THE AUSTRALIAN BILLABONG

Samantha WatkinsWetlands and Riparian

EcologyOctober 9th 2008

WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?

WHAT IS A BILLABONG? a stagnant pool of water attached to a

waterway.

The word billabong comes from the Wiradjuri ('weir-add-jeer-ee') language bila meaning 'river' bang meaning 'continuing in time or

space'.

HOW DO THEY FORM? Billabongs are usually formed when the

path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end

Billabongs can also be formed when a pool of water is left behind from receding flood or tidal waters

BillabongNew river path

HOW DO THEY FORM? When the river

floods every wet season, the water in the billabong flows again as it connects up with the main river. Because of this the water stays fresh and supports an abundance of life.

WHO LIVES THERE? Estuarine Crocodile(Crocodylus porosus)

Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus johnstonii)

WHO LIVES THERE?Water Python (Liasis fuscus)

Tiger Snake(Notechis scutatus )

WHO LIVES THERE?Freckled Duck

(Stictonetta naevosa)Billabong Bugs

Triops australiensis.

WHO LIVES THERE? Billabong Bugs are

an Australian native crustacean called Triops australiensis. They occur nowhere else in the world!

Buy yours today at:www.billabongbugs.com

WHAT GROWS THERE?Nardoo(Marsilea

drummondii)

Water Primrose(Ludwigia

hexapetala)

Any Questions?