Gerrut Norval

A research assistant and casual academic @Flinders University, studying the parasite community of sleepy lizards inhabiting an ecological gradient.

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Special Issue: The Ecology of Ticks and their Ecological Roles
Deadline: 30th August 2026
Website: https://t.co/4853Wc0f7O

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Not all spiny lizards in our study site are central bearded dragons - an eastern bearded dragon I caught last Thursday
@MikeG_lizards
@LEGS_Lab

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

A nesting galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) in the study site in the Mid North of South Australia

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

@twitter https://t.co/PHIXQTTnCg

[Mike Gardner @MikeG_lizards]

First of our lizard signs funded by Electranet has been installed! These will be at the entrances to the long term sleepy lizard site, started by C. Michael Bull, surveyed continuously since 1982. Very grateful that an energy company cared enough to make this happen. @GerrutN

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

A mother sleepy lizard and her babies "say goodbye" in their special way after being released back into the wild @MikeG_lizards @Flinders @ClaytonJessa

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Coloration is not a reliable character for tick identification because it can be absent, but when it is present it is a great confirmation character - Amblyomma limbatum

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

The business-end of a sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) @MikeG_lizards @Flinders

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

@kailah_thorn I want to put this up in the lab!

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Something one does not see every day 😉 @MikeG_lizards @lizard_lab @b_derne
Family: Scincidae
Species: Lerista punctatovittata
Common name: Eastern robust slider

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

@KayceCBell @kailah_thorn I couldn't agree more!

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

My flights and accomodation are booked, now I just need to get my talk for the 2022 ASP Annual Conference (4-7 July) ready

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

@b_derne Thanks Bonnie

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

A very fitting birthday card from my dad 😊

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

@VHuuhka @Flinders Many of the Ixodes ticks look similar, which is why you need to get them under a microscope to distinguish between them 😉

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Something one does not see every day, the larva of the endangered platypus tick (Ixodes ornithorhynchi) @Flinders

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Ticks are amazing - an engorged nymph, collected on 28 January 2021 and left in a sealed plastic vial, moulted and was still alive when the vial was checked on 20 April 2022 @MikeG_lizards @Flinders @AS_Para

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

A good example of why size and coloration are not reliable characters for tick identification - two males of Amblyomma limbatum @Flinders @MikeG_lizards

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

Kleptoparasitism, i.e. parasitism by theft, is a form of parasitism that is often overlooked.
Argyrodes miniaceus on the web of Nephila pilipes in southwestern Taiwan.

[Gerrut Norval @GerrutN]

@MegiaRodrigo @MikeG_lizards Thanks Rodrigo