Australia, the sixth-largest country in the world by area, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and varied animals. Many of the most recognizable species in the world, such as kangaroos, koalas, emus, platypuses, wombats, and goannas, may be found in Australia, which has ecosystems ranging from the desert to coral reefs, to tropical and temperate rainforests, rivers, and grasslands.
Australian wildlife is well-known, including the koala and kangaroo. However, are you familiar with the sex-obsessed antechinus or the headless chicken monster? How about the turtle that inhales air through its buttocks? or the stonefish and box jellyfish, two of the world’s most hazardous creatures? Australia is home to thousands of other unusual, adorable, dangerous, and strange animals. We curated the list of Australian Animals and facts about them for your knowledge.
Australian Animals
Australia is home to a diverse array of unique and fascinating animals, many of which can be found nowhere else in the world. Some of the most well-known and iconic Australian animals include:
1. Australian Magpie:
One of the most well-known Australian birds is the magpie. These widespread species inhabit a variety of environments, from cities to forests, and it is only absent from a few desert locations. The Australian magpie has orange-brown eyes and a black-and-white coat of feathers. Its size is comparable to that of the Eurasian magpie, but unlike that species, it does not belong to the Corvidae family of crows. It belongs to the Artamidae family, which also contains butcherbirds. The warbling call of the Australian magpie is well known.
2. Bandicoot:
A group of about 20 omnivorous, ground-dwelling marsupials known as bandicoots can be found in Australia and New Guinea. They have hunched backs, small, tapering noses, and relatively long legs. They resemble rats. Most are proportioned like rabbits. The northern brown bandicoot is the largest bandicoot found in Australia. There are bandicoots all around Australia. They inhabit a range of environments, from lawns to jungles. With their forepaws, bandicoots dig up food from the ground, such as insects and earthworms, utilizing their sensitive noses to find it. Snout-pokes are the names for the holes they make in the ground.
3. Australian Sea Lion:
The Australian sea lion belongs to the pinniped family of mammals, which also includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. The only pinniped that is endemic to (found only in) Australia is the Australian sea lion. The country’s southern and western beaches are home to the species. The primary food sources for this aquatic mammal are fish and molluscs like squid and cuttlefish.
Also, rumored to eat penguins, an extensive hunt for Australian sea lions once took place. The population has not entirely returned even though it is now protected. Commercial fishing (while not intentionally targeted by fishermen, Australian sea lions frequently get caught in gillnets) and habitat degradation are currently the main threats to the species.
4. Bilby:
The bigger bilby is the sole remaining bilby because the lesser bilby went extinct in the 1950s. (Due to this, the greater bilby is frequently referred to as the ‘bilby’.) The bigger bilby, which was once common throughout southern Australia, is now restricted to central Australia’s desert areas.
The bilby is a burrowing bandicoot, as opposed to other bandicoots. It has large, strong forelimbs and tough claws. To keep the earth out when digging, the female’s pouch opens from the back. The term “rabbit-eared bandicoot” is another name for the species because of its large ears. The bilby forages hunts seeds, insects, and bulbs using its long tongue.
5. Kangaroo:
Almost All of us know about the relation between Kangaroo and Australia. So, it is impossible to make the list of Australian Animals and forget about the Kangaroos. Huge hopping marsupials with two large hind legs and long, thick tails, kangaroos are marsupials. They can reach a height of 2.5 m (8 ft), weigh 90 kg (198 lb), and hop at 70 kph (45mph). Can-ga-roo is how you pronounce “kangaroo.”
The scientific animal family Macropodidae includes kangaroos. However, only the four largest members of this group are given the name kangaroo. These include the Antilopine Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, and Western Grey Kangaroo.
Compared to humans, who have 180° of vision with 120° of overlap, kangaroos have eyes high on their skulls, giving them a 324° field of vision with a 25° overlap. Its eyesight is as sensitive as that of horses, cattle, or rabbits. They have prominent pointed ears that can freely rotate across 180 degrees.
6. Bowerbirds:
A family of birds known as bowerbirds can be found in Australia and New Guinea. Ten of the 20 bowerbird species are found in Australia. Most inhabit woods and other types of forested settings.
Bowerbirds’ courtship behavior is well known. This entails the man constructing an elaborate structure on the forest floor called a bower. The bower is made of sticks and is embellished with flowers, plants, and colorful things, both natural and artificial. Usually, females choose the man who has constructed the most attractive bower before mating. The bower is not utilized as a nest; it is only constructed during courtship. The satin bowerbird, a species found in the coastal woodlands of eastern Australia, is one of the most well-known Australian bowerbirds.
7. Black Swan:
Australia’s wetlands are home to the huge waterbird known as the black swan. Western Australia’s state flag and coat of arms feature the species, which serves as the state’s emblem. This unusual Australian bird has a brilliant red bill with a white tip and black plumage. Its white flight feathers can be seen when it is flying or when its wings are elevated in an aggressive display.
The black swan mostly consumes water plants and algae as food. It “up-ends” with its head and shoulders underwater when necessary to use its long neck to obtain food.
8. Budgerigar:
The budgerigar is a little member of the Psittacoidea superfamily of true parrots. It is widespread over much of Australia and can be found in a variety of settings, including deserts, agriculture, and urban gardens. Additionally, the species has been introduced to the US. The budgie is a nomadic bird that roams from place to place in quest of water and the seeds it consumes.
The third most popular pet in the world is the budgie. Although the bird’s natural coloration is mainly yellow and green, captive birds have been intentionally developed to have a variety of colors, including blue, grey, and all yellow.
9. Camel (Feral):
In Australia, there are about 300,000 wild camels. The majority are dromedaries, but there are also a few wild Bactrian camels in the area. During the 19th century, these big, hoofed creatures were introduced and employed for transportation. In Australia, there used to be as many as 600,000 feral camels. Between 2009 and 2013, steps were done to limit the population to its current extent because this introduced species was harming native fauna.
10. Cairns Birdwing Butterfly:
One of the biggest butterflies in Australia is the Cairns birdwing, which can have a wing span of up to 15 cm (5.9 in). The species only occurs in Australia. It resides in the northeast Queensland tropical rainforests. Male Cairns birdwing butterflies are substantially more colorful than females while being smaller. While the females’ wings are primarily black with yellow patterning, the males’ wings are an eye-catching combination of black, yellow, and green. The name of the species comes from Cairns, a seaside city in Queensland that lies near the insect’s geographic center.
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This is the list of a few Australian Animals. These are just a few examples of the many unique and interesting animals that call Australia home. Due to its isolated location, Australia has developed a unique ecosystem with many endemic species. Unfortunately, many of these species are facing the threat of extinction due to habitat loss, introduced species, and climate change.
