“These strange scrub fowl have a unique reproduction strategy, as they incubate their eggs in the warm sand, often in communal nesting spots”
A Melanesian megapode at its communal nesting site
careful where you step as Indo hermit crabs slowly crawl across the sand and grass. This widespread species is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region and is a terrestrial crab that uses old seashells as a mobile home. The ones we see are only a few centimetres long, but can grow as large as a coconut. They are not the only crabs we see at night. In the vegetation are even larger purple crabs, a species that hides in burrows in the ground by day and emerges at night to feed. We take care to keep our feet well away from their very large claws. At night we also see
These strange scrub fowl have a unique reproduction strategy, as they incubate their eggs in the warm sand, often in communal nesting spots. There
are several of these community nests on Lissenung Island, and we watch around a dozen of these peculiar birds digging or maintaining their nests.
By day, birds rule the roost, but at night a whole set of different animals can be seen. Grabbing our torches, we head out to see what we can spotlight. We don’t have to go far, as climbing on the walls of our cabin are several geckos. We have seen quite a few of these in the huts, feeding on the insects drawn to the exterior lights. Some are quite large, around 15cm long. We are yet to confirm the species, but do know they are a member of the four-clawed or dtellas geckos. On the ground at night you have to be
A gecko on the lookout for a meal
This gecko came close while we were at dinner
VOLUME 41 2025
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