Iconic Animals of the Australian Outback
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When it comes to , the first thing most people think of is the iconic . In there are 6 main the term ‘‘ encapsulates, ranging from the smaller wallaroo, to more familiar such as the eastern grey , or the large and powerful red . ‘s most distinctive feature is their unique method of locomotion, namely hopping forward on its two strong hind legs, some can even reach speeds of 55km (34mph) per hour, and clear distances of up to 13m (43ft) in a single bound. Generally kangaroos are docile and passive creatures, relying on a diet of grasses and other small plants, and pose no threat to humans, though they have been known to defend themselves from hunters and dogs in the past. Today there are over 50 million kangaroos in , twice as many as the country’s human population! With the number projected to increase further with each passing year.
Wallaby
The ‘s smaller relative, the wallaby is similar in appearance and demeanor to its larger cousin, with very few real differences between the , save for the larger size that characterizes the . Wallabies are also herbivorous and generally passive creatures, though in contrast to some of the large kangaroos, they can be found in a larger variety of habitats. The rock wallaby is one such example of this kind of , living in colonies centered around sheltered rocky outcrops. The yellow-footed rock wallaby in particular is renown for its incredible fur pattern, and can be found throughout ‘s Flinders Ranges region.
Another of ‘s more iconic marsupials, the is found all along ‘s eastern coast, and is known for its small size, sleepiness, and overall cuddly appearance. The ‘s name is said to have originally come from the indigenous word ‘gula’ meaning ‘no water’, this is due to the fact that koalas are rarely seen coming down from the treetops, so it was thought that they derived all their water needs from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree. Though this has subsequently been proven as a myth, the specificity of the diet certainly isn’t, eating almost exclusively the leaves of the eucalyptus tree. Though the makes the a specialist eater in some regards, there are over 600 of eucalyptus in , around 30 of which koalas show a particular preference for, due to the higher protein content in these . Despite this, a ‘s diet is still overall very low in nutrition, which is why most koalas will spend upwards of 20 hours a day napping, bear in mind this is how you will likely find them on a visit to a or .
Native to the small island of off southern coastline, the is a small carnivorous known for its ferocity, and clever opportunistic scavenging behaviour. Overall they are rather diminutive in size, reaching up to 65cm in length, though they are still rather powerful predators, with one of the most powerful bites for its size of any mammal on earth. In the wild, Tasmanian devils are generally solitary creatures, though they can come together in groups to scavenge, or during breeding season. Currently the ‘Tassie devil’, is threatened from both human activity, as well as a virus that has been reducing the population, though attempts have been made to conserve the iconic , including the introduction of a New South Wales colony.
Found across southern, and eastern , as well as across the island of , the is a small, rotund burrowing . Measuring about a meter in length, and weighing in at about 20 or 30kg, the is a herbivorous creature, often living in deep burrows, and coming out in search of grazing in the twilight, or evening hours. Though they are generally seen pottering around slowly and leisurely, wombats can in fact move incredibly fast when they need to, reaching speeds of up to 40km per hour when threatened or on the run. When hiding from predators like dogs or Tasmanian devils, they are known to delve head first into their burrows, leaving their thick bony backside exposed to the confounded predator, while they kick them away with their strong hind paws.
Found on a number of islands off the coast of , the is famous as one of the world’s most photogenic creatures. At just the size of a small domestic house cat, the is actually among the smallest kinds of . They are generally extremely calm, friendly, and unafraid of humans, or many potential predators, and feed on a diet of grasses, shrubs, and other vegetation. With the introduction of non-native predators such as foxes and cats, much of the population was drastically reduced, with only a few protected pockets remaining. Despite this, the is plentiful on islands off the coast, such as , where they are a major draw for tourists in the region.
Found in a number of protected areas in , as well as some newly introduced areas in and New South Wales, the is a curious , with an insectivorous diet, and long sticky tongue, much like an anteater or aardvark. At around 40cm long, the is quite a small , with a characteristic black and brown striped fur and a long bushy tail, it also has a full set of non functional teeth, which it never requires due to its diet consisting entirely of termites. Despite once being widespread across western and , the is only found in a number of small protected areas today, being unaccustomed to the influx of new predators brought to by humans.
Bilby
Once found throughout about 70% of , the Bilby is now known as one of ‘s rare desert dwelling marsupials. Found today in places such as the Kimberley, Pilbara, as well as the Tanami, Gibson, and Great Sandy Deserts the Bilby is nocturnal omnivore, emerging from its burrows to hunt grubs, insects, and eat seeds or grasses. With an incredible sense of smell and hearing, the bilby does not rely on sight to hunt, and is able to sense prey burrowed deep beneath the sand below. Its nocturnal hunting also serves the added benefit of removing the need for the bilby to find water, gathering all of the moisture it requires from hunting small prey beneath the desert floor. Today many Australian’s will recognise the bilby as the country’s unofficial replacement of the eastern bunny, with the campaign aimed at raising funds and awareness for the bilby’s conservation efforts.
Found across northern, and eastern all the way down to the island of , the is another of ‘s smaller variety. The gets its name for its known predilection for sweet foods such as nectar, sap, or honey, as well as its ability to glide between trees, with large flaps of skin serving the function of basic wings. The is a small creature, at just 30cm long, and incredibly light at just over 100 grams, which no doubt aids it in soaring effortlessly between trees, they also have strong hind paws with an opposable thumb, allowing them to grasp branches and bark to stay firmly attached to the trees high above the canopy. In more recent years sugar gliders have grown in popularity throughout the world as exotic pets, with some having originated from , and others from New Guinea. Currently depending on the state, the legality of keeping one of these native marsupials varies, with notably the large states of New South Wales and banning the practice.
The occupies something of a different position on this list, with the canine itself not actually being a native Australian , despite what many Australians may think. For the unfamiliar, the is a medium sized canine resembling something akin to a domestic dog, generally with a light ginger, tan, or dark coat of short fur. It is theorized that the was actually brought over to from southeast Asia some time around 8000 years ago, bearing a relatively close relation to ancient varieties of dogs found across New Guinea. Some have even attributed the arrival of the to as one of the possible causes, if not certainly a contributing factor to the extinction of such as the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) on the Australian mainland.
Birds
Emu
One of the two iconic animals on ‘s coat of arms, the emu is one of the better known amongst ‘s native bird life. Found across , the emu is the second largest bird in the world, second only to its African relative the ostrich. The emu sports a thick, shaggy brown coat of feathers, with a long neck, and thick scaly legs, and can often been found preening or grazing across ‘s vast bushland. Emu’s generally lead a solitary existence, though they come together during the breeding season, after which the father takes responsibility for the young until they are mature enough to fend for themselves. A strange fact pertaining to both the emu and is that they are incapable of walking backwards, a fact which ties in with the narrative of coat of arms, with never taking a step back. Fortunately the emu continues to remain stable across much of , and is of least concern when compared to other Australian natives. To the amusement of many, Australia even once fought a war against its Emus in a someone comical event known as the ‘Emu War‘.
Kookaburra
The subject of songs and folklore, the kookaburra is an iconic Australian bird, known best for its loud and lengthy call, sounding much like a long cacophonous laugh, of which the name ‘kookaburra’ is an onomatopoeia. Belonging to the kingfisher group of birds, the kookaburra is distinct in that its diet largely precludes fish entirely, not only that, but the association with water is mostly absent. ‘s kookaburra has instead come to live more like a bird of prey, eating small , lizards, insects, and even other birds young at times. There is also a northern variety of kookaburra which features vibrant blue wingtips and tail, despite the seeming relation, the two are known to actively compete for territory, suggesting a divergence some time ago. Today you are likely to see kookaburras across , including in its larger cities’ parks and suburbs.
Southern
Sporting a vibrant colourful head, an enormous bony crest, and long thick scaled legs, the is an incredible bird, resembling something from an earlier era of time rather than most birds we expect to see today. Native to north-east and parts of New Guinea, the is one of the largest birds on earth, at a similar height to the emu, as well as being the second heaviest bird after the African ostrich. The has something of an unearned reputation when it comes to human interaction, with reports of attacks and violence causing many to fear the birds. In practice the majority of the time this has been attributed to humans interacting and feeding the birds, which then grow accustomed to feeding and chase people for more. It is thought that the is actually quite closely related with New Zealand’s iconic kiwi, with the two having split from a common ancestor some 40 million years ago.
Cockatoo
Across there are a huge variety of cockatoos, ranging from the exotic great black cockatoo, to more common sights such as the galah, or sulphur-crested cockatoo. Characterised by their raised crests and curved bills, cockatoos are some of the world’s most intelligent birds, being capable of incredible feats of cunning as well as mischief. The sulphur-crested cockatoo in particular is one of the most likely birds you’ll see on a tour of , with a distribution across the north, and eastern coasts of , and doing particularly well in city environments. They are quite large for parrots, reaching about 55 cm in length, with a large distinctive yellow crest atop their stark white body, they are also known to make an incredibly loud raucous call, which can be heard from a long distance.
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Found throughout , including , the wedge-tailed eagle is the continent’s largest bird of prey, with a wingspan up to 2.8 metres and body length over a metre, the wedge-tailed eagle is one of ‘s few apex predators. With a sharp hooked beak, and covered in thick brown and black feathers, the eagle is a distinctive sight, often spied in rural scavenging road kill or soaring high overhead surveying the landscape. Like many other large birds of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle relies on its sense of sight to hunt, being able to pinpoint small movements from an incredible distance, as well as see in the ultraviolet spectrum. Generally these eagles will hunt prey such as small kangaroos, possums, wombats, and other birds, and at times they’ve even been known to even take down emus, particularly juveniles. In contemporary Australian culture the wedge-tailed eagle is used prominently on the symbols for the Australian Defence force, as well as the Royal Australian Air Force, and New South Wales Police.
Reptiles
Found across ‘s northern coastal regions, the , or ‘saltie’ for short, is the largest of the world’s crocodiles, its evolutionary design much the same as it was 65 million years ago. Measuring around 6m in length, and weighing about a tonne, the is the apex predator of ‘s northern aquatic habitats, hunting with ambush tactics, and sporting the second strongest bite force of any on earth. What distinguishes the from many other is its tendency to swim out into the open ocean, often riding currents long distances in search of new territory to claim. From here many follow rivers further inland, spreading far and wide across ‘s northern reaches. The is an opportunistic hunter, with its diet mostly consisting of whatever is available in the local environment, whether that be fish, birds, or even larger like water buffalo. The ‘Saltie’ was once endangered across following a culling program of the back in the 1970s, fortunately since then the populations have mostly recovered, with ‘s crocodile population being amongst the healthiest.
Goanna
Another of ‘s strange fauna, the goanna is a type of monitor found everywhere throughout , with the only exception being . Depending on the environment, there are a huge varieties of Goanna you can find on a tour of , with some of the largest reaching up to 2.5 meters, and the smallest at less than 70cm. Goanna’s are a carnivorous , with rows of small sharp teeth and the ability to run quite quickly on the hind legs to close the distance with prey, or to flee from nearby threats. In the time of ‘s megafauna, the Goanna’s ancestor was one of ‘s apex predators, with the 7m long megalania found in as recently as 50,000 years ago. The word ‘goanna’ is thought to be a derivative of ‘iguana’, brought by western settlers who had no conception of what exactly the monitor was.
Frill-Necked
Otherwise known as the ‘Frilled Dragon’ or Chlamydosaurus, this is found across , the Northern Territory, as well as throughout the Kimberley region. The is quite large, measuring up to 85cm, and can generally be found in trees, hunting for insects of small . It gets its unique name from its characteristic frill, which it can extend into a huge disk to intimidate predators, often times rearing up on its hind legs and opening its jaws to enhance this bewildering spectacle.
Thorny Devil
Another strange and unique Aussie native, the thorny devil can be found throughout ‘s central and western deserts. Only a small at about 20cm, the thorny devil makes up for its small size with its panoply of bizarre talents. Starting with its appearance, the devil is covered in spiky extrusions and spines all over its body, making it a difficult, and dangerous meal for any prospective predators. Add to this the fact that it has a fake ‘second head’ on the back of its neck, it makes it appear to observers like its always watching, and just in case this isn’t enough, the devil can camouflage itself with changing skin colour to blend in with the desert’s sands, and scrubland. The thorny devil gets most of its water through the deserts humidity, with its spines collecting moisture from the air and channeling it to the lizards mouth.
Snakes
Of all , snakes probably have the most infamous reputation, with several Australian snakes ranking amongst the deadliest, and even the most deadly in the world. However, this reputation is mostly undeserved, with death by snakebite being an incredibly rare occurrence, in fact, you’re more likely to die from horse or cow than these ‘deadly’ serpents. With over 170 across the continent, is full of snakes, with some of the more common such as the carpet python, green tree snake, or eastern brown snake, often being found close to, or in some of ‘s urban environments. Contrary to popular opinion, these snakes are rarely aggressive, and are far more likely to flee than attack. To see some of these up close, zoos and parks across area great way to see some of these iconic Aussie serpents up close.
Monotremes
The is definitely among the weird and the wonderful when it comes to ‘s , being one of the world’s two ‘‘ a peculiar type of mammal which both lays eggs, and feeds milk to its young, as well as sporting a number of physiological differences with all other kinds of . The in particular confounded naturalists when it was first encountered by Europeans, convinced the could not be real, with its features resembling an odd mesh of duck, otter and beaver all thrown together. As Australian’s now know though, the is simply a strange an incredible , with its bill able to sense its prey underwater through echolocation much like a dolphin, its soft fur providing insulation, and the males even having a venomous spur for defence on their hind limbs. The can be found across the eastern extent of , inhabiting ponds, creeks and other waterways, where it feeds on worms, insect larvae, and freshwater shellfish.
‘s second monotreme is the , found across and , the is also something of an evolutionary mishmash, with a short beak like a bird, long tongue like an anteater, spines like a hedgehog, a pouch like a , as well as laying eggs. The evolved from a similar aquatic ancestor as the , though they’ve adapted to a life on land, mostly using their long sticky tongue to hunt insect larvae, ants, and termites. The echidna is a medium sized animal, weighing up to 7kg, and using its strong shovel shaped claws to dig out burrows, and crack into wood and mounds for termites and other insects. Interestingly, they have retained the electroreceptors of their ancestors, though on land this cannot be used to full effect. They are also still effective swimmers, able to use their long claws as something akin to paddles, to get across even deeper bodies of water. When feeling threatened, the echidna will roll up into a spiny ball, with its long spiny ‘hairs’ providing an excellent defence and deterrent for any would be predator.
