Australia is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Some of the animals found here are very unique, and are not found anywhere else in the world. This AnimalSake article provides an A-Z list of the native animals of Australia with their pictures.
These are Some Quirky Aussies!
✦ The platypus can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes before it needs to surface for air.
✦ The quokka looks like it has a smile on its face, thus being called the happiest animal in the world.
✦ The Tasmanian devil yawns at its threat, as if to show that it does not care, though it is more of a fearful and anxious reaction.
The fauna of Australia is very diverse and unique. Most of the native animals here have adapted themselves in appearance and characteristics according to their habitat and its climate. These animals are one-of-a-kind, amazing to study, and downright cute!
The following paragraphs provide a list of those creatures―wonders from the land down under―that call Australia their home.
Australian Giant Cuttlefish
Scientific Name – Sepia apama
IUCN Conservation status – Near Threatened
The Australian giant cuttlefish is the largest of its species, and is native to Australia’s southern coast. It is from Brisbane, Queensland to Shark Bay in Western Australia. It has a unique camouflaging ability, and can blend into any surrounding by changing its body color and texture as well. It falls into the class of Cephalopods, like squid and octopuses. It can grow up to 20 inches in mantle length, and weigh over 10.5 kg (23 pounds). The male tries to attract the female by a display of constantly changing colors and splendid patterns.
Australian Magpie
Scientific Name – Cracticus tibicen
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
This bird is an Australia and southern New Guinea native, and is found across most of Australia. The feathers of the magpie are black and white, and its most distinctive feature is the eyes, which are golden-chestnut in color. Its beak is bluish-white. This omnivorous bird is between 14.5 to 17 inches long. It is a songbird that can sing a variety of tunes, like mimicking other birds and even other animals. It lives in open spaces that have nearby wooded areas.
Australian Pelican
Scientific Name – Pelecanus conspicillatus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
One of the many species of pelicans, the Australian pelican can be widely found in the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, parts of Fiji, Indonesia. The waterbird is also a vagrant in New Zealand. It occupies freshwater and estuarine habitats such as rivers, lakes, swamps, etc. It is white in color, with black wings, and a very long beak with a gular pouch under it. The average weight of this bird is 4 to 7 kg (7 to 15 pounds), but some individuals can weigh more. It has a massive wingspan of 2.3 to 2.6 meters. This bird has the longest beak among all species of extant birds.
Bandicoot
Order – Peramelemorphia
IUCN Conservation status– Variable with Species
The bandicoot is found all over Australia and lives in a varied habitat. There are 20 species of bandicoots that belong to the order Peramelemorphia. This animal looks like a rat, but it is actually a marsupial like the koalas; it carries its young one in a pouch. It has a tapering, pointed snout, a long and thin tail, a hunched back, and pointed teeth. This animal is an omnivore that eats roaches, spiders, berries, seeds, insects, etc. It digs the soil to retrieve prey, and hence, it is considered useful by gardeners.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Genus – Tursiops
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
Of the three species of bottlenose dolphin, two are found in Australia. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is found in northern Australia, whereas the Burrunan dolphin is found in Victoria. This dolphin receives its name due to the shape of its snout, which is round and short, like a bottle. It has a gray back with an off-white underside, and its body length is 2 to 4 meters. It commonly inhabits warm and temperate waters. Although it is killed for various reasons, there is no immediate threat to its population.
Brolga
Scientific Name – Antigone rubicunda
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The brolga is a native bird of Australia, which is also called the Australian Crane. This bird is found in north and north-east Australia, and south as far as Victoria, southern New Guinea and is a vagrant in Western Australia and New Zealand. It is between 2 to 4 feet tall, has a long neck and beak, and skinny legs. Its head is featherless, while the rest of the body has whitish-grey feathers. It is the official bird emblem of Queensland, before which it appeared on the state’s coat of arms. Its population is on the decline, mainly due to habitat loss.
Cassowary
Genus – Casuarius
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The cassowary is a flightless bird that is found in the rainforests of Northeast Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. There are three species of this bird, the Southern, Northern, and Dwarf cassowary. Though the IUCN has listed its conservation status as ‘Least Concern’, the cassowary still faces the dangers of habitat loss, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and hunting. The southern cassowary is considered to be ‘Endangered’ under Federal and Queensland State legislation. This bird has small wings, two very powerful legs with claws, and a crest on its head called a casque. It is basically a shy creature, but is known to deliver a very powerful kick if threatened. There have been records of cassowary attacks on humans.
Common Barn Owl
Scientific Name – Tyto alba
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
Found all throughout Australia, the common barn owl is known by many names. Some of them are, hobby owl, golden owl, night owl, silver owl, hissing owl, screech owl, delicate owl, etc. It has a white face, with light-brown patches below the eyes, a whitish-pink beak, and brownish-black eyes. Being a nocturnal bird, it is active at dusk. It has the ability to glide noiselessly in air. Its habitat consists of woodlands, moors, etc.
Dingo
Scientific Name – Canis lupus dingo
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
The dingo is a wild dog that is found in Australia. While they are common across the rest of the continent, they are absent in many regions of Victoria, New South Wales, the southwestern tip of Western Australia, and a third of southeastern South Australia. A scant population of Dingoes is present in the regions near South Australia and the Northern Territory and in the eastern half of Western Australia. It is not found in Tasmania. On an average, it weighs between 13 to 20 kg (28 to 44 pounds), and is between 20 to 24 inches tall. It has a yellow to red coat, but rare black or white dingoes are also found. It has a sharp sense of hearing, and it is the biggest land predator in Australia. One unique feature of this dog is that it tends to howl instead of bark.
Dugong
Scientific Name – Dugong dugon
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
The dugong is a large sea mammal that belongs to the order Sirenia, along with the manatees. The biggest population of this animal is found in Australia, right from Western Australia’s Shark Bay to Queensland’s Moreton Bay. It prefers to inhabit warm, tropical waters. This animal can grow more than 3 meters in length and weigh more than a thousand pounds. Due to its huge size, it tends to move slowly. It is a very docile creature that was extensively hunted for its meat, oil, skin and bones, but it is now a protected species.
Eastern Long-Necked Turtle
Scientific Name – Chelodina longicollis
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
This is a turtle with a really long neck! Also known as the Australian snake-necked turtle, it is found in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and west of Adelaide and throughout south-eastern Australia. It inhabits freshwater bodies like rivers or streams, including wetlands. The length of this turtle’s neck is usually more than half the length of its shell or carapace. The shell is black to brown in color, while the underside is cream. The feet are webbed for swimming purposes. Another name given to this creature is ‘stinker’, because it emits a very bad-smelling liquid if threatened, which is enough to ward off any predator.
Echidna
Order – Monotremata
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
The echidna is a monotreme (egg-laying mammal) like the platypus. It is found all over Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. There are four living species of echidna: the short-beaked echidna, Sir David’s long-beaked echidna, Eastern long-beaked echidna and western long-beaked echidna. Of the 5 short-beaked subspecies, 4 are found in Australia. Long-beaked echidnas are common in New Guinea. This animal resembles a porcupine, with a spiny body that is about 12-18 inches long for a short-beaked echidna, and about 17 to 30 inches for a long-beaked echidna. Its snout resembles an anteater’s, and it has a sticky tongue to catch ants and termites.
Emu
Scientific Name – Dromaius novaehollandiae
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The emu is a flightless bird; the largest Australian native avian, and second largest in the world. It is found throughout Australia, but the Tasmanian subspecies is now extinct. It is more than 1.5 meters in height and weighs more than 45 kg (100 pounds). It has very thin feathers on its neck and head, except for the throat and front half of the neck, and the rest of the body has a plumage in various shades of brown. It has short wings, rendering it flightless, but very powerful legs, with three toes on each foot.
Fairy Penguin
Scientific Name – Eudyptula minor
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The little penguin or fairy penguin is the smallest of the penguin species. It is found in Western, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand’s entire coastline. The Penguin Island in Western Australia is a home to about 1200 little penguins. The average height and weight of this bird is 12 to 13 inches and 1.5 to 1.7 kg (3 to 3.5 pounds). The feathers on the back are bluish-black, while the belly is white.
Frill-necked Lizard
Scientific Name – Chlamydosaurus kingii
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The frilled-neck lizard, which is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea, is also known as the frilled lizard, frilled agama or the frilled dragon. It is relatively large in size; its body length is about 33 inches, and its weight is about half a pound. It has a frill on its neck, which it displays if threatened. It also opens its mouth and hisses for added effect. If that fails, it uses its fast speed to climb a tree to safety. This creature lives on trees and feeds on small animals and insects. It previously appeared on the two cent coin of Australia.
Fur Seal
Scientific Name – Arctocephalus pusillus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The Australian fur seal is the largest in the fur seal species. It is found in Bass Strait, and parts of Victoria and Tasmania. Males weigh between 218 and 360 kg (480 to 793 pounds), and females between 41 to 113 kg (90 to 250 pounds). Males are more in length than females. This species nearly went extinct in the 1800s due to illegal hunting, but now its numbers are on the rise again.
Galah
Scientific Name – Eolophus roseicapilla
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The galah is a species of bird that is abundantly found almost all over mainland Australia, and has been introduced in Tasmania. It is also called pink and grey, rose-breasted cockatoo, and roseate cockatoo. Its back and wings are in shades of grey, while its face and undersides are pink. It also has a light-pink crest of feathers on its head, like a cockatoo. It is about 14 inches in length, and weighs between 270 to 350 grams. One interesting fact about this bird is that the eye color of males is dark brown to black, whereas that of females is light brown to red.
Goanna
Genus – Varanus
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
The goanna is any Australian monitor lizard, or certain species from Southeast Asia, that belongs to the Varanus genus. There are about 30 known species of goanna, and 25 of them are found in Australia. The monitor lizard is basically a reptile, which is found throughout Australia, except Tasmania, in a variety of habitats. It is a carnivore and often swallows its prey whole. It can even consume rotting meat. The largest of the species is the Perentie monitor lizard, which can sometimes grow up to 8 feet in length. The tiniest one is the short-tailed monitor, whose maximum length can be 25 cm.
Grey-headed Flying Fox
Scientific Name – Pteropus poliocephalus
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
The grey-headed flying fox is a species of bat that is native to Australia. It is found in the southeastern forests, mainly to the east of the Great Dividing Range, with the range extending to Queensland, Victoria, Finch Hatton, Ingham, and Adelaide. The body and head of this bat is grey, with brown fur around the neck. Its combined head and body length is 9 to 11 inches, while the wingspan is about 1 meter long. There are many threats to this animal in the form of habitat loss, food loss, competing for the same with other bats, and extreme temperatures.
Greater Bilby
Genus – Macrotis
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
This Australian marsupial commonly inhabits desert regions of central Australia. There were originally two species, the lesser and the greater bilby. The lesser bilby is now extinct. This animal is a little bigger than the bandicoot, and has a longer tail and ears. It has a very soft, grey fur. Efforts are going on to bring its population back from the brink.
Great White Shark
Scientific Name – Carcharodon carcharias
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
The great white shark, also known as the great white, gets its name from the white color of its belly. In Australia, it is found in coastal waters from Queensland in south to northwestern Western Australia. This shark can grow big, really big. Females can grow more than 6 meters in length, and weigh more than 1000 kg (2204 pounds). Most females, however, measure between 4.6 to 4.9 meters, and males grow to 3.4 to 4 meters. It is basically a predator, and is attracted to the smell of blood in the water. One interesting fact about the great white is that it needs to keep swimming to keep from sinking to the ocean floor!
Green Sea Turtle
Scientific Name – Chelonia mydas
IUCN Conservation status – Endangered
Also known as the green turtle, the green sea turtle is found on the northern coast of Australia. Many nesting sites are found in the Great Barrier Reef, Ashmore and Cartier Reef, the Coral sea, Scott Reef, etc. It prefers tropical waters. The favorite food of adults is seagrass and algae, but the young ones are carnivorous, and eat small invertebrates, fish eggs, worms, etc. It has flipper-like arms, a short neck, a tapering head, and a carapace. An adult grows to more than a meter long and weighs up to 190 kg (400 pounds). Its population has been on the decline mainly due to hunting and poaching.
Green Tree Ants
Scientific Name – Oecophylla smaragdina
IUCN Conservation status – N.A.
Found across the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia, green tree ants also go by the name of weaver ants. This is because they have the ability to weave leaves together using the silk produced from their larvae, for the purpose of making nests. There can be up to 5,00,000 ants in one colony, and their nests may occupy 12 trees at a stretch. Other names for this species are green ants and orange gasters.
Kangaroo
Genus – Macropus
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
This hoppy marsupial is a hard-core Australian native! It has a long and strong tail for balancing, and powerful hind legs with long feet to hop easily. The height and weight differ according to the species. The red kangaroo is the biggest of the species, and the biggest marsupial in the world. The young of a kangaroo is called a joey, which stays in its mother’s pouch till it is old enough to become independent. The habitat also differs with the species; they are found in cold climates, desert areas, and even tropical rainforests!
Koala
Scientific Name – Phascolarctos cinereus
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
The koala is another thorough native of Australia. Wrongfully called the Koala bear, it is actually a marsupial that lives on trees and loves eucalyptus leaves. It is found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Southern and Eastern Australia. It is between 24 to 33 inches long and weighs between 4 to 15 kg (9 to 33 pounds). This animal sleeps for up to 20 hours and is mainly nocturnal. A baby koala is called a joey. The joey stays in its mother’s pouch for 6 to 7 months after birth.
Kookaburra
Genus – Dacelo
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
There are 4 species of the kookaburra found in Australia. They are the Spangled Kookaburra, Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-winged Kookaburra, and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra. This is a carnivorous bird that is known to eat insects, small reptiles, mice, etc. It is found in a varied habitat from moist to dry and arid regions, and even in urban areas. The call of this bird sounds like laughter, which is why this sound has been used in many places on TV, films, and in some attractions of Disney theme park.
Lyrebird
Genus – Menura
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
The lyrebird is actually two species of birds belonging to the genus Menura. This bird is found in rain forest areas of New South Wales, Tasmania, southeast Queensland, and Victoria. It is very famous for its ability to mimic various sounds. It can reenact man-made sounds like rifle shots and car alarms, and even voices of other animals. Out of the two extant species of lyrebirds, the superb lyrebird males are around 80 to 98 cm long, and the females are about 74 to 84 cm long. The albert lyrebird male can grow to at most 90 cm, while the female’s maximum length can be 84 cm. The feather coloring is reddish-brown to brown. A striking fact about the male is his long, showy tail that can be opened into a fan.
Malleefowl
Scientific Name – Leipoa ocellata
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
The malleefowl is an Australian bird that lives on the ground. It is famous for the huge mounds that the male builds for the purpose of incubating eggs. Malleefowl parents are notorious for not caring for their young. It is a distant relative of the domestic chicken. It inhabits semi-arid areas with low-growing eucalypt trees and shrubs, referred to as mallee. This bird is about the size of a chicken, and has brown-black feathering that is extremely useful in camouflaging it in case it senses danger nearby.
Marsupial Mole
Genus – Notoryctes
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
Australia is the home to the two recognized species of marsupial moles, namely the Notoryctes typhlops (southern marsupial mole) and the Notoryctes caurinus (northern marsupial mole). The two species are quite similar, and are found in the desert regions of Western-central and Central Australia. The body length of this animal can be around 5 to 7 inches, and the color can be reddish-brown or cream. The population of both the species is at risk due to predators and habitat loss.
Numbat
Scientific Name – Myrmecobius fasciatus
IUCN Conservation status – Endangered
The numbat also goes by the name banded anteater. Once widespread across Australia, its natural population is now restricted to two woodlands in Western Australia. In recent years, however, the numbat has been re-introduced to a few fenced reserves in South Australia and New South Wales. It is a marsupial, whose body length is between 14 to 18 inches. It has bands of black fur on its back. Its color varies from grey to reddish brown, and it has almond-shaped eyes, small, rounded ears, and a pointed mouth. Its method of eating is quite peculiar. It digs out its prey (termites) using its fore paws, and eats it with its sticky tongue.
Oystercatcher
Genus – Haematopus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
There are two species of the oystercatcher bird that are native to Australia. They are the pied and the sooty oystercatcher. Both the species are found along the coastline of the continent. Both have pink legs, red or orange beaks, and similar-colored eyes. The pied oystercatcher has back and white feathers, whereas the sooty oystercatcher has a completely black plumage.
Possum
Order – Diprotodontia
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
Australia houses around 23 species of possums. The possum is a marsupial that lives on trees (arboreal). It has a long, thick tail, round eyes, round, pointed ears, and a small, tapering mouth. Like the koala and the kangaroo, it has a pouch where its baby stays till it grows up. Being arboreal, its diet is mainly herbivorous, and it eats leaves of plants and trees. Some species of possums are the common ringtail possum, pygmy possum, and common brushtail possum.
Platypus
Scientific Name – Ornithorhynchus anatinus
IUCN Conservation status – Near Threatened
This Australian native is a monotreme (egg-laying mammal) that both swims in water and walks on land. It is found in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. The platypus has a duck-like beak, a flat tail that stores fat, and webbed feet. It is covered in thick brown fur that is both waterproof and traps insulating air for warmth. Its weight varies from 0.7 to 2.4 kg (1.5 to 5.3 pounds). Sexual dimorphism is evident, as the males are bigger than the females. There is a spur on the hind legs of both males and females. The male’s spur are capable of producing venom, which can cause intense pain in people, and kill smaller animals like dogs.
Quokka
Scientific Name – Setonix brachyurus
IUCN Conservation status – Vulnerable
This Australian native is by far the cutest and happiest of the lot! The quokka is a marsupial, and a relative of the kangaroo. Its population is restricted to the south-west Western Australia, mainly the Rottnest Island (near Perth), Bald Island (near Albany). A few small groups of quokkas are found in the forest and coastal areas between Perth and Albany. It is just about a meter tall and looks like a mini kangaroo. It weighs between 2.5 to 5 kg (5.5 to 11 pounds) and has around a 10 to 12 inch long tail. The tail acts as a fat reserve, enabling the animal to live without food or water for days. There are very small and limited colonies of the quokka because its numbers are declining due to predators like foxes and cats.
Quoll
Genus – Dasyurus
IUCN Conservation status – Near Threatened or Endangered (Variable with Species)
Australia houses four species of quolls: spotted or tiger, northern, eastern, and western quoll. Once quite common throughout most of Australia, its range has become quite restricted over the years. The eastern quoll was considered to be functionally extinct on the mainland since the 1960s, and was found only in Tasmania. Recently, however, it has been reintroduced into fenced sanctuaries and wild regions of Australia. It is a marsupial, like the koala, but is also a carnivore. It looks like a rat, but is approximately between 10 and 30 inches long. The fur color varies between brown and black, with a few white spots. The tail is about 8 to 14 inches long, and is hairy. The diet of smaller species consists of small animals like lizards, frogs, birds, small snakes, etc., while the tiger quoll prefers hares, rabbits and brushtail possums. It is a primarily nocturnal animal that hunts at night and sleeps during the day.
Red-bellied Black Snake
Scientific Name – Pseudechis porphyriacus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The red-bellied black snake is commonly encountered in east coast of Australia. It usually prefers swamps, streams, lagoons in forests and woodlands, though it can wander away from them. It can grow to a length of 1.25 on an average, with males being a bit larger than the females. It is quite commonly spotted in urban areas like Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, etc., with disjunct populations in North Queensland and the southern Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. It is a venomous snake, but its venom is not fatal like that of some other Australian snakes. This is a carnivorous animal that loves to eat frogs and other small mammals. It gets its name due to red color of its undersides.
Redback Spider
Scientific Name – Latrodectus hasseltii
IUCN Conservation status – N.A.
Also known as the Australian black widow, this Australian native spider is a venomous creature. It belongs to the group of widow spiders, where the female is considerably bigger than the male, and eats him during mating. The males who survive the mating process succumb to their injuries. The adult female is black with a red stripe on her back and on her underside. The female is about 0.4 inches in length, while the male is only 0.12 to 0.16 inches. It is found throughout Australia, including the urban areas. The bite of a female redback spider is quite dangerous and can even be fatal. However, most cases do not require medical attention, and can be treated with application of ice pack and oral analgesia.
Saltwater Crocodile
Scientific Name – Crocodylus porosus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
This reptile is considered to be very dangerous animal. It is an apex predator that is commonly found in the northern parts of Australia. It is also known as the saltie crocodile or the Indo-Pacific crocodile. It can grow to more than 15 feet in length. This animal is very wild and is also known to attack humans. It is not an endangered species, although its population did take a hit in the 20th century due to increased hunting for its invaluable skin.
Sawfish
Order – Pristiformes
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
Also known as the carpenter shark, the sawfish is found in Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. It gets its name due to an extension of its nose that looks like a double-edged saw. This ‘saw’ is known as the rostrum. The so-called teeth on the ‘saw’ are not actually teeth, but are special kind of scales called dermal denticles. The fish has teeth in its mouth, which is uses to feed on other fish. The rostrum is very sensitive; it is used to detect movement of prey and also to attack if needed. This fish can grow up to 20 feet in length.
Sooty Owl
Genus – Tyto
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
There are two species of this bird: the lesser and the greater sooty owl. The former is found in the wet tropical areas, while the latter in Southeastern Australia, Flinders Island in Bass Trait and Montane rainforests of New Guinea. The greater sooty owl is 14 to 17 inches in length, with the females being heavier than the males. The lesser sooty owl is 13 to 15 inches in length, and here too, the females are bigger. It has a spotted plumage that is grey in color. The facial disk is also gray in color with a black border. This is a nocturnal predator that rests in tree hollows or caves during the daytime.
Sugar Glider
Scientific Name – Petaurus breviceps
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
This small and cute animal is actually a possum that can glide! In Australia, the sugar glider is found in the east and north regions of the mainland, and also in Tasmania. It is an arboreal marsupial that is nocturnal in nature. Its body length is 6 to 8 inches, and the tail adds another 6 to 8 inches to the total length. Its fur is thick, soft, and gray in color. A black stripe runs down its back. The undersides are cream-colored. Though it is an omnivore that preys on lizards and small birds, the sugar glider also feeds on other foods like acacia seeds, pollen, etc. It is called ‘sugar glider’ because it likes to eat flowers and nectar.
Sulfur-crested Cockatoo
Scientific Name – Cacatua galerita
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The sulfur-crested cockatoo is a large species of the cockatoo that is found in wooded areas. In Australia, it inhabits North, East, and Southern regions, but avoids areas with less vegetation. It is also found in cities like Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, etc., and has been introduced to Perth. It has white plumage all over its body, with a crest of yellow feathers on its head. It grows between 17 to 22 inches in length. The eye color of the male is almost black, while that of the female is red or brown. This bird is loud and can sometimes be a pest. However, it is very intelligent, and can mimic a variety of man-made and animal sounds.
Tasmanian Devil
Scientific Name – Sarcophilus harrisii
IUCN Conservation status – Endangered
The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial, which is now found only in the state of Tasmania, and Maria Island. It is about 20 to 31 inches tall, roughly the size of a small dog. It weighs between 4 to 12 kg (9 to to 26 pounds). It is a carnivore and feeds mainly on birds, snakes, fish, though they prefer to eat rotting meat more often than not. It has a furry tail and large head. Its fur color is black, with white markings on the chest. The ears are rounded and small, and it has whiskers on its nose. It is a nocturnal animal; its color helps it hunt in the dark, and its whiskers help detect prey.
Thorny Devil
Scientific Name – Moloch horridus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
Also known as the thorny dragon, the thorny devil is a lizard found in Central Australia, and parts of Western Australia. It inhabits scrublands and desert regions. It is called the thorny devil because its body is covered with spikes as a defense mechanism. Its unusual coloring also helps it to blend into its background to avoid being detected. The thorns or ridges on its body help it to collect water. When it walks, it rocks its body forward and backward, and moves at a very slow pace. It feeds on ants and catches them using its sticky tongue.
Wallaby
Family – Macropdidae
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
The wallaby is a marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea, and is a close relative of the kangaroo. It is found all over Australia, with greater concentration in wooded, remote areas than arid ones. Its height can go up to 70 inches, and its weight between 2 to 24 kg (4 to 53 pounds). However, it is generally smaller in size than a kangaroo. Its body is covered with fur, and the color can range between brown, tan, black, and red. This animal is a herbivore and is mainly found in grasslands and forests. Australia is home to almost 30 species of wallaby.
Wallaroo
Scientific Name – Macropus robustus
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern
The wallaroo gets its name from a combination of wallaby and kangaroo. There are 4 subspecies of the wallaroo, and they are found in various parts of Australia. Their height can reach over 5 feet. The average weight is between 40 to 100 pounds, and the males are bigger than the females. The coat can be between reddish-brown and grey. This nocturnal and crepuscular animal is a herbivore and eats grass and shrubs. It is slightly smaller than a kangaroo and bigger than a wallaby.
Wombat
Order – Diprotodontia
IUCN Conservation status – Variable with Species
The wombat is a marsupial that is native to Australia. It is about a meter in length and has a compact body. Its fur is brown-black in color, and it has a very small tail. The adaptive animal is found in varied habitats in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania and an isolated area in the Epping Forest National Park in central Queensland. It is a herbivore that eats grass, leaves, roots, etc. It is a burrowing animal that leaves traces of its path wherever it goes. It is mainly nocturnal and crepuscular in nature. Among the species, the Southern hairy-nosed wombat is near threatened, the Northern hairy-nosed wombat is critically endangered, while the Common wombat’s population is sufficient as of now.
Yabby
Order – Decapoda
IUCN Conservation status – Least Concern (Common Yabby)
There are two species of the yabby, which is a crustacean; the Common Yabby (a freshwater crustacean) and the Marine Yabby (a mud shrimp that resides in the intertidal zone). Abundantly found in New South Wales and Victoria, the common yabby is also found in southern Queensland, parts of the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania. The marine one is found in Southeastern Australia. The former is bigger in size, at 4 to 8 inches, as compared to the 2.4 inches of the latter. Common yabbies have also been known to reach 12 inches in length. This creature inhabits various water habitats, and also ranges in color depending on the quality of water it inhabits.
These were some of the Australian native animals. Aren’t they a delight to know about? And absolutely adorable too! Sadly, due to human nature, most of them will soon become extinct. Thus, it is in our hands to do something about it so that these beautiful animals are there for our next generation to enjoy as well.
