Animals of Australia

1. Animals of Australia By: Katie Schleper

2. Kangaroo • Kangaroos are marsupials (females have pouches) from the family of Macropodidae (a macropod), meaning “large foot” • Largest type of kangaroo is the Gray Kangaroo. Other types of kangaroos are Red Kangaroos, wallabies, and Rat Kangaroos.

3. Bandicoot • Bandicoots are marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, Papua, and Tasmania. • The bandicoot ranges from about 10 to 20 inches long. • The bandicoots fur is orange, gray, brown, and sometimes striped.

4. Cuscus • The Cuscus is a marsupial found in Australia, Tasmania, the Solomon Islands, Moluccas, and Celebes. • They are arboreal animals, meaning they are adapted to living in trees. • Their diet includes fruit, leaves, nectar, insects, and sometimes small birds.

5. Platypus • The Platypus is an egg laying mammal of Eastern Australia. The Platypus has a duck-like bill and a wide flat tail. • Males have a poison spur on their hind feet that they use to kill small animals. • Platypus’ use their bill to crush and eat crustaceans.

6. Kookaburra • Kookaburras can be found in Australia and New Guinea. • They eat large insects, mice, small birds, small snakes, and sometimes fish. • The kookaburras’ call sounds like a laugh.

7. Tasmanian Tiger/Wolf • The Tasmanian tiger/wolf lives in Tasmania and off of Australia’s Southeast coast. • There are not many left on Earth. • Tasmanian tigers/wolves eat kangaroos and wallabies. • They are marsupials.

8. Numbat • The Numbat is a marsupial anteater that is the only living species of the family Myrmecobiidae. • They have gray, brown, or dull red backs which are crossed by six or seven white stripes. • The Numbat has a long sticky tongue used to pick up ants and termites.

9. Nabarlek • Nabarleks eat grasses and ferns that are native to Australia. • Most babies are born in the Winter. • They are marsupials. • They stay in their mother’s pouch for 26 weeks.