Well seven-year-old Thomas McKinnon from Angaston is wealth of knowledge when it comes to all creatures, great and small.

Since he was knee-high to a grasshopper, he has recited both complicated words and facts about animals that most adults find hard to comprehend.

Yet the Year two student takes it all in his stride.

He can tell you the world’s biggest fish and deadliest spider or snake.

And if that doesn’t impress you, Thomas can also tell you in depth facts he’s read and watched from his private collection of animal books and DVDs.

“I mostly like reptiles and like they way they are scaly,” he said.

It’s this type of nature that’s also led him to make connections with SA’s wild life parks including the Urimbirra National Park in Victor Harbor.

When Thomas was five he saved his pocket money to purchase stick insects from Queensland.

Thomas’ parents Chris and Kathy said unfortunately the stick insect died, however Thomas told them not to worry because the female had laid eggs.

“He already knew the eggs would take a year and a half before they would hatch, and he was right,” Chris said.

It was here Thomas and his mum contacted different parks, with Victor Harbor welcoming the insects for others to appreciate.

Also, Thomas decided to take the insects to his school, Angaston primary, for show and tell. Thomas’ 2009 teacher Michelle Barnes said, “Earlier this year during studies on mini-beasts with his class, Thomas helped his class by bringing in a large variety of creatures ranging from stick insects (now the class pet) to turtles and butterfly cocoons we could watch hatch”.

Thomas’ unique pets also include giant burrowing cockroaches, a rabbit, a guinea pig, yabbies and two turtles.

In addition, Thomas, is keen to follow in the footsteps of crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.

“I really would like to be like him and take care of the animals,” he added.