Common Brown Butterfly Heteronympha merope (male)
During the sweltering heatwave afflicting most of southern Australia this week, one could be excused for thinking that all animals suffer as we do in the heat. Ectothermic (cold blooded) animals however have a metabolism that works much more efficiently at temperatures that would risk heat-stroke for any bird or mammal species, including us. Often considered as "primitive lifeforms" it is only by observations during hot weather that this misconception can be challenged.
Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink Lampropholis guichenoti
Unknown Bull Ant Myrmecia sp.
Common Bottle-daisy Lagenophora stipitata
