Australian Animals: The Nice Ones

Australian
Animals
The nice ones…
Koala
• The Koala is a solitary
and nocturnal animal
that spends most of the
daytime hours sleeping
in the fork of a
eucalyptus tree.
• Koalas spend up to 80%
of their life asleep.
• They only eat the leaf of
the eucalyptus tree,
which is also native to
Australia.
• They have sharp claws
and apposable thumbs
to help them move
between trees.
Kangaroo
• Kangaroos are most well
known for their ability to
jump a phenomenal
distance.
• There are three main
species of kangaroo in
existence today; the red
kangaroo, the eastern
grey kangaroo and the
western grey kangaroo.
• The kangaroo is the
national animal and
emblem of Australia.
• Kangaroos have large,
flat feet which they use
to hop.
• They can travel at speeds
of up to 70km/h.
Emu
• The emu is the largest bird
native to Australia and the
second largest bird in the
world, behind the ostrich.
• Emus can grow to nearly 2
meters tall and have
extremely soft feathers.
• Emus are flightless birds
mainly due to their
enormous size.
• Emus are omnivorous birds
feeding mainly on fruits,
seeds and insects.
• The long, flexible legs of the
emu mean that the emu is
able to run a high speeds,
usually around 40 km/h,
however are able to reach a
top speed 350 km/h if
necessary.
Echidna
• The echidna has spines
like a porcupine, a beak
like a bird, a pouch like a
kangaroo, and lays eggs
like a reptile.
• Echidnas eat mainly ants
and termites, while
some species also eat
small worms.
• Echidnas do not tolerate
extreme temperatures;
they use caves and rock
crevices to shelter from
harsh weather
conditions.
• Echidnas are also very
good swimmers.
Platypus
• Along with the Echidna, it is
one of only two mammals in
the world that lays eggs.
(They’re called monotremes).
• It is known to have extremely
weird characteristics such as a
duck bill, a beaver tail, a long,
furry body and webbed feet.
• The male platypus has a
venomous spike on their back
foot which contains enough
poison that could cause
severe pains to a human.
• Platypus spend most of their
time in the water, eating fish
but it does come onto land
occasionally.
Bilby
• Bilbies are small
marsupials that are well
adapted for life in
a desert environment.
• They have strong legs
and claws for digging
and finding food.
• Their long tongues help
them to search for
seeds, insects and bulbs.
• They are nocturnal
creatures live in very dry,
arid country (desert).
Dingo
• The dingo is a wild form
of the domestic dog.
• Dingoes are not pack
dogs, but rather live and
hunt alone or in pairs.
• The dingo can be found
in almost any part of the
Australian mainland
which provides access to
drinking water.
• The size of their prey
ranges from small
rodents, rabbits lizards
through to sheep and
kangaroos.
Tasmanian Devil
• They are only found on the
island of Tasmania.
• The Tasmanian devil is also
known to making a horrible,
loud screeching sound when it
is distressed or feels
threatened.
• Tasmanian devils are highly
carnivorous and survive on
snakes, birds, fish, insects and
road kill.
• They are currently highly
endangered, and there are
many different conservation
programs to save the
population.
Kookaburra
• There are four different
types of kookaburra, and
they all look very similar.
• It is known as the
“bushman’s alarm clock”
because it has a very loud,
laugh-like call, often calling
out at dawn and dusk.
• They are native to
woodlands and open forests
in Australia, but they can
also be found in suburban
areas.
• They eat insects, reptiles,
frogs, and rodents, are
famous for being able to eat
snakes up to 1 metre long.
Sugar Glider
• They got the name
"Sugar Gliders" because
they like to eat almost
anything that is sweet,
especially fresh fruit &
vegetables.
• They also have a gliding
membrane that
stretches from their
wrist to their ankles,
allowing them to glide
from tree to tree.
• Around the world, the
sugar glider is popular as
an exotic pet. It is also
one of the most
commonly traded wild
animals in the illegal pet
trade.
Quoll
• The quoll is often
referred to as the wild
cat, due it’s cat-like
appearance.
• The quoll is a nocturnal
animal meaning that it
spends the nights
hunting and the
daytimes hours resting.
• Unlike many other
nocturnal mammals,
the quoll enjoys to
spend the days in the
sun rather than hiding
underground.
• They are most
commonly found in
Tasmania.

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