Australian Coupan (Big Cat) Sighting

A Karridale, Western Australia, vineyard manager reported seeing a large black feline on the property. (News source.)

Australia Feline Sighting

Two Australian truckers are reported to have seen a large black cat-like animal that crossed the Hamilton Highway near Inverleigh. It was "the size of a labrador and had a distinctive long looping tail." ... "The sighting, in open farmland near the Shelford turnoff, 4km west of Inverleigh, triggered a police inspection of the site and will grow the mystique of big cats in the Inverleigh district." (News source.)

Addendum and details Oxyuranus temporalis - the new taipan species

Earlier on March 9th, 2007, it was reported that a new species of taipan was discovered in Australia.

However, it was neglected to mention more specifics of this new snake.

In the paper “A new species of taipan (Elapidae: Oxyuranus) from central Australia”, researchers P. Doughty, B. Maryan, S.C. Donnellan and M.N. Hutchinson (in Zootaxa 1422: 45-58: 2007) described Oxyuranus temporalis.

The new species, name after its varied temporal scales from its two sister species, was collected near Walter James Range in Western Australia on September 22, 2006 at around 4 p.m. by M.N. Hutchinson after being spotted from an automobile.. Its primary distinguisher from O. microlepidotus and O. scutellatus, its sister species taipans, is via one primary temporal scales (vs. two) and six lower labials (vs. seven). Subsequent genetic analysis also differentiated the three sisters.

The holotype measures just under 3 feet in length, and exhibits a brownish coloration with spotted locales of yellowish-white.

This marks the third species of taipan known, and the first in 125 years. Suggestive by the researchers that taipans were once more widespread through Australia. These snakes are among the most venomous in the world, so additional research and collection of this 3rd species will be necessary to determine its distribution, toxicity, and size.

Australian Big Cat Sightings

From the news:

"The mystery of a colossal cat seen roaming the region began to unravel last week as residents reported more panther sightings to the Macarthur Chronicle.
Wedderburn resident Ted Lalor, 70, said he and a neighbour saw a panther near their homes six months ago.
"'The boys in Appin who saw the panther last week were fair dinkum,' he said.
"'I've shot feral cats before and there's no way a cat could grow to the size of the animal I'm talking about. Eventually someone will knock off one of these creatures, then people will finally believe they exist.'
"Two people who won't need much convincing are teenagers Emilly and Karrine.
Emilly said she saw the creature while riding her horse at Sugarloaf Horse Centre in Menangle.
"'The first time I saw the panther, it chased me on my horse,' she said.
"'But I've seen it other times and it just hangs around then goes back into the bush. My friend Karrine told me she saw the same thing.'
"Other reports included Kelly, 29, who saw the big cat near the Broughton Pass in Appin, and Dale Shackleton who recalled a panther terrorising his Appin farm and the Inghams chicken sheds more than 30 years ago.
"Cryptozoologist Mike Williams said scientists believed a breed of big cat existed in Australia but they were unsure whether it was a mutated feral cat, native, or an exotic cat, like a panther.
"'There is something out there,' he said. 'Where there's smoke, there's fire. People don't just wake up in the morning with an urge to say they have seen a panther.'
"Mr Williams said big cats were among the best animals when it came to camouflage and were largely nocturnal.
"'That humans see these creatures is not amazing - what is amazing is that we see them at all,' he said."