under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.
Our applied research programs, education and outreach initiatives are designed to ensure the Burrunan are better understood and protected for future generations to enjoy!
Dolphins of Port Phillip
The Echidna & the Horse
An Echidna goes about its business whilst a curious horse wants to know what all the fuss is about. This image was captured in Somers on the Mornington Peninsula.
Hermit Crab
A hermit crab enjoying isolation on the beach during sunset at Point Nepean on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
There are several species of feral bees in Australia. The main ones are the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), the Bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) in Tasmania, and the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) in Queensland
Honey Bee
Take a gallop through the shallows on a windswept Mornington Peninsula beach, or discover the saddle as a novel means of travelling between cellar doors.
Beaches to bushland
Hit the long sandy stretches of peninsula beaches, perfect for horse riding. Take the two-hour trek with Gunnamatta Trail Rides through rugged bush to St Andrews ocean beach where the horses joyfully frolick in the waves.
Saddle up for trail rides through the scrub around Arthurs Seat, where spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay are a bonus.
Wine on horseback
Travel the back roads and trails on a horseback tour around Red Hill's boutique cellar doors for wine tastings and an afternoon you won't forget.
Horses
Kangaroos are unique to our part of the world and have been in Australia for over 30,000,000 years.
The Mornington Peninsula is the home of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo and the Swamp Wallaby.
Our objective is to create a habitat that will see the kangaroo survive for another 30 million years
Kangaroos
Koalas on the Mornington Peninsula are relatively widespread but mostly occur at low densities. They generally avoid highly urbanised areas (i.e. the western coast) and are rarely found in locations where there is little forest cover within a 1km radius.
Koalas
One of the larger members of the kingfisher family, they are generally off white in colour below, faintly barred with dark brown stripes, and brown on the back and wings. The tails are slightly rufous, broadly barred with black. They have a conspicuous dark brown eye stripe through their face.
Trees are an essential part of their habitat, and where laughing kookaburras are most likely to be found. They feed mostly on insects, worms, crustaceans, small snakes, mammals, frogs and birds, pouncing on their prey from a suitable perch. Larger prey is killed by being bashed against the ground or tree branch.
It is thought that laughing kookaburras pair for life, making their nests in tree hollows. Both parents share incubation duties, and both care for the young with help from offspring of the previous one or two years. You will be able to hear the strident call of these large, cheerful birds as they freely come and go from the grounds of Wildlife Wonders
Kookaburra
The water lily, (family Nymphaeaceae), family of about 60 species in 4 genera of freshwater flowering plants (order Nymphaeales) native to the temperate and tropical parts of the world. Water lilies provide food for fish and wildlife but sometimes cause drainage problems because of their rapid growth. Many varieties have been developed for ornamental use in garden pools and conservatories. Closely related genera, of the family Cobombaceae, are the water shields and the fanworts.
Water Lily
Peacock, also called peafowl, any of three species of resplendent birds of the pheasant family, Phasianidae (order Galliformes). Strictly, the male is a peacock, and the female is a peahen; both are peafowl. The two most-recognizable species of peafowl are the blue, or Indian, peacock (Pavo cristatus), of India and Sri Lanka, and the green, or Javanese, peacock (P. muticus), found from Myanmar (Burma) to Java. The Congo peacock (Afropavo congensis), which inhabits the forested interior of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was discovered in 1936 after a search that began in 1913 with the finding of a single feather.
Peacock
Helichrysum bracteatum
Dried flowers are one of the biggest emerging gardening trends of recent years and few are hipper than Helichrysum bracteatum, also known as the everlasting flower or strawflower, whose daisy-like, papery blooms make a beautiful, long-lasting addition to autumn and winter arrangements. Chiltern Seeds supplies a wide range of mouthwateringly beautiful varieties including the very lovely 'Salmon Rose'. Sow February-April under cover with bottom heat (22-24 degrees) for planting outdoors in early summer into a well-drained, not overly fertile soil in full sun
Rose - “Just Joey - Hybrid Tea”
The Mornington Rose Garden is nestled between the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and the community based Oakhill Gallery. Visitors to the Mornington Rose Garden can soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the gardens, enjoy the galleries that surround it or drive down to Main Street that boasts boutiques, coffee shops and cafes and numerous other retail outlets or drive down to the Mornington Pier precinct and enjoy the bay views.
The Mornington Rose Garden has over 4000 roses planted in 86 beds and is surrounded by a border of native Australian trees and shrubs. It was built and is maintained by volunteers, generous sponsor donations and the support of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
As the weather starts to warm up, thousands of humans will be fighting traffic just to get near one of the popular beaches on the Mornington Peninsula coastline. There is one visitor, however, that never gets stuck on the busy roads. Swimming in from the middle of Port Phillip Bay, Arcto the Australian Fur Seal has been a regular visitor to Dromana Beach since around 2013 and reserves a spot close to the pier to sunbathe and chilax for a couple of days.
Australian Fur Seal
The Squirrel Glider is a small nocturnal, gliding possum native to parts of mainland Australia. The picture was taken at Moonlit Sanctuary in Pearcedale Victoria where they have a healthy and thriving colony. Natural predators of the squirrel glider include owls and introduced predators include dogs, cats and foxes. Habitat fragmentation and destruction by human agency is also impacting individual populations
Squirrel Glider
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
A couple of wary Sulphur Crested Cockatoos check to see if the coast is clear before venturing out from their home on Arthurs Seat.
The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a large annual forb of the genus Helianthus. It is commonly grown as a crop for its edible oily seeds. Apart from cooking oil production, it is also used as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), as bird food, in some industrial applications, and as an ornamental in domestic gardens. Wild H. annuus is a widely branched annual plant with many flower heads. The domestic sunflower, however, often possesses only a single large inflorescence (flower head) atop an unbranched stem
Sunflowers
With their nocturnal habit and owl-like appearance, Tawny Frogmouths are often confused with owls, but are actually more closely related to the nightjars. Their feet are weak however, and lack the curved talons of owls
Tawny Frogmouths
The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is the largest bird of prey in the continent of Australia. It is also found in southern New Guinea to the north and is distributed as far south as the state of Tasmania. Adults of this species have long, broad wings, fully feathered legs, an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail, an elongated maxilla, a strong beak and powerful feet. The wedge-tailed eagle is one of 12 species of large, predominantly dark-coloured booted eagles in the genus Aquila found worldwide. Genetic research has clearly indicated that the wedge-tailed eagle is fairly closely-related to other, generally large members of the Aquila genus. A large brown-to-black bird of prey, it has a maximum reported wingspan of 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in) and a length of up to 1.06 m (3 ft 6 in)