Two Wild Tomato, or Felted Nightshade (Solanum quadriculatum) plants flowering side by side in Aroona Sanctuary displayed different flower forms – one lobed and one pentagonal.
Varied flower forms of Wild Tomato: Aroona Sanctuary
Umbrella Wattle: Aroona Sanctuary
Acacia oswaldii, the Umbrella Wattle, with distinctive spiralling seedpods, in November.
Murray River Turtles laying eggs: Aroona Sanctuary
The introduced Murray River Turtles of Aroona Sanctuary dig a shallow hole above the banks of the Aroona Dam to house their eggs. In early November, they were seen in the act of digging nests. There were many other nests at the site, by which time, several were opened with egg shell remains. Incubation can take up to three months, or even the entire summer, with hatching happening after the rains of late summer or autumn. The opened eggs may have been preyed upon by native or introduced predators.
Sand Goanna: Aroona Sanctuary
Sand Goanna (Varanus gouldii gouldii), also known as the Gould’s goanna or Sand Monitor seen at Aroona Sanctuary in the northern Flinders Ranges.
Aroona Sanctuary
Aroona Sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges not only hosts the Aroona Dam but also overflow and spring waters which provide fertile habitat for a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
