There is something about Australia that captivates those from other hemispheres. but many native Australians feel the same way about their incredibly unique continent. Steve Irwin, the naturalist and television personality once known as The Crocodile Hunter, was a person possessed of singular love and appreciation for the world’s wildlife. But though Irwin loved animals of every shape and size, those that dwelled in his Australian homeland held a special place in his heart.
Steve Irwin is gone now, though his children Bindi and Robert continue his work at Australia Zoo and beyond. Meanwhile, the legacy of his love for Australian wildlife continues across the globe. Australia is home to an incredibly diverse and often bizarre range of wildlife. They call it the “Land Down Under,” a place where the animal life found in other parts of the world is literally turned upside down. Yet, while kangaroos and koalas are perhaps the most iconic of Australia’s creatures, the true charm of the land can be found in it’s wide array of unique species.
From the desert-dwelling reptiles of the outback to the vibrant creatures of the little-known Australian rainforest, Australia’s amazing animals can be found nowhere else in the world. In this article, we will take a trip down under to explore Australia and the wild and wonderful creatures that live there. So buckle up fellow Croc Hunters and let’s find some real “beauts,” as Steve Irwin would have said!
The Land of Oddities
Australia’s distance from the rest of the world during the continental drift has allowed life to take a very unique turn over the past several millennia. The continent’s isolation for millions of years enabled wildlife to evolve in strange and unexpected ways. Australia faced a vast geographic separation from other landmasses in the early days of our planet, which meant that many of its animals became endemic to the continent itself. Endemic means that they existing only in that environment; only in Australia.
There are many animals that meet this definition, from the highly-venomous creatures of the outback to the playful and peculiar marsupials that thrive in the forests. Australia’s wildlife represents an incredible mix of beauty, intrigue, and sometimes danger. Below, we have compiled some of our personal favorite Australian oddities. We tried to make sure that all the boxes were checked, from marsupials to birds, reptiles to one of the only egg-laying mammals on the planet.
The Platypus: Nature’s Ultimate Oddity
If you’ve never seen a duck-billed platypus, then boy are you in for a treat. The platypus is often joked about what would happen if God took all the leftover parts he hadn’t used for other animals and shook them about in a box before dumping it in Australia of all places. The platypus isn’t just the most peculiar Australian animal, it might be the most peculiar animal on the planet. This small, semi-aquatic mammal is one of only five species of egg-laying mammals, known as monotremes, in the world. It’s body is a strange amalgamation of features: the bill of a duck and four webbed feet, a beaver-like tail, fur that keeps it warm while swimming, the ability to lay eggs as opposed to giving birth to live young, AND an electric sixth-sense known as electrolocation.
This ability allows it to sense the electric impulses within it’s favorite foods: worms, insects, and small crustaceans, and locate them under the murky water. As if that wasn’t enough, male platypus have poisonous barbs on the back of its heels. Platypus can be found in freshwater streams and rivers along the eastern coast of Australia, the platypus is an expert swimmer. The platypus is a reminder of the amazing evolution can be when it’s backed into a corner.
The Echidna: A Spiky Survivor
Australia doesn’t just have one egg-laying mammal, they also have another amazing monotreme known as the echidna. Like the platypus, echidnas lay eggs, and have their own set of very peculiar traits. Echidnas are covered in spines and with their long tubular snout, they kind of look like a spiky anteater. It uses its anteater-like snout to forage for ants and termites, which make up the bulk of its diet.
Echidnas can usually be found living in harsh, arid environments, but their unique adaptations make them highly adapted to surviving everywhere from the outback to the forest. The echidna’s thick spines protect them from predators. When threatened, they curl into a ball and the spines stick up, creating a formidable defense mechanism.
The Saltwater Crocodile: A Deadly Predator
If the titular Crocodile Hunter had one real love (besides his lovely wife and children, of course), it might be the world’s largest living reptile, the saltwater crocodile. This monstrous, prehistoric reptile can be found in the northern parts of the country, particularly in Queensland and the Northern Territory. An apex predator of the highest order, the saltwater croc can grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) in length and weigh over a ton.
Saltwater crocodiles are deadly hunters that, despite their prodigious strength, usually take down their prey using stealth. Crocs usually lurk beneath the water’s surface, waiting for prey to come close before launching a swift and powerful attack. Their bite is one of the most powerful in the animal kingdom, exerting upwards of 3,689 pounds of force; the strongest ever recorded! Point being, you do not want to get caught in the jaws of one of these crocs. Moreover, saltwater crocodiles are also able to swim vast distances across the ocean at astonishing speeds. So if you find yourself near a freshwater rivers or a salty coastal waterway, maybe keep your head on a swivel.
Still, despite their fearsome reputation, saltwater crocodiles play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the Australian ecosystem; a point which Steve Irwin did his best to impart throughout his incredible career. Saltwater crocs control animal populations and maintain biodiversity, though their size and surprising speed makes them an animal that you simply do not want to mess with; unless you were an Irwin.
The Thorny Devil: A Master of Camouflage
The thorny devil (also known as the thorny dragon) is not some sort of demonic entity like the mythological Jersey Devil. Instead, this small, spiny lizard is a native of the western and central Australian deserts. The thorny devil’s body is covered in distinctive, thorn-like spines, which serve as a defense mechanism against predators. The spines are sharp and effective at keeping it safe, but it is the lizard’s unique camouflage that provides it with the most defense.
This is because the thorny devil’s coloration and spiny appearance render it nearly invisible amidst the dry, dusty landscape of its homeland. At the same time, the thorny devil is uniquely adapted to living in this desert environment. Living in this arid landscape is thirsty work, but the thorny devil possesses a rare ability to collect and drink water from rain or dew through grooves in its skin that channel the moisture toward its mouth. Despite its formidable appearance, the thorny devil is basically harmless. It feeds on ants and other insects and just prefers to be left alone.
The Koala: A Sleepy Icon
The most recognizable animal on this list is the adorable icon of Australians everywhere the Koala bear. Not a bear at all, but another in Australia’s long list of marsupials, the koala spends the majority of its life living in the trees. Most of the time it lives in eucalyptus forests, as the koala’s highly-specialized diet is almost exclusively made up of eucalyptus leaves. The leaves themselves are something of a curiosity when it comes to foodstuffs as well. They are tough to chew, thin on nutrients, difficult to digest, and basically toxic to most other animals. And yet, the koala has evolved a means of eating and digesting them in a way that no other animal has.
Koalas, you see, have a very slow metabolism, which makes them appear as though they are especially sleepy, cuddly creatures. This is sort of true, because they do spend up to 20 hours a day resting or sleeping to conserve energy. The reason for this slow metabolism is a result of their low-calorie diet of eucalyptus leaves. Since the leaves provide little nutritional value, the sleepy marsupials need to save as much energy as they can. Nevertheless, koalas are important to the health of eucalyptus forests, helping to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Like many forest animals, however, the koala is in danger of losing their home due to habitat loss and climate change.
The Kookaburra: The Laughing Kingfisher
If you happen to live or be visiting Australia, chances are good you’ve heard the very distinctive call one of the world’s most fascinating birds; the kookaburra. This large, laughing kingfisher relative is a native of the Australian continent and is known far and wide for its loud, raucous call. Some people say that it sounds a bit like human laughter, but the kookaburra’s call is actually used to establish territory and communicate with other members of its family group. Still, Australian folklore and folk songs have many references to this animal’s unique call.
These birds are highly-social and will even share food with members of the flock.As for what they eat, kookaburras are carnivorous birds. They prey on everything from small mammals, to reptiles, fish, and insects. Skilled hunters, kookaburra’s often waiting patiently on a perch for a long while until they find the right moment to swoop down on their unsuspecting prey.
The Cassowary: A Fearsome Flightless Bird
The cassowary is one of the most dangerous birds in the world, though you might not think so to look at it. Nevertheless, its reputation is well-earned. These striking creatures can be found in the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland, feeding on fruits and dispersing seeds as they make their way throughout the forest. A flightless giant among its fellow birds, the cassowary can be distinguished by its large size, distinctive blue and black feathers, and a helmet-like casqued upon its head. Though beautiful in a somewhat ugly way, this bird can be extremely aggressive and will kick out using its powerful legs and sharp claws if it feels it must defend itself.
The cassowary’s critical role as a seed disperser helps it to maintaining the diversity of its rainforest habitat. By feeding on a variety of jungle fruits, the bird’s digestive process thereby ensures the continued growth of tropical plant life within its Australian home.
The Wombat: A Slow-Moving Burrower
Fun fact: Wombats have square poop! Good, now that this tidbit is out of the way, we can focus on the very interesting animal known as the wombat. This nocturnal, burrowing marsupial can be found only in Australia. Known for its stocky build and short legs, the wombat is an excellent digger, so it’s no surprise that it spends much of its time creating elaborate tunnel systems underground. The burrows that it creates not only provide it shade from the scorching sun of the Australian outback, but a safe haven away from natural predators.
Like koalas, wombats have slow metabolism that allows them to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from their food. These animals are herbivores and they feed on grasses, roots, and bark; all of which are not known for being densely nutritious in any way. As for the famous square-shaped droppings? The purpose of these stackable turds is not explicitly known. Nevertheless, the current theory is that the cube poops help wombats mark their territory and prevent the feces from rolling away.
True Investigator Says…
As you can see, Australia is an amazing environment full of astonishing animals of all different kinds. The wildlife found here is among the most diverse and fascinating in the world and many of the endemic creatues that live here absolutely defy logic. From powerful crocs to fearsome cassowaries, adorable koalas, to peculiar platypi; these animals delight our imaginations and give people the chance to appreciate how strange and beautiful life can really be!
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