Sunday Selections #540

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.

 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.

 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

 

I usually run with a theme. Unlike several of our States we are not in lockdown here.  However Covid surges have meant that masks are again mandatory, in enclosed areas, public transport and public transport waiting areas.  We are not required to wear masks outside.  So, this week I am taking you back to the Australian National Botanic Gardens, a place I love and don't get to nearly often enough.  

 

This week I am going to be (mostly) focusing on fauna rather than flora.  MEGAfauna to be accurate.  It is school holidays here and the gardens have staged a wonderful exhibit of giant critters which once existed here in Australia.  Australia has some weird critters and it seems that this was probably always true. 

 

It might have been designed for children but we loved it too.

As I so often say, come wander with me.

 

I have never seen such a large grevillea flower.  This one is called Peaches and Cream.

This is a fossil of a giant python, Wonami (The Rainbow Serpent.  It apparently could weigh up to 75 kilos (165 pounds) and would ambush kangaroos and wallabies coming to waterholes to drink.

This is a Mallee Fowl.  We still have them, though they have shrunk.

Wakaleo - or small lion.  I hadn't realised that we had ever had them.  They roamed in ancient woodlands and rainforests.

This one 'rejoiced' in the name the Demon Duck of Doom.  A duck which could weight 250 kilos (over 550 pounds)???  Apparently there are arguments about what it ate - but I would give it plenty of room.

This is a Cassowary - which we still have.  They have apparently been here from the Pliocene period until today.  They are found in the rainforests of Queensland and are big and powerful birds (who are fortunately mainly vegetarian).

Palorchestes or Marsupial Tapir.  Another big beast which could reach 500 kilos.

Procoptodon or Giant short-faced kangaroo.  They apparently weighed up to three times more than our current red kangaroos.

 

Even by my standards this is becoming a photo heavy post.  IF you are interested I will continue to share our ancient beasties next week.

 

In the interim I hope your week is healthy, happy and packed with wonder.   And, for my American friends, may the Fourth be with you.