A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Chrysomya sp.?
Apologies in advance if anyone finds this series distasteful; however, I think it is a fascinating example of nature in action. On our kayaking excursion today we saw a huge dead goanna in the mangroves which was absolutely covered in carrion blowflies. I'm not sure what the flies are, or even if all the flies in this spotting are the same species, but my best guess is something from the Bluebottle Blowfly family (Chrysomya sp.) which feed on liquid products of organic decomposition. (It was gross enough from a distance, I wasn't getting close enough to get a REALLY clear shot of the flies!!!!) My other guess was the Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) but the source I read on that one says its larvae feed on carrion and dung, but the adults apparently feed on nectar so that wouldn't fit with this spotting.
Spotted on Mar 23, 2013
Submitted on Mar 23, 2013
4 Comments
What is that
Like you stated Shanna, its part of how nature works
Thanks Mac. Normally I steer well clear of dead things, but we didn't even notice this goanna until we were almost on top of it (we were actually trying to get pics of a Whistling Kite nearby). I can't believe we didn't smell it!
Interesting pics Shanna