Nocturnal Animals Of The Daintree Rainforest
One of the most memorable experiences is to take a night walk and appreciate the rainforest from a different point of view. The rainforest becomes alive at night — with an experienced guide who knows what signs to look for, you have the opportunity to meet some of the animals living in the forest.
Snakes
Australia's longest snake, the Amethyst Python (Liasis amethystinus) has reached 8.5 metres and dominates the nocturnal landscape of the Daintree. It moves through the upper canopy as easily as it does along the forest floor and finds prey with the evolutionary advantages of facial heat sensing pits that house infrared receptors.
Another frequently seen nocturnal tree-climbing snake is the Eastern Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis). Also known as the Night Tiger Snake, this masterful and venomous climber is equipped with rear fangs.
Lizards
Distinctive lizards include the Boyd's Forest Dragon (Gonocephalus boydii), Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii), Chameleon Gecko (Carphodactylus laevis) and the Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko (Phyllurus cornutus).
The Striped Possum
The Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) is extremely agile and performs spectacular leaps from the branches of rainforest giants to the safety of the numerous fan palms in the secondary story, announcing their presence with an unmistakable crashing sound.
Frequent sightings
The Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) and the Long-nosed Bandicoot (Parameles nasuta) are seen much more frequently. The Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica) is an inhabitant, which has suffered substantial population decline from the impact of Tropical Cyclone Rona in 1999.
Rarely seen
Bennett's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus,) inhabits rainforest at both high and low altitudes north of the Daintree River, in an area of only about 50 by 70 kilometres.
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