Australian Animals

Kookaburra   Emu Frilled Neck Lizard	Tasmanian Devil Length : Head and Body - 57 cm Weight : 7-9kg Identification : Black scavenger with white markings on chest and rump. Looks like a medium-sized, bulky dog. Where found : All over Tasmania Habits : Spends day in den. Dusk to dawn hunts for dead animals, insects, small mammals. Can climb trees. 2-4 young born April, carried in rear-opening pouch for 16 weeks, then left in den. Young on own a 40 weeks. Notes : largest living marsupial carnivore. Lived on mainland until around 400 years ago. Group feeding at carcass may squabble loudly. Not dangerous to humans.	Koala Length : Head and Body - 69-78cm Weight : 5-12 kg Identification : Medium dog sized, tree living marsupial. Has big-bellied body, round face, round furry ears, flattened nose and strong limbs. Fur is grey-brown and wooly. Where found : In remaining eucalypty forest in eastern Australia mostly. Habits : Night-active and solitary. Usually seen in eucalyptus trees. The low energy content of the eucalypt leaf diet means a koala sleeps up to 20 hours out of every 24 hours. Female carries 1 young in rear-opening pouch for 6 months, then on her back for a further 6 months. Notes : Souther koalas are larger than northern ones. Vulnerable to dogs when changing trees at night. Also threatened by disease and by bushfires.
Green Tree Frog   Magpie Kingfisher	Echidna Length : Head to Beak - 30-45cm Weight : 2-7kg Identification : Cat-sized, spine-covered, long snouted, ground animal, with powerful claws and tiny tail. Where found : Australia and Tasmania Habits : Active at night and on dull winter days. Claws into ant and termite nests, pulls out insects with sticky tongue. Female lays one egg, incubates it for 10 days in her pouch, suckles young for 12 weeks. (in pouch, then in burrow) Notes : Male has spurs, but no venom. Digs into ground or wedges into hollow when threatened. "Trains" of several males follow one female, hoping to mate with her	Wombat Length : Head to Body - 90-115cm Weight : 22-39kg Identification : Size of a large, stocky dog. A ground-living burrower, with a rounded outline, large head, naked nose and hsort ears. Grey to brown, coarse fur. Where found : Coastal regions, forest and woodland area. Habits : Night-active and solitary. Several burrows will be dug in an area. Eats native grasses, shrubs, roots. In winter, may bask or feed in daytime. Female carries one young in her rear-opening pouch for 6 months: it follows her for another 11 months. Notes : Not protected in some areas of eastern Victoria. Major burrows may be up to 20m long, with several chambers and entrances.
	Red Kangaroo	Dingo
If you love our Resources, please help us stay online by supporting us below. Thank you	Length : Head and Body - 100-115cm Weight : 26-66kg Identification : very large kangaroo (an exceptional male may weigh up to 85kg) Black and white patches at sides of muzzle, white stripes from mouth to ear. Naked area between nostril and lip. Where found : Inland plains and woodlands, where water and green feed are available. Habits : Rests during heat of day, feeds from dusk. Notes : In drought, breeding activitiy in both males and females slows and pouch young may die. After rain, when green feed is available is successful. Each group led by a dominant male.	Length : Head and Body - 86-122cm Weight : 9-24kg Identification : Medium-sized dog, usually yellowish-ginger but sometimes black and tan or white. Usualy white markings on chest, tail tip and paws. Pricked ears and bushy tail. Where found : All over Australia, except Tasmania. Habits : Lives in packs which may meet at intervals or stay together. Breed once a year. Only dominant male and female may breed, while others help rear pups. Takes whatever prey is common at the time, from insects to large mammals such as kangaroos. Notes : Developed from Indian wolf around 6000 years ago. Brought to Australia less than 4000 years by seafarers.

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