Travelling caravan couple catch glimpse of rarely seen creature in shallows: 'Fascinating'

Yahoo

2 days ago

There's no shortage of fascinating wildlife in Australia. Sometimes, you just need to know where to look.
For those travelling the continent like Mariella and Dougal, who are constantly on the lookout for animals, there's plenty to fill your days with. According to figures from the Australian federal Department of Environment, there is an estimated 566,000 living species in Australia, with only about 147,000 having been previously described.
"Since hitting the road, we've made it a mission to photograph every species we come across," Mariella told Yahoo News Australia.
"We're enthusiastic naturalists and passionate wildlife photographers, so any opportunity to document unique wildlife encounters is a real thrill for us."
And it's been a thrill they've been chasing for years now, joining the growing number of people in Australia that live a nomadic lifestyle.
"During Covid, we made the decision to buy a caravan and hit the road, and we haven't looked back since," she said.
While Mariella is from Italy, she's been living in Australia for the past decade and met Dougal in his hometown of Airlie Beach in Queensland.
"We left Airlie Beach about four years ago and have been on the move ever since," she explained to Yahoo. "We live full-time in our off-road caravan, which has been amazing. It gives us the freedom to change our backyard often."
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The couple is currently in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, before heading to Darwin to begin some work. Mariella is a qualified teacher aide while Dougal is a carpenter but has just been hired as a nature guide.
"We usually take jobs that offer a place to park the van, or we connect with people happy to share their properties in exchange for a contribution. Sometimes we stay with friends, it's a flexible, community-based lifestyle and we absolutely love it."
And, of course, it offers plenty of opportunity to have some wild encounters.
One of those instances was shared on their social media this week, with the couple coming across the rather "amazing" algae octopus, which given the creature's camouflaging prowess, is easier said than done.
"We're both underwater photographers and love chasing critters. We're equally obsessed with the big guys like manta rays, but it's the hidden world of small creatures that really captivates us," Mariella said.
The pair managed to notice the nocturnal octopus underneath a piece of driftwood while enjoying a reef walk near a remote spot called Portland Roads, about 15 minutes from Lockhart River in Queensland.
"They're such fascinating and intelligent animals, and it was a treat to spot one in the middle of the day since they're typically nocturnal," Mariella said.
"The algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus) is known for its ability to camouflage incredibly well, often mimicking algae or rubble on the seafloor. It's one of the few octopus species known to walk on two arms — almost like tiptoeing across the seabed.
"Their behaviour and adaptability never cease to amaze us."
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