Australian Fauna
Australia
is unusual because the
animal
population
evolved
largely out of contact with the other
continents
. A very high percentage of Australian animals are
endemic
(found nowhere else) including about 70% of its
birds
and 95% of its
mammals
. Over time,
marsupials
filled most of the
ecological niches
that are occupied by
placental
mammals in most other parts of the world. Australia is also home to the only three extant
monotreme
species in the world - two
echidnas
and the
Platypus
. The only placental mammals naturally found on the Australian mainland are
bats
; a large number of
rodents
which arrived only about 5 million years ago, and the
Dingo
, which was introduced to
Australia
by humans perhaps 7000 years ago. Australia is also home to large and diverse populations of various other types of animal -
snakes
,
lizards
,
insects
,
spiders
,
birds
and
fish
.
Mammals
Monotremes
Echidnas
Platypus
Marsupials
bandicoots
bilbies
cuscus
hopping mice
kangaroos
Koala
possums
potoroos
Quokka
quoll
Tasmanian Devil
Thylacine
wallabies
wombats
Placentals
Dingo
(introduced)
flying foxes
Rock rats
water buffalo
(recently introduced)
Marine mammals
Cetaceans
Orca
Humpback whale
Bottlenose dolphin
Dugong
or sea cow
seals
See
Australian marine life
for more comprehensive listing
Birds
Some prominent bird types
several Australiasia-specific
Psittaciformes
species (
cockatoo
,
parrot
,
galah
etc.)
several varieties of
duck
emu
cassowary
lyrebird
pelican
magpie
brolga
,
jabiru
,
spoonbill
and other
storks
black
swan
penguin
brush turkey
See the main article
List of Australian birds
, and
List of Australasian birds
for a more comprehensive listing
Reptiles
Australia has both salt-water and fresh-water species of
crocodiles
and
turtles
. As well as some species of
tortoises
.
Lizards
blue-tongued lizard
frill-necked lizard
goanna, a broad group of
lace monitors
geckos
skinks
thorny lizard
Snakes
several varieties of
tiger snakes
several varieties of
taipans
several varieties of
brown snakes
several varieties of
black snakes
several varieties of
broad-headed snakes
several varieties of
whip snakes
several varieties of
sea snakes
Mulga snake
, formerly known as king brown
Rough-scaled snake
or Clarence River snake
death adder
copperhead snake
Collett's snake
Small-eyed snake
Dunmall's snake
De Vis' snake
Marsh snake
or black-bellied swamp snake
Myall
or curl snake
Grey snake
Ornamental snake
Golden-crowned snake
See
List of Australian snakes
for more comprehensive listing
Amphibians
Corroboree frog
Eastern tree frog
Fish
rainbow trout
pufferfish
Spanish mackerel
Invertebrates
Insects
green ant
numerous other native species of
ant
numerous native species of
termite
native
bees
wasps
cricket
butterflies
and
moths
cicada
See
List of Australian insects
for more comprehensive listing.
Arachnids
centipede
millipede
scorpion
Numerous varieties of
spider
See
List of Australian spiders
for more comprehensive listing
Freshwater
crustaceans
yabbie
crayfish
For information marine and shore-line crustaceans and other marine invertebrates see
Australian marine life
.
Pest
species
rabbit
Cane toad
the
feral cat
Indian mynah
fire ant
locust
See also
Extinct
Australian fauna
Recently extinct Australian animals
: from
1788
to present;
Australian megafauna
: from first human colonisation to
1788
;
Australian marine life
List of Australian insects
List of Australian spiders
List of Australian snakes
List of Australian birds
List of Australasian birds
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