Why Does Australia Have So Many Weird Animals?

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Unique Australian Animals

Australian wildlife - the cuties & the nasties in Australia

When I travel to Australia, many people envy me because of the unique Australian animals I probably become to see.
Koalas and Kangaroos are well-known and loved all over the world. I am always happy when I see one of the cuties in the wild. It is very special, and unlike than marvelling at them at a zoo.

koala on a tree

Koala in the Adelaide Hills

But there are other people I know who would never go because of all the dangerous creatures in Australia. They really don't know what they miss!
However, for most people in the northern hemisphere the Australian wildlife is just something special, despite spiders, snakes and crocodiles.

In this section nearly Australian animals I am going to tell you well-nigh the most mutual and cutest, besides every bit the most unsafe species of native Australian animals.
You also learn why many introduced animals are considered "a pest" in Commonwealth of australia.

Scary? I don't think so.
I ever say to myself (and to the worried people) "Hey, more than twenty meg people live downwards under. It tin can't be that dangerous!"

Why is Australian wildlife then unique?

Climatic and geologic events helped Australia to course its unique beast. Australia was function of Gondwana, the huge super-continent of the southern hemisphere. About 50 million years ago Australia became an island. Due to this isolation and the lack of predators, Australia'due south unique fauna adult.
Marsupials that originated in Gondwana adapted in Australia, and survived until today. Australia's climate became drier nearly 15 million years ago, resulting in more uniquely adapted species.

At present this is simply a very short introduction into the geology of Australia. I really don't want to bother you with a lengthy scientific excursion. If you are interested to read more, you lot'll find some interesting books at the bottom of this folio.

Australian mammals

Kangaroos and Koalas are marsupials everyone outside Australia knows. They simply represent Australia's famous wild animals. With a petty luck and patience, you'll see them in their natural habitat when you travel around Australia.
Okay, it'southward not always their natural habitat anymore, just you can really encounter them outside of wildlife parks.

kangaroo beneath a bush

Kangaroo resting abreast a rail at Arcaroola Station, SA

Marsupials don't accept a placenta. The young are born in a very young state, brand their mode through their mothers' fur to the pouch where say stay until fully developed. Wallabies, wombats and possums are other well-known marsupials in Australia.

The tertiary grouping of mammals are the monotremes, warm-blooded animals that lay eggs. The echidna and platypus are the simply survivor of monotremes and are indigenous to Australia and New Republic of guinea.

When the get-go Europeans sent a pelt and a sketch of a platypus back home to Cracking Britain, British scientists thought it was a hoax. Platypus and Echidna are certainly the most unique Australian animals.

Australian Birds

Among Australia's 800 species of birds about 350 are endemic. The songbirds include species similar wrens, robins, magpies and many more. And then in that location are all the colourful parrots and cockatoos. The budgerigar is certainly the best known Australian parrot in the world.

pelicans waiting for food

Pelicans waiting for fish

These pelicans await to get their daily dinner at the fish-cleaning station, Streaky Bay Caravan Park

Waterbirds are represented by nearly 200 species like the Australian pelican, jabiru, ducks and herons. Take your time, sit down and spotter Australia's amazing birdlife.
Listen to the foreign sounds, bask the colourful species. There'due south nothing ameliorate than waking up past the concert of laughing kookaburras in the early forenoon. Though, this won't happen in the Outback, unfortunately, every bit the habitats of the kookaburra are the open forests forth the e declension and in southward west of Australia.

Australian Reptiles

In the varied group of reptiles yous'll discover a huge number of unique Australian animals. In that location are frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards, and concluding but non least, saltwater and freshwater crocodiles. Yep, here we come up to the dangerous Australian wildlife of the Outback, and the dangerous species that inhabit the littoral areas of the tropical north. The latter should worry y'all more snakes and spiders.

Among the reptiles some "nasties" are included. Only they shouldn't continue you off from visiting the Outback, not at all!
Australia has more than lizards than any country in the earth. Like crocodiles, they look like reminders from an ancient time.
And somehow these creatures fascinate me! Lizards are reptiles you lot will certainly see the most in the Australian Outback.

lizard

Lizard in a coastal expanse, SA

Australia has more venomous snakes than non-venomous, and some of their venoms are very potent. America'southward rattle serpent would barely make information technology into Australia's top 20. Although snakes tin be found anywhere in Australia, you won't see them very frequently. The well-nigh important affair is that they inappreciably harm you if you take some precautions.

Australian Insects

Insects and molluscs, or invertebrates as scientists call them, brand upwards the biggest group of unique Australian animals. About ninety % are considered owned. Yes, in that location are a lot of these itch and flying critters out there. The Australian Outback is live! :)

huntsman spider

Huntsman Spider

Which one will you encounter in the Outback? The flies, of cours!. Sometimes they can drive you crazy, merely hey, that's Australia. And they are non but in the Outback.
And the Australian spiders? No need to worry nearly them if you are a bit conscientious.

Introduced species

During the 200+ years of white settlement in Commonwealth of australia many species of exotic creature accept been introduced either on purpose or accident. Most of these animals have flourished, spread all over the continent and became feral pests.

Y'all've heard about the feral rabbits, goats, foxes, cats? These species all threaten the native fauna. Unfortunately, some unique Australian species accept already become extinct.
Australian camels belong to these introduced species. Although the numbers of feral camels have been increasing since their release into the Outback, it is widely accepted that their damage to the Australian environment is less serious.

I hope you enjoyed this summary of unique Australian animals. Please come back when y'all get the take a chance. The brute section will be growing all the time.