Lexi Webster
Australia is home to a wide range of unique and fascinating animals. The country's distinctive creatures are largely due to its unique climatic and geological conditions. Australia has a high level of endemism, meaning many of its animals are found nowhere else in the world. The continent's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and unique patterns of climate change have all contributed to the diverse fauna we see today. From iconic marsupials like kangaroos and koalas to the venomous platypus and quirky quokka, Australia offers a plethora of wildlife experiences for nature enthusiasts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of species of kangaroos | 40-55 |
| Number of species of monotremes | 2 |
| Number of species of mammals | Almost 400 |
| Number of species of marsupials | About 140 |
| Number of species of birds | 46% of birds in Australia are endemic |
| Number of species of parrots | 56 |
| Number of species of beetles and weevils | 28,200 |
| Number of species of butterflies and moths | 20,816 |
| Number of species of ants, bees and wasps | 14,800 |
| Number of species of flies and mosquitoes | 7,786 |
| Number of species of bugs, aphids and hoppers | 5,650 |
| Number of species of grasshoppers, crickets and katydids | 2,827 |
| Number of species of spiders | 79 |
| Number of species of invasive molluscs | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
Marsupials: koalas, kangaroos, wombats, quokkas, possums, and bandicoots
Marsupials are a group of mammals that carry their young in a pouch. Australia is known for its unique and diverse marsupials, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, quokkas, possums, and bandicoots.
Koalas are found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, with the highest populations along the central and north coast of New South Wales and the southeast corner of Queensland. They are mainly found in coastal areas, and their habitat is rapidly declining due to urban expansion. Koalas are considered a threatened species, with a national wild population estimated to be less than 60,000.
Kangaroos are the largest marsupials and are native to Australia. They belong to the Macropodidae family, which means "big foot" in Latin. There are several species of kangaroos, including the Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, and the Common Wallaroo or Euro. Kangaroos are known for their large back feet, powerful hind legs, short hair, small forelimbs, and long tails. They can hop at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour and can clear more than eight metres in a single bound.
Wombats are the closest living relatives of koalas and are only found in Australia. They are among the largest burrowing mammals globally and can measure up to 1.3 metres long and weigh up to 36 kilograms. Wombats have brown, tan, or grey fur and are described as "stout," "sturdy," or "powerful." They are expert diggers, with short muscular legs and sharp claws, and can run at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour. Wombats are protected across Australia, except in Victoria, where they are considered agricultural pests.
Quokkas are small wallabies, closely related to kangaroos, and are endemic to Australia. They reside in shrublands or dense vegetation near streams in the southwestern region of Australia, including Rottnest and Bald Islands. Quokkas are known for their friendly demeanour and are considered a vulnerable species, with a remaining wild population estimated between 7,500 and 15,000.
Possums are widespread in Australia, particularly in the eastern and northern parts of the continent, Tasmania, and some western regions and offshore islands. The common brushtail possum is the most well-known species, native to Australia, and invasive in New Zealand. It is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial with a head and body length of 32-58 centimetres and a tail length of 24-40 centimetres. Brushtail possums are threatened by humans, tigers, dogs, foxes, cats, goannas, snakes, and owls.
Bandicoots are solitary, terrestrial, and nocturnal marsupials. There were nine species of bandicoots in Australia before European settlement, two of which are now extinct, and four are threatened with extinction. The Long-nosed Bandicoot and the Northern Brown Bandicoot are the most common species today, found along the east coast of Australia and in southern Papua New Guinea. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including heaths, woodlands, and rainforests, and prefer dense vegetation for shelter and open areas for foraging at night.
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Monotremes: platypuses, short-beaked echidnas
Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs, and they include platypuses and echidnas. Platypuses and short-beaked echidnas are the only monotremes in the world. Platypuses are venomous, egg-laying, duck-billed amphibious mammals that live in the rivers, lakes, and creeks of eastern Australia. They have a brown furry body, webbed feet, and a bill like a duck, as well as a beaver-like tail. Platypuses are shy and quickly hide underwater if approached. If they are attacked and cannot escape, they inject venom through spurs on their hind legs.
Short-beaked echidnas are found throughout Australia in places like the Great Western Woodlands. Echidnas have porcupine-like spines, a bird-like beak, a quoll-like pouch, and they lay eggs like a reptile. They feed their young with milk, but they do not have nipples; instead, the milk oozes out of the skin in the pouch and the baby echidna, or "puggle," licks it up. The name "echidna" comes from a creature in Greek mythology that was half-snake and half-woman, reflecting the animal's perceived qualities of both reptiles and mammals.
Platypuses and echidnas are two of the five living species of monotremes, and they are the only monotremes that occur in Australia. The other three species of echidna are found in New Guinea. Monotremes are a unique feature of Australia's fauna, and their existence can be attributed to the continent's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and unique patterns of climate change over time.
In addition to monotremes, other well-known Australian animals include kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingoes, wallabies, and Tasmanian devils. Australia is also home to a diverse range of bird species, including the kookaburra, emu, and rainbow lorikeet.
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Birds: kookaburras, emus, rainbow lorikeets
Australia is home to a wide variety of birds, including kookaburras, emus, and rainbow lorikeets.
Kookaburras
The Laughing Kookaburra is one of the most well-loved birds in Australia. It is easily recognised by its distinctive call, which sounds like a cackling laugh. Kookaburras live in eastern Australia, Tasmania, and the southwest of Western Australia, wherever there are suitable trees. They often stay with their families for several years, building their nests in tree hollows or burrows excavated from termite mounds. Kookaburras are aggressive predators, feeding on insects, worms, crustaceans, small snakes, mammals, frogs, and other birds.
Emus
The emu is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia, where it is the tallest native bird. Emus have soft, brown feathers, a long neck, and long legs, and can grow up to 1.9 meters (6 feet 3 inches) in height. They are omnivorous, foraging on plants and insects, and can go for weeks without eating. Emus were once common on the east coast of Australia, but agriculture and water provision have increased their range in arid regions. They are now most commonly found in savannah woodlands and sclerophyll forests, avoiding heavily populated areas.
Rainbow Lorikeets
Rainbow lorikeets are colourful birds found in Australia. They often travel in pairs, defending their feeding and nesting areas against other birds. They feed mainly on fruit, pollen, and nectar, with a specialised tongue for gathering pollen and nectar from flowers. Rainbow lorikeets are semi-tame and can be found in many suburban areas, sometimes being hand-fed by humans. They are important pollinators of coconuts in Melanesia.
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Reptiles: saltwater crocodiles, snakes
Reptiles are a class of cold-blooded vertebrates that are covered in special skin made of scales, and include crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles. Reptiles are common in Australia, with over 80% of the country's reptiles found nowhere else in the world.
Saltwater crocodiles, in particular, are native to Australia and are one of the oldest creatures to walk the planet, having first appeared over 240 million years ago during the Mesozoic Era, the time of the dinosaurs. Saltwater crocodiles are cold-blooded, which means they cannot produce their own heat, making the tropical climate of Australia ideal for them. They have a murky green, grey, or brown colour, which helps them blend in with the natural murky brown of tropical waters as they slowly creep up on their prey. They have around 68 sharp teeth and larger members of the species can exert two tonnes of pressure with a single bite. Saltwater crocodiles breed during the wet season in the Northern Territory, and females can lay up to 50 eggs, which they build nests for along nearby river banks.
Snakes are also common in Australia, with the country sharing its continent with about 170 species of land snakes, some equipped with venom more toxic than any other snakes in the world. However, snake bites are quite rare in Australia, with only four to six deaths per year since the development of anti-venom. The Eastern brown snake is fast-moving, aggressive, and known for its bad temper, and is responsible for more deaths every year in Australia than any other group of snakes. Its venom is ranked as the second most toxic of any land snake in the world. The Western brown snake is said to be less aggressive than its Eastern cousin, but it is still highly dangerous and part of the group of snakes that cause the most fatalities in Australia. The mainland tiger snake is responsible for the second-highest number of bites in Australia as it inhabits highly populated areas along the east coast, including some metropolitan areas of Melbourne.
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Insects: beetles, butterflies, moths, ants, bees, wasps
Australia is home to a wide variety of insects, including beetles, butterflies, moths, ants, bees, and wasps.
Beetles
Beetles are the largest group of animals on Earth, with more than 30,000 known species in Australia alone. One of the most common species is the Christmas beetle, which is often seen from November to January. The adults feed on gum tree foliage, while the larvae feed on organic matter and plant roots. Another common species is the cowboy beetle, which is native to Eastern Australia. They are found in dry forests, woodlands, and suburban areas, and are particularly common in coastal areas.
Butterflies
Australia has more than 400 species of butterflies, with the majority being continental species. Some of the most common species include the white or common albatross, blue albatross, and yellow-banded Jezebel. The largest butterflies in the world, the birdwings, are endemic to the Australasian realm.
Moths
Australia is home to around 22,000 species of moths, with only about half having been scientifically named. Some of the most iconic Australian moths include the bogong moth, witjuti grub, and scribbly gum moth.
Ants
There are several common species of ants in Australia, including the black house ant and the coastal brown ant. Ants are often considered a nuisance as they scavenge for food in kitchens and garbage, and can also deliver painful stings.
Bees
Australia has a diverse range of native bees, including stingless bees, carpenter bees, blue-banded bees, leafcutters, resin bees, and teddy bear bees. These bees can be found in various habitats across Australia, from tropical rainforests in the north to hot, dry deserts in the center.
Wasps
There are thousands of species of native wasps in Australia, with the far south coast of New South Wales being home to many of them. The European Wasp (Vespula germanica) is an aggressive species that forms large colonies and is considered a major pest. Another recent arrival is the Asian Paper Wasp (Polistes chinensis), which has the potential to disrupt the natural balance between native wasp species and the local ecology.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the most common animals in Australia include kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingos, wallabies, platypuses, and echidnas.
You can see koalas in their natural habitat on Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
Yes, Australia is home to many unique birds, including the kookaburra, the emu, and the rainbow lorikeet.
Yes, the Tasmanian Devil is a native animal to Australia that is now endangered, with a decline of more than 60% in the last 10 years due to a contagious facial tumour disease.
