It’s 44 degrees Celsius and it hasn’t rained in months. Sand dunes and rocky outcrops break up the plains. It’s the Little Sandy Desert of Western Australia, a vast, 11-million-hectare expanse where Martu people have lived for thousands of years. While it’s a difficult environment, it’s a common misconception that the continent’s arid regions are uninhabitable or lacking in biodiversity. In fact, a closer look reveals an array of wandering tracks in every direction, from big slithers to dainty, tic-tac sized dots.
Australia is a hot spot for reptile diversity, particularly in the arid regions. Here are four reptiles that have adapted to thrive in the Little Sandy Desert of Western Australia.
Mulga – King Brown Snake
(Pseudechis australis)