Australia's unique and endemic fauna
1. Platypuses
Platypuses are mammals that lay eggs. These mammals are called monotremes. Platypuses are covered with three layers of thick brown fur. Platypuses live near streams and lakes in eastern parts of Australia. They eat worms and other small animals that live in the water. 2. Echidnas Echidnas are also monotremes. There are two types of echidnas; the short-beaked echidna and the long-beaked echidna. The short-beaked echidna is endemic to Australia and the long-beaked echidna is also found in New Guinea. The echidna is covered in hair with short spines on his back and sides. The spines protect the echidna from enemies. |
3. Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devils are marsupials. Tasmanian Devils are found in the forests of Tasmania. They eat birds, small animals and reptiles. Their jaws are strong enough to bite through bones. Tasmanian Devils have dark fur with some white around the chest. Tasmanian Devils are classified as vulnerable, which is close to endangered.
4. Kookaburra
Kookaburras are part of the group of birds called Kingfishers. These birds tend to live in forests in Eastern Australia. Kookaburras have a distinct territorial call, warning or just general communication that sounds like they are laughing.
5. Koala
Koalas belong to a special group of Australian mammals, called marsupials. After the baby koalas are born they crawl into their mothers pouch where they complete their development. Koalas eat the leaves and shoots of eucalyptus trees.
Tasmanian Devils are marsupials. Tasmanian Devils are found in the forests of Tasmania. They eat birds, small animals and reptiles. Their jaws are strong enough to bite through bones. Tasmanian Devils have dark fur with some white around the chest. Tasmanian Devils are classified as vulnerable, which is close to endangered.
4. Kookaburra
Kookaburras are part of the group of birds called Kingfishers. These birds tend to live in forests in Eastern Australia. Kookaburras have a distinct territorial call, warning or just general communication that sounds like they are laughing.
5. Koala
Koalas belong to a special group of Australian mammals, called marsupials. After the baby koalas are born they crawl into their mothers pouch where they complete their development. Koalas eat the leaves and shoots of eucalyptus trees.
6. Wombat
The wombat is a marsupial that digs burrows. The wombat is nocturnal, which means it is active at night. There are three species of wombats. Two of the three species are endangered; the hairy-nosed wombat and the southern hairy-nosed wombat. The southern hairy-nosed wombat is found only on the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia, and the northern hairy-nosed wombat is found only in a small area of Queensland. 7. Emu Emus are endemic to Australia, living in the main lands all over Australia, though fewer live in the desert areas. The emu is part of a group of birds called ratites. Ratites are birds that do not fly. Emus are the largest bird in Australia. They can not walk backwards. The emu is one of the two animals, along with the kangaroo, on our coat of arms, representing a nation moving forward. |
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where the platypus is found in Australia.
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where echidnas are found in Australia.
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where Tasmanian Devils are found in Australia.
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where kookaburras are found in Australia.
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where koalas are found in Australia
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where wombats are found in Australia.
Map of Fauna Identified
This map shows where emus are found in Australia.
Australian Unique and Endemic Flora
1.Gum Trees (Eucalyptus)
The eucalyptus tree is the most common type of tree in Australia. There are over 700 species, the vast majority are endemic to Australia. They are a flowering tree. Gum Trees have spread over the whole continent of Australia, from dry deserts to snowy mountains. The only environment where they don’t thrive is in tropical rain forests.
The eucalyptus tree is the most common type of tree in Australia. There are over 700 species, the vast majority are endemic to Australia. They are a flowering tree. Gum Trees have spread over the whole continent of Australia, from dry deserts to snowy mountains. The only environment where they don’t thrive is in tropical rain forests.
2.Golden Wattle (Acacia Pycnantha)
The Golden Wattle is Australia's national floral emblem. It is found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. On September 1st it is Nation Wattle Day in Australia. The Australian National Colours of green and gold are representative of the Wattle in flower. 3 .Grevillea There is about 360 species of Grevillia. They are native to rain forests and more open habitats in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and Indonesia. The Grevillia plants are often also called the spider flower, silky oak and the toothbrush plant because of their 'spike-like' appearance. |
4. Paperbarks (Melaleuca)
Paperbarks can include any of the 200 species belonging to the genus Melaleuca in the family Myrtaceae, which are mostly endemic to Australia. Paperbarks have got their name from their bark, which can be pulled off the tree trunk like paper. Aboriginal people found it particularly useful, using it as bandages, sleeping mats and for wrapping food when cooking.
5. Emu Bushes (Eremophila)
Emu bushes are a genus of plants of the family Scrophulariaceae. There are 215 species of emu bushes , all of which are endemic to Australia.They are found in semi-arid and arid regions. The largest number of species is located in Western Australia.
Paperbarks can include any of the 200 species belonging to the genus Melaleuca in the family Myrtaceae, which are mostly endemic to Australia. Paperbarks have got their name from their bark, which can be pulled off the tree trunk like paper. Aboriginal people found it particularly useful, using it as bandages, sleeping mats and for wrapping food when cooking.
5. Emu Bushes (Eremophila)
Emu bushes are a genus of plants of the family Scrophulariaceae. There are 215 species of emu bushes , all of which are endemic to Australia.They are found in semi-arid and arid regions. The largest number of species is located in Western Australia.
6.Kangaroo Paws (Haemodoraceae)
Kangaroo Paws are most recognizable in bright green and red colours. They belong to the genus Anigozanthos, which has 11 species. Kangaroo Paws occur naturally only in the southwest of Western Australia. They occur in a variety of habitats. 7. Waratah (Telopea Speciosissima) Waratahs belong to the genus Telopea, in the Proteaceae family. The Waratah is the Floral Emblem of New South Wales. They are native to Southeast Australia. The plant grows mainly in the shrub in open forests. A fully grown shrub can grow to 4 metres high, with dark green leathery leaves from 13 to 25 cm in length. |
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where gum trees are found in Australia
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where golden wattle is found in Australia.
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where Grevillea is found in Australia.
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where paperbarks are found in Australia.
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where emu bushes are found in Australia.
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where kangaroo paws are found in Australia
Map of Flora Identified
This map shows where waratahs are found in Australia
Tasmanian Devil
At one time, Devils were found across the continent of Australia, but now they only live on the island of Tasmania. Researchers believe that the reason they are only found in Tasmania now is due to the increase of dingoes throughout Australia in the last 400 years. Today, Devils live all across Tasmania, though their numbers are the largest in coastal scrublands and forests. They are found from around grasslands, rocky hillsides and slopes, mainly in places where there is a large amount of vegetation and bush land. Tasmanian Devils are endangered.
They have been protected since 1941, but their total population has decreased by more than 60 percent in the past decade. Tasmanian Devils use their terrain as a way of travelling at a particular speed. On rough terrain Tasmanian Devils can run faster than a human and on very smooth terrain they cannot run as fast as the average human runner.
Tasmanian Devils feast on meat. Devils eat a lot of already dead animals including road kill. Although they also hunt down a lot their prey. These include birds, fish, moths, tadpoles, frogs, reptiles, and other mammals such as wallabies, echidnas, platypus and wombats.
The Tasmanian Devil adapts to its environment through its senses. It will use its strong sense of smell to locate meat during the day, and especially at night. The Tasmanian Devil is nocturnal. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, which helps them to blend into the Australian bush lands. Tasmanian Devils can also produce a powerful odor as a defense mechanism when it feels threatened. The Tasmanian Devil has a frightening shriek, terrifying enough to scare away anything that might bring them harm.
They have been protected since 1941, but their total population has decreased by more than 60 percent in the past decade. Tasmanian Devils use their terrain as a way of travelling at a particular speed. On rough terrain Tasmanian Devils can run faster than a human and on very smooth terrain they cannot run as fast as the average human runner.
Tasmanian Devils feast on meat. Devils eat a lot of already dead animals including road kill. Although they also hunt down a lot their prey. These include birds, fish, moths, tadpoles, frogs, reptiles, and other mammals such as wallabies, echidnas, platypus and wombats.
The Tasmanian Devil adapts to its environment through its senses. It will use its strong sense of smell to locate meat during the day, and especially at night. The Tasmanian Devil is nocturnal. Its black coat with white stripe provides excellent camouflage in both the night, which helps them to blend into the Australian bush lands. Tasmanian Devils can also produce a powerful odor as a defense mechanism when it feels threatened. The Tasmanian Devil has a frightening shriek, terrifying enough to scare away anything that might bring them harm.
The Tasmanian Devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in Tasmania. Being at the top of the food chain the Tasmanian Devil has no native predators. Some birds of prey might be a threat to young Tasmanian Devils, but considering they spend most of their time in bush lands it would be harder for the birds to attack the young. Introduced foxes and feral dogs may try to have a go at the younger Devils, but are not considered a major threat. Humans pose the biggest danger to the Tasmanian Devil, through habitat loss and clearing of forests. |
Bibliography
Bell, Kim. "Australian Culture GuideA Guide To Australia." Australian Culture Guide. Australian-Information-Stories, 2007. Web. 26 April 2013. http://www.australian-information-stories.com/
Thomas, Ron. "KIDCYBER." KIDCYBER. KidcyberQuest, 1999. Web. 01 May 2013. http://www.kidcyber.com.au/
Thoy, Debbie. "Tasmanian Devil - Habitat and Behaviour." Tasmanian Devil - Habitat and Behaviour. Wizard Corporation Pty Ltd, 2005. Web. 03 May 2013. http://www.devilsonverandah.com.au
"Parks & Wildlife Service - Home." Parks & Wildlife Service - Home. Ed. Parks & Wildlife Service. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 03 May 2013. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/
Thomas, Ron. "KIDCYBER." KIDCYBER. KidcyberQuest, 1999. Web. 01 May 2013. http://www.kidcyber.com.au/
Thoy, Debbie. "Tasmanian Devil - Habitat and Behaviour." Tasmanian Devil - Habitat and Behaviour. Wizard Corporation Pty Ltd, 2005. Web. 03 May 2013. http://www.devilsonverandah.com.au
"Parks & Wildlife Service - Home." Parks & Wildlife Service - Home. Ed. Parks & Wildlife Service. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 03 May 2013. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/
Written by Rosie Laird