Wildlife

HOW DID AUSTRALIA GET SUCH A COLLECTION OF ODD ANIMALS?
Until about 250 million years ago, the world had just one huge super-continent call Pangaea. Animals and plants were able to move and intermix with one another. About 200 million years ago this super-continent broke up into two continents	which we now call Laurasia and Gondwana. About 60 million years ago Gondwana broke up into what was to later become South America, Africa, Antarctica, India and Australia.	Since then Australia has been isolated from the rest of the world by vast oceans. The animals and plants which were originally here no longer had contact with animals from other parts of the world. They evolved separately. That is why they are so different…especially the marsupials.
WHAT IS A MARSUPIAL?
Marsupials are similar to mammals in that they are covered in fur and bear live young which are suckled by the mother.	In marsupials, however, the babies are born very young and underdeveloped. Although blind, without fur, and with hind limbs only part way formed,	these tiny newborns have well developed forelimbs with claws that enable them to make their way into the pouch and continue their development.
DID MARSUPIALS START OFF IN AUSTRALIA?
No, they evolved in North America. They found their way to South America, and then into Australia via Antarctica when the southern continents were joined as Gondwana. In Australia they changed to fill many niches.	Most of the 140 species of marsupials in Australia are found nowhere else in the world; some of them are also found in New Guinea which was connected to Australia in more recent geological times.
WHAT ARE SOME MARSUPIALS?
KOALAS are tree-living marsupials that have captured the hearts of people around the world, with their stub tails, large furry ears, and black leathery noses. Koalas feed exclusively on a select few species of eucalyptus leaves. When not eating or changing trees (they have a home range of 14-15 trees), koalas spend about 19 hours a day resting in the fork of a favorite gum tree. Koalas come in all different shapes and sizes, for example the average weight of the gray furred Victorian koala adult male is 24lb, while the adult male of the red-furred Queensland koala averages 15lbs. TASMANIAN DEVIL is a fascinating, carnivorous marsupial. Now only found in the wild in Tasmania, the nocturnal Tasmanian Devil is basically a scavenger, with a loud screech and powerful jaws.	KAGAROOS and their relatives have short forelimbs and long hind feet that enable them to move in a fast hopping gait. All have a pouch that opens forwards. Most are active at night and seek shelter to rest during the day WOMBATS: Both the common wombat and the hairy-nosed wombats are large, burrowing marsupials. There is evidence that wombats have been found throughout Australia for 15 million years. The northern hairy-nosed wombat is rare and endangered.	PLATYPUS looks like a cross between a duck and an otter. It is one of two egg laying mammals in Australia. It lives in freshwater systems, from mountain tops to tidal flats. ECHIDNA is Australia’s only other egg-laying mammal. The echidna is one of the most widespread Australian mammals. Often compared to the North American porcupine, the echidnas coarse hair combines with long pointed spines on the back, sides, and tail.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER INTERESTING AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS?
DINGOES are the wild dogs of the bush, and are thought to have been introduced to Australia about 5,000 years ago by Asian fishermen. Although it looks like a domestic dog, a dingo doesn’t bark.	They are afraid of humans, although they will approach campsites looking for food. BRUMBY, the name for a wild horse, may have been derived from "baroomby" a Queensland Aboriginal term for "wild".	Brumbies are descended from domestic horses that either strayed or were turned loose. Brumbies are traditionally found in sparsely populated areas especially the Victorian High Country .
WHAT KIND OF REPTILES LIVE IN AUSTRALIA?
CROCODILES are the largest of living reptiles, and there are two species in Australia - the freshwater and saltwater crocodile. Saltwater crocodiles are among the world’s largest crocodiles with males commonly reaching 17 feet. They are found in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters of Australia’s far north.	Freshwater crocodiles live in permanent freshwater streams, rivers and large water holes, in tropical Australia, not usually considered a threat to humans, however advisable to avoid. Once considered an endangered species wild crocodiles have been completely protected since 1972.	There are 520 lizard species in Australia, none of which are venomous. They range from small squeaking geckos to the spectacular frill-necked lizard. The swift moving goanna ranges in size from the pygmy desert goannas of 30cm (12in) to the desert Perentie which can reach 2m (6.5ft).
WHAT ABOUT BIRDS?
There are more than 750 species of birds in Australia, 400 of which are found nowhere else. Although many Australian birds live their entire lives in the same place, such as mangroves and wetlands, others are nomadic and move to where they can find water and food. In winter, large numbers of seabirds such as the albatross move north from Antarctica to southern Australian waters where they may be seen quite close to shore. The Outback is alive with budgerigars which flock in the thousands.	The haunting call of the funeral cockatoo is heard in the tall forests of the southern alps; while the giant palm cockatoo inhabits the rainforests of Northern Queensland. In some Sydney suburbs it is not uncommon to see white sulfur-crested cockatoos. The only penguin found in Australia is the Little Penguin, a flightless marine bird. The galah is an extremely abundant and beautiful small cockatoo. In the wild, vast flocks are seen in flight as a colored cloud of pink and gray.	KOOKABURRA The Kookaburra, a member of the kingfisher family, and renowned for its distinctive "laugh" is a symbol of Australia to many overseas visitors, as is the emu, which appears on the country’s coat of arms. Found over much of Australia, the nomadic emus like wide open spaces. Other Australian bird species include the Jabiru, lorikeet Cassowary, honeyeaters, crimson rosellas, golden bowerbird, brolga and black swan.
WHAT ARE SOME UNUSUAL MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MARINE LIFE FAMILY?
TURTLES: Australia has several species of both land and sea turtles including the luth, the largest of all sea turtles DUGONG is the world’s only herbivorous marine mammal, a very rare animal.	WHALES : Two species of whales are commonly seen in Australian waters ARE Humpback whales and Southern Right whales. Sperm whales, which are deep diving and predatory are sometimes seen near steep continental slopes near Albany and Kangaroo Island .	DOLPHINS: are found along the entire coastline of Australia, and often ride in the bow waves of boats and ships in large groups, in many places they play with surfers and swimmers.
LINKS: http://mag-nify.educ.monash.edu.au/acps_animals97/index.htm (Anderson Creek Primary School, Australian Animals) http://www2.dynamite.com.au/upsoro/Frames.html (Budgerigar Heaven, Detailed Aussie Bird Site) http://www.ozbird.com/ (Birds Down Under) http://www.wwwins.net.au/dingofarm/13.html (Dingo Farm Australia) http://users.orac.net.au/~mhumphry/austwild.html (Australian Wildlife)