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People had different reactions when they heard about the native animals of Australia. Some will light up with delight at the sight of adorable koalas, and others will withdraw in dread at the thought of saltwater crocodiles. More than 80% of reptiles and animals are found in Australia. Here are 11 animals native to Australia, including some you’ve never heard of.
Kangaroo
Kangaroos are known to be some of the world’s strongest jumpers. This large marsupial stands more than six feet tall with large, sturdy hind legs. These figures enable them to run at a speed of up to 30 mph across rugged terrain.
Their diet is mainly made up of bushes, flowers, and grasses. They often graze in mobs or groups consisting of up to 50 kangaroos. Both male and female, Kangaroos learn to fight from an early age so that when they are adults, they can compete for dominance or the opportunity to mate.
Related: Looking for an Ideal Natural Vacation? Kangaroo Island is for You
Koala
Some may think koalas are real-life teddy bears, but they are not bears. They are marsupials adored in their native habitat and worldwide. These cute creatures are roughly the same size as babies with their fluffy, chubby body and round ears.
Their diet is nearly entirely made up of eucalyptus leaves. It has low nutrients and doesn’t provide enough energy that these marsupials spend up to 20 hours a day in a eucalyptus tree sleeping on their stomach.
Related: Koalas, the Universally Loved Animals, Are on the Brink of Extinction
Duck-Billed Platypus
A duck-billed platypus, the one and only egg-laying mammal on this planet, will never make sense to you. While these Australian native animals have no living relatives, they appear to be a random jumble of more familiar species.
These mammals have a beaver’s tail, otter’s body, duck’s head, and venomous stingers. Platypuses spend most of their time sleeping and eating in a semi-aquatic environment. They must dive to the bottom of muddy lakes and waterholes to look for delectable worms and insects.
Wombat
Wombats are marsupials with a large, chunky body covered in fur and relatively thick skin. They have short but muscular legs with long claws, making them one of the most incredible diggers. While they appear adorable, they are adamant, for they can burrow away under complex tunnels for hundreds of feet.
When wombats feel threatened, they will sprint toward their burrow. Best of all, their running speed can reach up to 25 miles per hour. They are nocturnal and rarely seen above the ground. And they mostly appear when they want to eat.
Wallaby
Wallabies are the close cousins of kangaroos that sometimes people can’t tell them apart. Yet actually, they have apparent differences, and the most obvious one is their body size. The smallest wallaby only weighs around two pounds, while the biggest can reach up to 44 pounds.
There are more than 30 species of wallabies, with the most popular ones being quokka, the happiest-looking pouched mammals. They have rounded ears, fluffy fur, and a smile that will make every human automatically smile when they look at these friendly animals.
Dingo
Dingoes are the direct descendants of Indian wolves with clever and cautious nature. These native animals of Australia have adapted to their adopted habitat’s frequently complex landscape for more than 4,000 years. They have sandy-colored and slender bodies and mostly hunt for food such as bats, birds, snakes, and wombats at night.
Dingoes are categorized as Australia’s wild canines that tend to avoid humans. They prefer to live on the outskirts of the human population. Unfavorable outcomes like attacks on farm animals might occur should there is an excessive invasion of their territory.
Emu
Emu is the flightless, bulkiest bird native to Australia, with a weight of around 130 pounds and a height of about six feet. They can make a remarkable sight that runs through the bush at approximately 30 mph, thanks to their long feet, brown eyes, and long necks.
Yet, what distinguishes emus from other animals is their interpersonal relationships. The males have relatively smaller bodies than the females’. Also, the former are the ones that serve as caregivers and nest builders. The most exciting fact of all, the female emus are the courters and will leave their dark blue eggs for the males to incubate.
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Tasmanian Devil
While the Tasmanian Devil is classified as a marsupial, they are not as adorable as other marsupials on this list. They are known to be vicious due to their muscular, stinky, and sturdy body. Also, they are the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.
They have a powerful bite, lengthy claws, and screams of a devil. These mammals are initially common throughout the mainland of Australia. However, they now can only be found on the island of Tasmania.
Kookaburra
Kookaburras, the largest kingfisher in the world and sometimes referred to as “the merry of the bush,” are very talkative and gregarious birds. Their original habitat is in eucalyptus woods, but they have now adapted to the modern environment and are widespread throughout mainland Australia.
They may grow up to 18 inches tall and are considered skilled hunters that will first wait in almost complete silence before snatching their prey. Kookaburra males and females are lifelong mates, and the young often stay with their families to help subsequent generations.
Australian Southern Cassowary
Nothing is scarier than a gigantic bird with vicious claws. These cassowaries can leap off the ground by nearly 5 feet. They typically slash downward their prey with their killer claws by jumping on their feet first.
While their legs might not be as long as emus’, they are considered great runners, they can run through deep woodland at a peak speed of 31 mph. Additionally, they can swim across the sea and wide rivers with no hassle.
Related: 8 Facts About Southern Cassowary Australia You Didn’t Know!
Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)
Tasmanian Tigers are Australian native animals that, sadly, you can never see anymore. The last of these mammals died more than 80 years ago in Hobart Zoo. While it’s named “tiger.”
It’s a marsupial with a wolf’s body and a tiger’s stripes. Their hind legs were strong and much longer than their front legs.
Like most marsupials, female Tasmanian Tigers had pouched. But what is unusual is that the male ones also had pouches. Instead of protecting their young, the males’ pouches served as protection for their external reproductive system.
That’s a wrap for the list of native animals of Australia. If you want to see those authentic creatures in person, you can visit the Melbourne Zoo. The zoo has over 5,000 animals with 320 species. Check out the article about the Melbourne Zoo to get further information regarding what this zoological park offers.
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