Australian Animals
The Unique Animals Of Australia
Some Australian animals are extremely
unique and special but when you grow up here you don't realise that, of course.
Growing up in the outback around Tibooburra
New South Wales we saw a lot of them but we didn't really see anything special
about them.... To us they were just something we saw every day.
As kids growing up in the bush we all knew
to keep away from the snakes, if you saw one... (and we often did!).... We also
knew from an early age not to mess with the lizards either as one of our
brothers had a lizard latch on to his finger and had a hard time getting the
bugger to let go!
Our father taught us a healthy respect for
all animals
There are variety of species unique to
Australia ... everyone in the world knows what an Australian Kangaroo looks
like, and who doesn't love the Koala? or isn't a little freaked out by the
Platypus and then there's the cute little Bilby, the adorable Quokka, and, of
course our Snakes and Lizards, which most Aussie's are secretly proud of....
even if they say different!
Since mankind's existence in Australia a
lot of different animals have been introduced and are now roaming around feral
... animals like the Camel, the Rabbit and the hideous Cane Toad. The first
introduced animal was the Dingo which has been here for thousands of years.
The European settlers deliberately released
many different animals into the Australian native bush.
Other domestic animals have escaped and now
have large populations roaming the Australian outback ... all of which are
creating problems for our native Australian animals.
Click on each of the links below to
discover more about our wonderful Australian animals
Australian Bilby
The Bilby is one of our cutest Australian animals. Bilbies used to cover about 70% of the Australian mainland but the introduction of new predators, such as feral cats and foxes, and land clearance has caused a dramatic decline in their numbers and their range.
In fact, one species, the Lesser Bilby is believed to be extinct, with the last record of it being in the 1930's, the other, the Greater Bilby, survives but remains endangered.
Camels in Australia
Camels in Australia are Dromedary Camels.
Thousands of camels were imported into Australia between 1840 and 1907. Australian Camels have a wide range, from South Australia through the Northern Territory and well into Western Australia, there have also been Camels reported in Northern New South Wales and Queensland.
Australia has the worlds largest population of feral Camels and are the only feral herds of their kind in the world.
Thousands of camels were imported into Australia between 1840 and 1907. Australian Camels have a wide range, from South Australia through the Northern Territory and well into Western Australia, there have also been Camels reported in Northern New South Wales and Queensland.
Australia has the worlds largest population of feral Camels and are the only feral herds of their kind in the world.
Cane Toads in Australia
The Cane Toad was introduced into northern
Queensland, Australia in 1935, to control the beetles that were destroying the
sugar cane crops. About 100 Cane Toads were shipped here from Hawaii. They
failed to control the cane beetles, and became and continue to be a major pest
themselves. Since then, the range of Cane Toads has grown quite alarmingly
through Australia's north.
Australian Crocodiles
There are two types of Australian
Crocodile, the Australian Freshwater or Johnston Crocodile and the Australian
Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile.
The Freshwater Crocodile or Johnston Crocodile is
considered to be dangerous even though it is not known for attacking humans. It
grows up to 3 metres long.
Read more about Australian Freshwater Crocs
Read more about Australian Freshwater Crocs
The Saltwater Crocodile or Estuarine Crocodile is one
of the most dangerous of all the crocodile family and the largest living
reptile in the world. It grows to between 4 and 7 metres long.
Australian Dingo
The Dingo is Australia's wild dog.
Dingoes are an introduced species - opinions on when the Dingo came to Australia vary greatly, and range from 15,000 to 2,000 years ago. Dingoes are found on the mainland of Australia but about a third of all wild Dingoes in the south east of the continent are Dingo/domestic dog crosses.
The Dingo normally weighs between 10kg and 24kg, they stand between 44cm and 63cm high to the shoulder.
Dingoes are an introduced species - opinions on when the Dingo came to Australia vary greatly, and range from 15,000 to 2,000 years ago. Dingoes are found on the mainland of Australia but about a third of all wild Dingoes in the south east of the continent are Dingo/domestic dog crosses.
The Dingo normally weighs between 10kg and 24kg, they stand between 44cm and 63cm high to the shoulder.
Echidna
The Short-beaked Echidna is one of the most wide
spread Australian animals and is the only species of Echidna in Australia. The
Short-beaked Echidna, along with the Platypus, is a member of the monotreme
family (mammals that lay eggs). The echidna is shy and moves slowly and
carefully, if it feels threatened or is disturbed it will dig its way into the
ground leaving only its spines visible.The Short-beaked Echidna is common and
widespread.
Read more about the Echidna
Read more about the Echidna
Grey Kangaroo
The Kangaroo is the most well known of all Australian
animals. There are approximately 63 living species of Kangaroo. These include
the Eastern and Western Grey, Wallabies, Wallaroos and Tree-Kangaroos. The
Kangaroo is a marsupial mammal.
Red Kangaroo
The Red Kangaroo is the largest of all the Kangaroos.
The male can be 2 metres tall and weigh 90kg. They are also the largest mammal
in Australia and the largest living marsupial in the world.
Tree Kangaroo
The Tree Kangaroo is a marsupial and like all
marsupials, the Tree Kangaroo has a pouch. There are around 10 species of Tree
Kangaroo most of which are found in New Guinea.
The two species that are found in Australia are; Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo and Bennett's Tree Kangaroo.
The Australian Tree Kangaroos are found in rainforest areas of Queensland.
The two species that are found in Australia are; Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo and Bennett's Tree Kangaroo.
The Australian Tree Kangaroos are found in rainforest areas of Queensland.
Koala
The Koala is one of the most loved of the Australian
animals. Early settlers called them a Bear, and they are sometimes still
referred to as the Koala Bear, although they are not a member of the Bear
family. The Koala is a marsupial mammal.
Australian Lizards
Lizards of different kinds are found all over
Australia but more frequently in the desert area and the tropical woodlands of
northern Australia. There are more Lizards in Australia than anywhere else in
the world - with over 520 species to be found in our great country.
The main family varieties are Monitor Lizards, Geckos, Dragon Lizards, Skinks and Legless Lizards - also known as Snake Lizards.
The main family varieties are Monitor Lizards, Geckos, Dragon Lizards, Skinks and Legless Lizards - also known as Snake Lizards.
Numbat
The Numbat is also known as the Banded Anteater and
Walpurti and is a unique looking Australian animal. Before European settlement
they were found over a lot of Australia. The Numbat is a carnivorous marsupial.
Platypus
The Platypus is one of the strangest Australian
animals.
It lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Often called the Duck Billed Platypus because of its Bill. The Platypus is one of only a few venomous mammals.
It lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Often called the Duck Billed Platypus because of its Bill. The Platypus is one of only a few venomous mammals.
Possum
The Leadbeaters Possum are very rarely seen. They are
small, agile and move fast, often leaping from tree to tree. They live in small
family colonies and the females are dominant. The Leadbeaters Possum is a
nocturnal marsupial.
Quokka
The Quokka is another one of our cute Australian
animals. The Quokka is a small marsupial like the Tree Kangaroo or small
Wallaby, but unlike other Wallabies, it has a short stiff tail and short hind
feet. Its ears are more rounded than those of other Wallabies, and its skull
and teeth are different.
Quokkas are found on Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia, where they are plentiful, they are also found in small groups on the mainland in the southwest of Western Australia.
Quokkas are found on Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia, where they are plentiful, they are also found in small groups on the mainland in the southwest of Western Australia.
Quoll
The Quoll or native cat is a carnivorous marsupial
native to Australia and Papua New Guinea and looks a bit like a cross between a
cat and a possum.
Four species of Quoll can be found in Australia: the Northern Quoll, the Spotted-tailed Quoll, the Eastern Quoll and the Western Quoll. The Spotted-tailed Quoll is the largest carnivorous marsupial found on the mainland of Australia.
Four species of Quoll can be found in Australia: the Northern Quoll, the Spotted-tailed Quoll, the Eastern Quoll and the Western Quoll. The Spotted-tailed Quoll is the largest carnivorous marsupial found on the mainland of Australia.
Rabbits in Australia
Rabbits in Australia started to multiply alarmingly
after Thomas Austin released 24 on his property in Victoria in 1859. Within 10
years the original 24 Rabbits had increased so much that two million could be
shot or trapped yearly without having any apparent effect on the population. It
was the fastest recorded spread of a mammal anywhere in the world.
Today Rabbits are located in the southern and central areas of Australia, with random populations in the northern desert regions.
Today Rabbits are located in the southern and central areas of Australia, with random populations in the northern desert regions.
Australian Sea Lion
The Australian Sea Lion inhabits the ocean around
Australia, and nowhere else. Sea Lions, like Seals, are 'pinnipeds', which
means 'fin foot'.
They are marine mammals, which are able to swim in extremely cold water. Along with fur-seals, sea-lions belong to the eared seal family, they are different from true seals because they have external ears, and they are more agile on the land and move through the water using their front flippers.
They are marine mammals, which are able to swim in extremely cold water. Along with fur-seals, sea-lions belong to the eared seal family, they are different from true seals because they have external ears, and they are more agile on the land and move through the water using their front flippers.
Great White Shark
Great White Sharks live in coastal and offshore waters
which have a water temperature of between 12 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius. In
Australia they have been recorded from southern Queensland to northwestern
Western Australia. The Great White Shark belongs to the group of Mackerel
Shark.
Australian Snakes
Snakes are found all over Australia. There are about
140 species of land snakes in Australia.
About 100 snakes in Australia are venomous, of these 12 are more likely to be life threatening if you are bitten. A venomous snake is a snake that uses modified saliva, venom, delivered through fangs in its mouth, to immobilize or kill its prey. The deadliest snakes found in Australia include Brown Snakes, Death Adders, Red-bellied Black Snakes, Taipan Snakes, Copperheads, and Tiger Snakes.
Snakes vary in size and weight, although they have the same basic body structure.
About 100 snakes in Australia are venomous, of these 12 are more likely to be life threatening if you are bitten. A venomous snake is a snake that uses modified saliva, venom, delivered through fangs in its mouth, to immobilize or kill its prey. The deadliest snakes found in Australia include Brown Snakes, Death Adders, Red-bellied Black Snakes, Taipan Snakes, Copperheads, and Tiger Snakes.
Snakes vary in size and weight, although they have the same basic body structure.
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian Devil as their name suggests are now
found only in the state of Tasmania. They can run up to 13 km per hour for
short distances. Tasmanian Devils are the largest carnivorous marsupial in
Australia.
Hairy Nosed Wombat
Hairy-nosed Wombats like all Wombats are not seen as
often as some other Australian animals. Nicknamed the bulldozer of the bush for
its burrowing. The Koala is their closest relative. The Wombat is a marsupial.
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