During the geological evolution of our planet, Australia for many millennia was isolated from other continents. Thanks to this factor, a special flora and fauna were formed on the Green Continent. Let's go to this enchanting, unlike other continent, and in our zoological review amazing animals of Australia, with names and descriptions, and most importantly, which are not found in other parts of the Earth.
Kangaroo
We begin, of course, with the symbol of the Australian continent, the magnificent kangaroo, which millions of years ago chose these territories. In addition, there are different types of kangaroos, and their total number in Australia is much higher than the number of inhabitants of this state.
A cute herbivore can reach greater speed, and thanks to its powerful hind limbs they can jump up to 3 meters in height. Kangaroos live on average from 6 to 7 years in the wild, but in captivity there have been cases when the kangaroos survive to 20 years.
This magnificent, graceful animal was honored to be depicted on the emblem of Australia, as well as on coins of the state of various denominations.
Emu
Symbols of Australia are represented by another amazing resident of Australia, namely the Australian emu ostrich. These animals got on the coat of arms because they only move forward, thereby symbolizing that the Australian state is constantly evolving.
The size of emu is the second bird on the planet after the ostrich, and today it is isolated. They feed mainly on the fruits of trees, grass, berries.
Peculiar and colorful emus settle far away from humans, avoiding dense forests and arid territories.
Marsupial devil
A charming and cute animal, albeit with such a formidable name, no larger than a dog, but very aggressive, and can stand up for itself.
This animal has very powerful jaws, so during the hunt he easily snacks his prey. Devils are very gluttonous, eating a large amount of food per day.
At first glance, the terrible animals are mostly nocturnal, and live almost throughout the continent, except for densely populated and deprived of forest stands.
A marsupial devil lives on the islands of Tasmania, which is 240 kilometers from the mainland, although about 600 years ago these animals inhabited mainland Australia.
Echidna
The list of amazing animals in Australia is continued by small echidna, whose adults do not grow more than 45 cm in length. Although they can also be found in New Guinea and on the islands of the Bass Strait.
Their body is covered not only with fur, but also with thorns, which the echidna skillfully defend themselves from their natural enemies in the wild. Like the platypus, this Australian mammal lays only one egg.
It eats ants and termites, but finds them thanks to the magnificent charm that its mother nature has endowed.
Thorny dragon
This unusual lizard from the Agam family is also called Moloch in honor of a pagan deity. Unlike its nimble congeners, the thorny dragon is clumsy and very slow.
Such slowness could be fatal to the lizard, but nature gave the animal thorny armor, which is why the reptile has a rather frightening appearance.
With this camouflage, on which there are many spikes, they easily allow the lizard to adapt to desert conditions.
Black Swan
The majestic, graceful bird lives in Australia and on the island of Tasmania, and in the first half of the XIX century they were brought to New Zealand.
Over time, black swans also appeared in Europe, they chose park ponds and reservoirs of national reserves. They feed mainly on aquatic plants and algae. Thanks to the long cervical vertebrae, black swans are free to hunt under water.
They greet each other with special sounds, and do not hiss like many of their relatives. These animals became a symbol of Western Australia, hitting the state flag.
Koala
It is difficult to find a calmer and slower animal on our planet than the pretty inhabitant of the Australian forests of Koala. The species of marsupials is the only representative of the koalov family, and the Latin name is translated as “ashen”.
Koalas spend their whole lives among the branches of eucalyptus, eating leaves and young shoots of this tree, and sleep 18 hours a day. They have developed charm, which helps them choose only useful types of eucalyptus, and not poison.
Unfortunately, koalas are on the verge of extinction, and all the forces of state and environmental organizations are aimed at preserving the cute bear population.
Laughing kookaburra
It looks like a cute bird, originally from eastern Australia, in fact a predator that preys on small rodents, as well as other birds smaller than its own.
The name was given due to the fact that the voice of adults is very reminiscent of human laughter. A fairly large bird, growing up to 45-47 cm, has a powerful beak and grayish plumage. Lives in one place, not making seasonal flights.
I wonder how kookabara hunts snakes. She grabs the victim with her claws, understands to the height and throws her down to the ground.
Platypus
Today, every schoolchild knows the answer to the question, which Australian animal surprised scientists called paradoxus, which means "paradoxical bird beak."
Indeed, this secretive, shy mammal in Australia has confused the scientific world with its unusual appearance. In addition, platypuses are few of the mammals of the earth that have poison.
They swim and dive magnificently, feeding on small waterfowl, crustaceans, worms, mollusks, and on the ground the platypuses hunt just as splendidly as in the familiar water element.
Royal parrot
A beautiful, proud bird lives in the east and southeast of the Australian continent, settling in forests with dense undergrowth.
The Australian Parrot nests in the hollows of large trees. Often, a beautiful bird can be found in national parks and city squares. This type of parrot has long been a favorite in the homes of Europeans.
Australian parrots are diverse, but this species stands out for its special beauty. The head and neck of the parrot are bright red, and a white stripe is expressed on the wings. He is not at all afraid of a person, and on the farms you can watch how he eats with his pets.
Rabbit bandicoot
An omnivorous earthen animal lives only in the vastness of Australia, lives in solitude, and forms pairs only in the mating season.
Adult individuals do not grow more than 55 cm, but weigh from 500 grams to 2.5 kilograms. They dig holes perfectly, forming intricate passages, where they spend most of their life, leaving only at night to search for food.
The muzzle of a unique animal is similar to a mouse, but only they are larger. A study of their holes showed that sometimes they can reach up to 3 meters in length, and have several entrances that ensure bandicut safety.
Lyre bird
Exotic birds with this poetic name live in eastern Australia, mainly in tropical tropical and subtropical forests.
Many individuals of this magnificent bird live in the large Dandenong National Park, where they have long become a unique attraction. The lyre bird on the earth eats, but prefers to sleep on the branches of tall trees.
Interestingly, in addition to his own voice, he can easily imitate the voices of other birds and animals. Wildlife researchers have noticed that it can depict the whistle of a locomotive, and what is remarkable, even the sound of a chainsaw.
Giant dragonfly
The insects of Australia are as peculiar and amazing as the representatives of the Australian fauna. It is worth introducing a giant Australian dragonfly, one of the largest among its relatives living on other continents.
The wingspan of a dragonfly reaches 15 cm, it is precisely these dimensions that allow it to develop great speed, and most importantly, hunt other insects on the fly. Interestingly, females of this species of dragonflies are much larger than males.
A man actively develops wetlands, so the area of these dragonflies was significantly reduced, and they were on the verge of extinction.
Wombat
A marsupial Australian animal has been digging tangled underground tunnels all its life, and the wombat's habitat is the southern and eastern coasts of the green mainland.
Outwardly, a cute herbivorous mammal resembles a small bear or, conversely, a large hamster. He likes to feast on roots, all kinds of berries, mushrooms.
They control the territory from 5 to 25 hectares, on which they break their intricate tunnels. The most interesting thing is that according to statistics, wombats attack people more often than the poisonous representatives of the fauna of Australia.
Australian tenon
In addition to Australia, this is one of the most poisonous snakes in the world, also lives on the islands of New Guinea. It easily disguises itself as a landscape, attacking its victims from an ambush.
It preys on rodents, other snakes. Attacks on livestock and humans have been reported. Spinetail poison is very toxic, and, related to neurotoxins, when it enters the bloodstream, it causes paralysis of the respiratory tract.
The snake is also dangerous in that when attacking, its jump is very swift, which is why it is almost impossible to avoid an attack.
Dingo
According to legend, this wonderful wild dog was brought to Australia about 5 thousand years ago by Indonesian sailors who plowed the ocean in their light bamboo boats.
So, dingo is one of many ancient animals of Australia, which are not found anywhere else. Once on the expanses of the new continent, she easily adapted to local landscapes. It feeds on rabbits, attacks individually or in a pack on a kangaroo, wallaby.
Communicating among themselves, dogs use howl, as well as their relatives wolves.
Australian shepherd dog
Pictured is an amazing dog bred in Australia. It is our acquaintance with her that we will complete our review.
The unique breed was bred in the 19th century especially for driving cattle over long distances. A harmoniously built, hardy and strong dog is infinitely devoted to the owner, smart and quick-witted.
In Europe, these wonderful and faithful dogs, like the miniature Australian Shepherd, appeared only at the end of the twentieth century. The first Australian healer was brought to England in 1980, and today this breed is quite popular among English and Scottish farmers.
So we found out what animals live in Australia, what they eat, what kind of lifestyle. As you can see, the animal world of Australia is diverse and unique. Animals perfectly adapted to the natural conditions and landscapes of this amazing and mysterious continent. Many Australian endemic species are listed in the Red Book, and legislation has been enacted at the state level to safeguard and protect the unique Australian fauna.
Article author: Valery Skiba