This Australian animals list has images and facts on Australia’s most well-known animals (and many of its lesser-known species), as well as the incredible wildlife of Australia.
List Of Australian Animals – Introduction
Australia is noted for its magnificent scenery and diverse flora, and it is the world’s sixth biggest nation by area.
Australia is home to a wealth of internationally recognized animals, such as kangaroos, koalas, emus, platypuses, wombats, and goannas. Habitats include desert to coral reef, tropical and temperate rainforests, rivers and grasslands.
Australia’s wildlife has evolved without outside interference due to its isolated position in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Many indigenous Australian animals are endemic to the country. This implies that Australia is the only place on Earth where they may be found.
Marsupials
Marsupials are a huge part of Australia’s popular culture. Although marsupials are found in the Americas, Australia (which encompasses mainland Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea) is home to around 70% of the world’s marsupial species.
The young of marsupials are born at a very early age. The tiny newborn marsupial climbs into a distinct sack in its mother’s body after birth. It continues to develop in safety here until it is ready to emerge, feeding on its mother’s milk.
marsupials include kangaroos, possums, koalas, and bandicoots. In the list below, you’ll meet all of these and more!
Australian Animals List with Pictures & Facts
Australian Magpie
- Scientific name: Gymnorhina tibicen
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the family Artamidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
One of the most well-known Australian birds is the Australian magpie. This widespread species may be found across the majority of the nation, with the exception of certain desert places, in environments ranging from cities to forests.
The black and white plumage of the Australian magpie, as well as its orange-brown eyes, are all features. It’s comparable in size to the Eurasian magpie, but it’s not a Corvidae bird, like the Eurasian magpie. Instead, it belongs to the Artamidae family, which includes butcherbirds.
The warbling cry of the Australian magpie is well-known.
Australian Sea Lion
- Scientific name: Neophoca cinerea
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the eared seal family Otariidae.
- Conservation status: Endangered
The pinnipeds, which include seals, sea lions, and walrus, are a collection of animals that includes the Australian sea lion. The only pinniped native to (only found in) Australia is the Australian sea lion. The country’s south and southwest coasts are home to this species.
Fish and mollusks such as squid and cuttlefish are the primary sources of food for this aquatic mammal. Penguins are also known to be eaten by it.
Originally, the sea lion was a major target in Australia. The population has not fully recovered, despite the fact that it is now protected.
Commercial fishing (although the Australian sea lion is not targeted by the fisherman, it is frequently entangled in gillnets) and habitat degradation are today the species’ primary threats.
Bandicoot
- Number of species: around 20
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the marsupial order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots and bilbies)
Bandicoots are a group of Australian and New Guinean ground-dwelling omnivores that number in the hundreds. They have a hunched back, a thin pointed snout, and rather lengthy legs. They are rat-like creatures. The majority of them are rabbit-sized. The northern brown bandicoot is Australia’s largest bandicoot.
In Australia, bandicoots may be found in a variety of places. From gardens to rainforests, they may be found in a variety of ecosystems.
Bandicoots forage for food, such as insects and earthworms hidden in the ground, using their keen sense of smell to find it. They excavate with their forepaws. Snout-pokes are the holes that they dig in the earth.
Barramundi
- Scientific name: Lates calcarifer
- Type of animal: Fish, member of the family Latidae
- Conservation status: Unassessed
The barramundi is a tropical fish that may be found along Australia’s northern coast. It grows to be around 1.6 m (5.3 ft.) long and bears substantial silver scales and a humped back.
Both freshwater and marine environments are home to the barramundi. It breeds in estuaries and coastal marshes, where it lives in rivers. Certain species spend their whole lives in the sea.
Most barramundi start life as males, but after one or more spawning seasons, they turn into females.
Bilby (Greater)
- Scientific name: Macrotis lagotis
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the marsupial order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots and bilbies)
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The bigger bilby is the only surviving bilby since the lesser bilby became extinct in the 1950s. (The bigger bilby is often referred to as simply as the “bilby.”)
Once present throughout southern Australia, the greater bilby is now only found in desert regions in central Australia.
The bilby is a burrowing creature, unlike other bandicoots. It features large forelimbs and claws that are powerful. To prevent soil from entering while digging, the female’s pouch is rear-opening. The species’ moniker of ‘rabbit-eared bandicoot’ comes from its large ears.
For seeds, insects, and bulbs, the bilby uses its long tongue.
Black Swan
- Scientific name: Cygnus atratus
- Type of animal: Bird, family Anatidae (the duck, geese and swan family)
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Swamps across Australia are home to the black swan, a huge waterbird. Western Australia’s flag and coat of arms both feature the species as an emblem.
Black plumage and a bright red beak with a pale tip distinguish this unique Australian species. Its white flight feathers are visible when it is flying or has its wings raised in an aggressive stance.
The swan is primarily vegetarian, with aquatic plants and algae as its primary food sources. It reaches food with its long neck, head and shoulders submerged when necessary, using it to ‘up-end.
Bowerbirds
- Type of animal: Birds, family Ptilonorhynchidae
- Number of species: 20
- Number of species found in Australia: 20
In Australia and New Guinea, bowerbirds are a family of birds. Australia is home to ten of the 20 species of bowerbird. Rainforests and other forest types are home to the majority.
The courting ritual of bowerbirds is well-known. The male builds a bower on the ground, which is a complicated construction. Flowers, plants, and brilliantly colored objects, including man-made items, are used to make the bower out of sticks and decorate it.
The male who built the most magnificent bower usually mates with females. The bower is not utilized as a nest, and it is solely created for courting.
The satin bowerbird, a species found in eastern Australia’s coastal forests, is one of the most well-known Australian bowerbirds. The male is olive-brown, while the female is glossy blue-black. Their eyes are both blue, and they have a bright smile.
Brolga
- Scientific name: Antigone rubicunda
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the family Gruidae (the crane family)
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In Australia and New Guinea, the brolga is a crane family member. The term “native companion” was formerly used to describe it. It may be found in the north, east, and south-east of Australia, mostly in wetlands and wet grasslands. New Guinea is also home to this species.
The brolga, like all cranes, is a tall bird with long, thin legs and a long neck. It has a crimson patch on the rear of its head and grey plumage.
While the species’ conservation status is “Least Concern,” there is evidence that its population is dwindling, primarily due to habitat destruction.
Budgerigar
- Scientific name: Melopsittacus undulatus
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the order Psittaciformes (Parrots)
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Psittacoidea family of true parrots includes the budgerigar, which is a tiny member. It may be found across much of Australia, ranging from deserts to farmland to urban gardens. In addition, the species has been imported to the United States.
The budgie is a migratory bird, continuously looking for water and seeds in order to feed.
The budgie is the world’s third most popular pet. The plumage of wild birds is mostly yellow and green, although blue, grey, and all yellow color varieties have been bred in captivity.
Cairns Birdwing Butterfly
- Scientific name: Ornithoptera euphorion
- Type of animal: Insect, member of the birdwing genus Trogonoptera, part of the swallowtail family Papilionidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Cairns birdwing, one of Australia’s largest butterflies with a wingspan of up to 15 cm (5.9 in), Australia is home to this species. It may be found in northeast Queensland’s tropical rainforests.
Cairns’ male butterflywing butterflies are paler than the females, yet they are vividly colored. Females have predominantly black wings with yellow patterns, whereas males have a stunning combination of black, yellow, and green.
Cairns, a coastal city in Queensland that is at the center of the insect’s range, is where the species gets its name.
Camel (Feral)
- Genus: Camelus
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the order Artiodactyla (the even-toed ungulates)
- Conservation status: Domestic
In Australia, there are around 300,000 feral camels. The majority of the dromedaries are present, with a few feral Bactrian camels thrown in for good measure. During the nineteenth century, when they were employed as means of transportation, these huge hooved animals were introduced.
Australia’s wild camel population was once believed to be around 600,000. Measures were taken between 2009 and 2013 to reduce the population of this invasive species to its current size due to the damage it was causing to indigenous wildlife.
Cane Toad
- Scientific name: Rhinella marina
- Type of animal: Amphibian, member of the true toad family Bufonidae.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The cane toad is not on Australia’s list of native creatures, and many Australians would rather it wasn’t! Since its introduction in the 1940s, the amphibian has spread rapidly across Australia, and it is an invasive species.
To minimize the proliferation of crop-destroying grey-backed cane beetles, the insect-eating frog was imported to Australia from its native South America.
Sadly, the cane toad has spread over northern Australia quickly and efficiently. Several native Australian species have suffered as a result of the toad’s introduction, becoming ill after eating it.
Cassowary
- Genus: Casuarius
- Number of species: 3
- Number of species found in Australia: 1 (The southern cassowary)
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the family Casuariidae (which also includes the emu)
In Australia and New Guinea, cassowaries are large flightless birds. The only cassowary species found in Australia is the Southern Cassowary (scientific name Casuarius casuarius), which is also found in New Guinea.
The rainforests of north-eastern Australia are home to the southern cassowary. It is the world’s third-tallest bird, after the ostrich and the albatross.
With a blue neck and a crimson collar, the species is mostly black. Red wattles (fleshy protrusions from the bird’s neck) adorn its neck. The casque, a bony, pointed helmet-like structure on the cassowary’s head, is what distinguishes it.
Cassowaries have a quick gait. If the bird feels threatened, its feet are equipped with dagger-like inner claws that may be used as weapons.
The southern cassowary is listed as a Least Concern species on the IUCN Red List.
Common Stingaree
- Scientific name: Trygonoptera testacea
- Type of animal: Fish, superorder Batoidea (rays)
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In the coastal waters of south-eastern Australia, the common stingaree is a stingray. In this area, it is the most frequent ray.
The common stingaree has a round, flat body and a long tail, like all stingrays. With wave-like undulations of its wings, it propels itself through the water. It has one or two venomous spines at the end of its tail.
Sandbanks and mudflats are home to the species, which lies partially buried in the sea bed. Even though the fish will regularly flee from bathers, it may lash out with its spines and cause significant injuries if startled.
Crocodiles
- Type of animal: Reptile, member of the subfamily Crocodylinae (the true crocodiles)
- Number of species found in Australia: 2 (the saltwater crocodile and the freshwater crocodile)
- Conservation status (both species): Least Concern
The freshwater crocodile and the larger saltwater crocodile are the two different species of crocodiles found in Australia.
The freshwater crocodile is a tiny crocodile. It’s indigenous to Australia and may be found in the country’s north, where it lives in rivers and wetlands.
Not only in Australia, but also throughout the world, the saltwater crocodile is the biggest reptile. This frigid giant is, in fact, the world’s biggest land predator. Northern Australia, as well as New Guinea and many Southeast Asian nations, are home to this species.
The armour-plated skin of both Australian crocodiles is robust, and the jaws are full of formidable teeth. Ambush predators, such as crocodiles, lie in wait for their prey before exploding with sspeedy and force when the unsuspecting victim comes within range.
Unless frightened, the freshwater crocodile will rarely attack people. It has the potential to bite with considerable force.
The saltwater crocodile is an extremely dangerous animal, and places where it may be found should be avoided due to its size, strength, and ferocity.
Dingo
- Scientific name: Canis lupus dingo
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the dog family Canidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The dingo is a sandy-gold furred wild dog. Desert, grassland, and forest environments are all home to this species.
The dingo is classified as a subspecies of grey wolf by most zoologists, and is given the scientific name Canis lupus dingo. Others refer to the dingo as a separate species, which they refer to as Canis dingo, according to scientific classification.
The New Guinea singing dog, a wild dog found on New Guinea, is the dingo’s closest relative.
In packs, dingoes live and hunt. They have the ability to bring down animals as large as the red kangaroo by working together.
Dugong
- Scientific name: Dugong dugon
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the order Sirenia
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The dugong belongs to the order Sirenia and is a marine mammal similar to the three species of manatee. It’s a big, spherical creature with a big round body. It has an adaptation for eating seagrass: a unique, wide, downwards-pointing snout.
Dugongs have been hunted for meat and oil in the past, and they can live up to 70 years. Gillnet entanglement, hunting, and boat strikes are the main threats to the species today.
Eastern Brown Snake
- Scientific name: Pseudonaja textilis
- Type of animal: Reptile, member of the family Elapidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Australia is home to both the world’s two most poisonous snakes, the eastern brown snake and the inland taipan.
The eastern brown snake is regarded as more harmful because it lives near human dwellings and has an aggressive nature, despite the fact that its venom is less potent than that of the inland taipan. In Australia, it is the deadliest snake, with more fatalities each year than any other.
A length of 2 meters (7 feet) is possible for the eastern brown snake. With light to dark brown colors, it’s a fairly slender snake. It can be found in a variety of ecosystems from eastern Australia.
Eastern Long-Necked Turtle
- Scientific name: Chelodina longicollis
- Type of animal: Reptile, member of the family Chelidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In Australia’s south-eastern rivers and wetlands, the eastern long-necked turtle may be found. It has a black or brown carapace (shell) with black grooves that is round and plate-sized. The neck of the species is almost as long as its shell.
One of two turtle suborders (the other being the Cryptodira), the eastern long-neck turtles belong to the Pleurodira suborder. Instead of moving in a straight line, members of this suborder retract their heads into their shells.
Echidna (Short Beaked)
- Scientific name: Tachyglossus aculeatus
- Type of animal: Mammal, order Monotremata (the monotremes)
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Monotremes are a special class of mammals that includes echidnas. The five species that make up the order Monotremata lay eggs rather than give birth to live young, unlike any other kind of mammal. Echidnas and the platypus are two of the monotreme species.
The only echidna discovered in Australia is the short-beaked echidna. It can be found in New Guinea and is common across the majority of the nation.
The echidna is a tiny to medium-sized creature that grows between 30 and 45 centimeters. Its hard spines are its most distinguishing feature. It has burrowing capabilities and strong forelimbs and claws, allowing it to move quickly.
Echidnas are also known as ‘spiky anteaters,’ but they aren’t related to the anteaters of South America, despite their ant and termite diet.
Emu
- Scientific name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the family Casuariidae (which also includes the cassowaries).
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The emu, a native Australian bird, is a huge flightless bird. It is the world’s fifth biggest bird, and Australia’s second biggest, behind the southern cassowary, with an average weight of 33 kg (73 lb).
The emu, despite being the second heaviest bird in Australia, can grow to a height of 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) and is Australia’s tallest bird.
The neck of the emu is pale blue, and its plumage is light brown.
The flightless emu uses its acute vision and hearing, as well as its ability to run at up to 48 km/h (30 mph), to elude potential predators. It can defend itself with its razor-sharp claws and robust legs if it is trapped.
Fairy Penguin
- Scientific name: Eudyptula minor
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the penguin family Spheniscidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The little penguin, sometimes known as the fairy penguin in Australia, is a small species of penguin that stands at around 33 cm (13 in) tall and weighs around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).
This little bird can be found on both the mainland and coastal islands of Australia’s south coast. New Zealand is also home to this species.
In New Zealand, the species is known as the “small blue penguin” because of its dark sections of plumage that are blue-grey in color.
The little penguin, like other penguins, is flightless, with its wings having evolved into flippers that allow it to swim through the water. The little penguin lives mostly at sea, where it searches for fish and squid for about 80% of its life.
Flatback Sea Turtle
- Scientific name: Natator depressus
- Type of animal: Reptile, member of the family Cheloniidae
- Conservation status: Data Deficient
Only nests on the islands and beaches of northern Australia, the flatback sea turtle may be found in coastal waters throughout northern Australia and New Guinea.
Of the seven species of sea turtles, this big marine reptile is the least migratory. The flat shell of this sea turtle distinguishes it from other species.
Frill-Necked Lizard
- Scientific name: Chlamydosaurus kingii
- Type of animal: Reptile, member of the family Agamidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
A big lizard found all throughout northern Australia is the frill-necked lizard. The species is predominantly found in the canopy layer of woods and woodlands, where it lives arboreal (tree-dwelling). It has a length of 85 cm (2.79 ft.).
The big ruff of beautifully coloured skin around the frill-necked lizard’s neck gives it its name. The lizard’s jaw bone is linked to the ruff. The lizard flattens its ruff like an umbrella when it is threatened. This spectacular show is designed to surprise a possible predator, giving the lizard a chance to flee.
Galah
- Scientific name: Eolophus roseicapilla
- Type of animal: Bird, member of the family Cacatuidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The galah is a highly social parrot that may be found across Australia. Woods, shrublands, meadows, and urban environments are only a few of the habitats it uses.
The species feeds on the seeds of grasses, herbs, and crops and forms huge, noisy flocks that forage on the ground.
The galah is distinguished by its bright pink feathers on the head, neck, and underparts, as well as by its paler pink crest, which may be held upright or laid back. It belongs to the Cacatuidae family of cockatoos. Grey covers the wings, back, and tail.
The frill-necked lizard’s name comes from its massive ruff of brilliantly colored skin around the neck. The ruff is joined to the lizard’s jaw bone. When it is threatened, the lizard expands its ruff like an umbrella. As a consequence of this amazing display, the lizard is given the opportunity to escape.
The color of the irises distinguishes males and females, despite the fact that they appear to be identical: red or mid-brown for females, dark brown for males.
Giant Burrowing Cockroach
- Scientific name: Macropanesthia rhinoceros
- Type of animal: Insect, member of the family Blaberidae.
- Conservation status: Unassessed
The world’s heaviest cockroach, weighing up to 35 grams and measuring up to 8 centimeters, is the massive burrowing cockroach. It may live up to ten years.
The enormous burrowing cockroach lacks wings and spends much of its time underground, in tunnels that may be up to 1m deep. During the night, the species emerges from its burrow to eat.
The huge burrowing cockroach gives birth to live children rather than laying eggs, as do most insects. The eggs hatch inside the mother’s body before being delivered, and the species is ovoviviparous.
Females give birth in subterranean caves and nurse their children for up to six months, at which point the children leave the cave to survive on their own.
The tropical areas of Queensland are home to the giant burrowing cockroach, which favors sandy soil. It is not considered a pest, unlike other cockroaches. By eating dead leaves and recycling materials, the species plays a crucial part in the ecosystem.
Giant Clam
- Scientific name: Tridacna gigas
- Type of animal: Bivalve, member of the family Cardiidae.
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The world’s biggest bivalve mollusc is Tridacna gigas, one of numerous species known as “giant clams.” The species may weigh up to 500 pounds when fully grown. The South Pacific and Indian Oceans are home to this species.
Yellow or green with blue or purple spots, the giant clam’s mantle is usually yellow or green. Algae that grow inside the clam’s tissue give the clam its stunning colors.
A symbiotic relationship (a connection between species that is mutually beneficial) exists between the clam and its resident algae. As a consequence of photosynthesis, the clam receives nutrients from the algae. Algae, in return, give the nitrogen, phosphates, nitrates, and a habitat.
The overharvesting of the big clam for food and in the aquarium trade has resulted in its being labeled as a ‘Vulnerable’ species.
Goanna
- Type of animal: Reptile, lizards in the genus Varanus (the monitor lizards)
- Number of species found in Australia: 25
The genus Varanus (also known as the monitor lizards) includes goannas, which are lizards. Australia has 25 goanna species, while Southeast Asia has five more.
Australia’s largest lizard, the perentie (Varanus giganteus), is the world’s fourth-largest lizard, growing up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) in length. The short-tailed monitor is Australia’s smallest goanna.
Goannas have sharp teeth and claws, making them carnivores. Insects, spiders, snakes, birds, marsupials and rodents are among the invertebrate and vertebrate species that make up their diet.
Goannas aren’t picky eaters; the bigger the goanna, the bigger the prey animal it’ll devour in general. Scavenging on carrion is also common among goannas.
Goliath Stick Insect
- Scientific name: Eurycnema goliath
- Type of animal: Insect, member of the family Phasmatidae.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
On Australia’s east coast and in southern Queensland, the Goliath stick insect may be found. Its camouflage and stick-like body make it challenging to locate, despite being one of Australia’s largest insects.
Females of the female Goliath stick insects are up to 25 cm long, compared to males.
Parthenogenesis, a type of reproduction that does not need mating, is possible in many stick insects, including the goliath stick insect.
Females, despite having wings, are unable to fly due to their massive bodies. Male miniatures are able to fly, even though they’re smaller and thinner.
Great White Shark
- Scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias
- Type of animal: Fish, member of the mackerel shark order Lamniformes
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The great white shark, which can reach a length of over 6 meters (19.7 feet), is one of the most dreaded predators in the sea. It may be found all around Australia’s coasts as well as in other oceans all across the globe.
Juveniles are more likely to prey on fish, while adults are more likely to prey on marine mammals such as seals, dolphins, and other cetaceans. Humans are also known to be attacked by the great white.
When hunting, the great white shark relies on its sixth sense. The shark can sense the electrical fields generated in the muscles of other marine creatures because to organs known as ampullae of Lorenzini in its head.
Hercules Moth
- Scientific name: Coscinocera hercules
- Type of animal: Insect, member of the family Saturniidae.
- Conservation status: Unassessed
One of Australia’s three biggest moths, the Hercules moth is also one of the world’s three biggest. The wingspan of this butterfly is up to 27 cm (10.63 in.) and can be found on New Guinea and tropical Queensland. The wingspan of this enormous bug is the biggest of any bug.
Large, brown wings with transparent windows and white edges adorn the Hercules moth. Due to the female’s enormous wings, she is frequently mistaken for a bird. The male is smaller and more vividly colored than the female. Its wings have extended tails, like those of a bird.
The Hercules moth lives for only 2 to 8 days during its imago stage (the winged adult stage). It does not eat. Pheromones produced by adult females may be detected up to 3 kilometers away by males. A female dies shortly after laying 80 to 100 eggs on the leaves of rainforest plants after mating.
Inland Taipan
- Scientific name: Oxyuranus microlepidotus
- Type of animal: Reptile, member of the family Elapidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The world’s most venomous snake is the inland taipan. The species’ adaptation as a mammalian hunter has resulted in the toxicity of its venom. It is estimated that a single bite will suffice to kill 100 men.
The inland taipan is responsible for a small number of human attacks, despite its fearsome bite. The species has a calm temperament and dwells in deserted regions, unlike the closely related coastal taipan (one of the world’s most deadly snakes).
Kangaroo
- Type of animal: Mammal, marsupial
- Family: Macropodidae (the macropods)
- Kangaroo species, especially the tree kangaroos, are endangered and a number of them are on the verge of extinction.
- There are four species of kangaroos known to exist in Australia, and the Macropodidae family contains approximately 65 living species.
The kangaroo is without a doubt one of Australia’s most iconic animals! In Australia, there are over 30 million of these well-known marsupials.
Kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies are all members of the Macropodidae family. The largest species are known as kangaroos, the smallest species as wallabies, and those in between are known as wallaroos. It is primarily size that determines which of these three groups an animal belongs to.
Kangaroos are the common names for four species. The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), and antilopine kangaroo (Macropus antilopinus) are among them. The Macropodidae family contains roughly 60 additional species.
The red kangaroo is the biggest living marsupial, in addition to being the biggest kangaroo.
Kangaroos hop rather than walk or run to get around. Kangaroos have unique elastic tendons that store and release energy as the kangaroo hops, which is a really efficient mode of locomotion.
Kangaroos are marsupials, like many of Australia’s most well-known creatures. Pouched mammals are marsupials. Their infants, known as “joeys,” climb into specific pouches in their moms’ bodies after they are born. Before being able to jump around on their own, the joeys here continue to develop for another few months.
Koala
- Scientific name: Phascolarctos cinereus
- Type of animal: Mammal, marsupial. The only living member of the family Phascolarctidae.
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
One of Australia’s most well-known animals is the koala. The eastern Australian marsupial arboreal (tree-dwelling) is common.
The thick grey coat, large black nose, and fluffy ears of the koala distinguish it from other animals. It is referred to as the “koala bear” because of its resemblance to a tiny bear. The koala, being a marsupial and not connected to the placental species Ursidae, is not a bear but rather a marsupial.
Koalas spend the majority of their time sleeping (up to 20 hours each day). Eucalyptus leaves, which have little energy in them, make up the majority of their diet.
Male koalas may be dangerously aggressive when competing for territory, despite their cuddly appearance.
Kookaburra
Kookaburra is a Laughing Kookaburra. To learn more about these Australian birds, click on the photo.
- Genus: Dacelo
- Birds, members of the Alcedinidae family, belong to this kind of animal.
Don’t fret if you’ve ever heard someone laughing in the Australian bush; it was most likely only a kookaburra, one of these Australian birds with a cry that resembles human laughter.
The tree kingfishers, also known as Halcyoninae, are a subfamily of kingfishers that includes kookaburras. One of four species of kookaburra is the laughing kookaburra, which has a well-known cry.
The flashes of blue in the wings of kookaburras and their huge, strong bills distinguish them. They do not eat fish, instead selecting a range of small animals and reptiles. They are members of the kingfisher family, but they seldom eat fish.
Marsupial Mole
- Scientific name: Notoryctes caurinus; Notoryctes typhlops
- Type of animal: Mammal, member of the family Notoryctidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The northern marsupial mole (Notoryctes caurinus) and the southern marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops) are the two species of marsupial moles that exist. Both live in Western Australia’s arid regions.
These tiny marsupials spend practically all of their lives underground, seldom venturing aboveground. They are insectivorous (insect-eating) marsupials.
The pouch of the female being rear-facing so as not to fill up with sand is one of the adaptations for this underground lifestyle in marsupial moles, who have short limbs and powerful claws for digging. Both species are totally blind, with the exception of one.
Marsupial moles have a comparable look to burrowing placental animals like the golden moles of Africa, despite the fact that they are marsupials. Convergent evolution is the process of unrelated species developing similar traits, as seen in this example.
(Both birds and bats have wings that enable them to fly.)
Murray Cod
- Scientific name: Maccullochella peelii
- Type of animal: Ray-finned fish, member of the family Percichthyidae
- Conservation status: Critically Endangered
The biggest native freshwater fish species in Australia is the Murray cod. It may be found in the Murray-Darling basin, which encompasses much of southeastern Australia.
The top body of the species is dark green, while the bottom is creamy-white. It may grow to be over 100 pounds in weight and may reach up to 1.8 meters in length. It may live for more than 50 years.
Other fish, ducks, snakes, mice, frogs, and even freshwater turtles are known to be prey for the Murray cod. The Murray cod is a voracious and aggressive predator.
Commercial and recreational fishing, habitat destruction, water pollution, and invasive species are all posing a serious threat to this magnificent fish today.
Numbat
- Scientific name: Myrmecobius fasciatus
- Type of animal: Marsupial, the only member of the family Myrmecobiidae
- Conservation status: Endangered
The numbat is a marsupial that looks like a cat with rat features. It features a pointed head, a long bushy tail, and a set of unique white stripes down its back.
Numbats feed on termites by rummaging in the soil with their pointed muzzles, which they capture with their long tongues.
The red fox, which was introduced by Europeans, became the species’ natural predator, and it is now endangered as a result. Just around 800 of these once-abundant creatures remain in the wild today.
Platypus
- Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Type of animal: Mammal, monotreme
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
One of Australia’s most well-known creatures, the platypus, is also one of the weirdest. The beak of a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the feet of an otter characterize this strange animal. Males are also equipped with a venomous spur on their feet, making it one of the few venomous animals.
The experts believed someone was tricking them when the bones of a platypus were initially brought to London for study.
Monotremes, a small group of animals that lay eggs rather than give birth to their young, include the platypus. Platypus, and four species of echidna are the only monotreme species that survive today.
On the beds of streams and rivers, the platypus spends much of its time foraging for food. The bill of the bird has electroreceptors that allow it to sense electrical fields created by its prey’s muscles.
Possum
- Type of animal: Marsupial
- Suborder: Phalangeriformes
Possums are nocturnal marsupials that range in size from tiny to medium, and most of them live in trees. The Phalangeriformes suborder includes about 70 species of possum. The ‘gliders,’ a group of possums that have evolved the ability to glide from tree to tree, are part of this group.
With a nose to tail length of barely 30 cm (12 in.), the Tasmanian pygmy possum (Cercartetus lepidus) is the world’s tiniest possum.
After the two bear cuscuses (which are both found in Indonesia), the common brushtail possum is Australia’s and the world’s third-largest possum.
Queensland Lungfish / Barramunda
- Scientific name: Neoceratodus forsteri
- Type of animal: Lobe-finned fish, member of the family Ceratodontidae
- Conservation status: Unassessed
A freshwater fish found only in south-eastern Queensland, the Queensland lungfish is a unique species. It has been introduced to the Coomera, Condamine, Albert, and Logan rivers in Queensland, as well as the Mary and Burnett River systems.
The Queensland lungfish is the only fish that can breathe air. It’s the only one of six species that lives in Australia, and it’s one of six.
Queensland lungfish has a single lung in addition to its gills, unlike the other five species of lungfish, which have two lungs and are unable to breathe with their gills.
It is possible for the species to survive up to 100 years.
Quokka
- Scientific name: Setonix brachyurus
- Type of animal: Marsupial in the family Macropodidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The quokka is a herbivorous marsupial that looks like a miniature kangaroo and is around the size of a domestic cat. Like its kangaroo and wallaby cousins, it belongs to the Macropodidae family.
Only a small population of quokkas remains on the mainland, and they are primarily found on islands off Australia’s southwestern coast. The introduction of the red fox severely impacted the species, and it formerly occupied a much wider range.
Quoll
- Type of animal: Marsupials in the genus Dasyurus
- Number of species found in Australia: 4
Quolls are marsupials that range in size from tiny to medium. Four of the six quoll species exist in Australia: western, eastern, northern, and tiger quolls. (The bronze quoll and New Guinean quoll are located in New Guinea.)
Quolls have distinctive pale spots on their brown or black coats. Little animals, reptiles, and birds are their food sources.
The eastern quoll and northern quoll are both endangered, with the rest of Australia’s species being classified as Near Threatened.
Quolls, like many other indigenous creatures in Australia, were severely harmed by the introduction of alien predators such as the red fox and domestic cat.
Another non-native animal, the cane toad, poses a significant danger to quolls. The cane toad is poisonous, despite the fact that it is not predatory. The amphibian is likely to get ill or die as a result of native Australian animals that prey on it.
Redback Spider
- Scientific name: Latrodectus hasselti
- Type of animal: Arachnid, member of the family Theridiidae
- Conservation status: Unassessed
One of Australia’s most well-known and despised spiders is the redback spider. The female bite is extremely painful and has symptoms that may last from many hours to many days, giving the species its notoriety. The redback spider’s bite is seldom fatal to humans, despite its intense discomfort.
Female redback spiders are approximately twice the size of males, with a body length of roughly 1 cm.
The back of the abdomen has a crimson stripe that runs the length of the black species. A red hourglass mark may be seen on the abdomen’s underside.
Redback spiders may be found all throughout Australia, but they are most frequent in cities. They will eat small birds, lizards, rodents, flies, crickets, and beetles in addition to insects.
Daddy redback spiders are rare, and females cannibalize males during reproduction.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
- Scientific name: Litoria chloris
- Type of animal: Amphibian, member of the family Hylidae (the tree frogs)
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The South American amphibian of the same name is not the same species as Australia’s red-eyed tree frog. Hylidae is a tree frog family that includes both species.
In eastern Queensland and New South Wales, the Australian red-eyed tree frog can be found in rainforests and other wet forest environments. It spends the majority of its time in the forest canopy, only coming down to breed after substantial rains.
Bright green with yellow undersides, this Australian amphibian is amazing. Its orange-red eyes are obvious from its name. In the wild, the species is not endangered, and it is also domesticated.
Sugar Glider
- Scientific name: Petaurus breviceps
- Type of animal: Marsupial
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Sugar gliders may be found on New Guinea and a few Indonesian islands, as well as in Australia.
The skin flaps between the arms and legs of this small nocturnal marsupial are equipped with. Sugar gliders use these to fly from tree to tree, allowing them to move quickly.
Insects, leaves, and eucalyptus sap are all foods for the omnivorous sugar glider. When the opportunity arises, this opportunistic hunter may also consume tiny reptiles and birds.
Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
- Scientific name: Atrax robustus
- Type of animal: Arachnid, member of the family Hexathelidae
- Conservation status: Unassessed
The Sydney funnel-web spider is recognized for its poisonous bite, which, if left untreated, might be deadly. It can be found within a 100-kilometer radius of Sydney. One of the most poisonous spider species’ venoms is one of them.
The body length of the Sydney funnel-web spider ranges from 1 to 5 cm, and it is glossy dark brown/black.
The species emerges to ambush passing prey from web-lined burrows it builds. The spider is alerted to the presence of prey outside the burrow by web tripwires.
Moisture and consistent humidity are preferred by the spider. It creates burrows in the earth and among debris around trees and rocks.
Insects such as cockroaches, beetles, and larvae are the main sources of food for the Sydney funnel-web spider. Snails, frogs, and other tiny vertebrates are also occasional prey for it.
Tasmanian Devil
- Scientific name: Sarcophilus harrisii
- Type of animal: Marsupial
- Conservation status: Endangered
Only in Tasmania does the Tasmanian devil exist today, but it formerly existed on the mainland of Australia. The presence of dingoes introduced by Aboriginal Australians may have contributed to its extinction on the mainland.
The ferocity of the species, especially while feeding, has earned it a reputation. It makes a distinctive shrill scream while eating. The species’ name comes from this “devilish” sound.
In comparison to its body size, the Tasmanian devil has the most powerful bite strength of any carnivorous animal.
The spread of a deadly disease called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is now posing a threat to the Tasmanian devil’s survival. This highly contagious illness, which causes sores to erupt on the animal’s face, has had a serious negative impact on the species’ population.
Thorny Devil
- Scientific name: Moloch horridus
- Type of animal: Reptile; lizard in the family Agamidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The dry inland areas of Australia are home to this fearsome-looking lizard. The thorny devil is only dangerous if you are an ant (this little reptile devours thousands of ants every day), despite its ferocious appearance.
The thorny devil’s skin has grooves that channel moisture to its mouth, as well as a fake head to divert predators, which are adaptations for surviving in the desert.
Turtle Frog / Tortoise Frog
- Scientific name: Myobatrachus gouldii
- Type of animal: Amphibian, member of the family Myobatrachidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The turtle frog is a tiny Western Australian frog that may be found in the state’s southwest corner. It inhabit semi-arid regions and has powerful digging claws for digging in sandy soil. The turtle-like appearance of the species is what gives it its name. It has a turtle-like appearance but lacks a shell and has a spherical, flat shape.
The turtle frog is a rare example among frogs, as it hatches from its egg as a tiny frog rather than developing into a tadpole.
Ulysses Butterfly / Blue Emperor
- Scientific name: Papilio ulysses
- Type of animal: Insect, member of the family Papilionidae
- Conservation status: Unassessed
Ulysses butterflies may be found in the Moluccas, Bismarck Archipelago, and Solomon Islands, as well as in north-eastern Australia’s tropical rainforests. They can also be found in Queensland’s suburbs.
The Ulysses butterfly has a 10-centimeter wingspan. The iridescent blue color of males’ wings is vivid, with black edges. Female wings have a duller blue coloration. When the insect is at rest, the underside of both sexes’ wings are dark brown, which helps to conceal it.
The swallowtail family, Papilionidae, has characteristic elongated tail streamers in both males and females.
The nectar of the species Lantana camara flowers is consumed by this remarkable butterfly species.
Males are drawn to blue hues, and they will approach man-made items of this hue.
Wallaby
- Type of animal: Mammal, marsupial
- Family: Macropodidae
The Macropodidae family includes both kangaroos and Wallabies. The dwarf wallaby, Australia’s smallest species, has a total length of 46 cm (18 in) and is the family’s tiniest member.
New Guinea is home to the Wallabies, who may be found all over Australia. Herbivorous marsupials may be found in a range of environments, including woodlands and rocky areas. The toes of rock wallabies have been rough-soled to help them clutch onto rocks.
White-Lipped Tree Frog / Giant Tree Frog
- Scientific name: Litoria infrafrenata
- Type of animal: Amphibian, member of the family Hylidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The world’s biggest tree frog species, the white-lipped tree frog, grows up to 14 cm (5.5 in.) long. The species has a white stripe that runs horizontally down the lower lip and past each shoulder, making it look bright green in color.
New Guinea and neighboring islands are also home to this species, which is not indigenous to Australia. It may be found in rainforests and cities, among other environments. It may be found in the tropics of northern Queensland and along the coastlines of Cape York Peninsula in Australia.
Males congregate at breeding sites, which are usually bodies of still water, during the spring and summer and emit a loud mating call that sounds like a dog bark.
Wombat
- Type of animal: Marsupials, family Vombatidae
- Number of species found in Australia: 3
Only in Australia can you find wombats, which are dog-sized burrowing animals. The common wombat (Vombatus ursinus), northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), and southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) are the three species of wombats. The Vombatidae family is made up of just these two animals.
Wombats use their teeth and claws to dig massive burrow systems throughout the earth. To prevent dirt from entering while digging, they have backwards-facing pouches.
In the winter or on cold, overcast days, wombats are mostly nocturnal, but may be seen at daylight on occasion.
Critically Endangered is the northern hairy-nosed wombat. It is one of the world’s rarest mammals, with barely 80 mature individuals remaining in the wild.
Yabby (Common)
- Scientific name: Cherax destructor
- Type of animal: Crustacean in the family Parastacidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The common yabby (Cherax destructor) is the last species on this Australian animals list. The yabby is a little crustacean that looks like a miniature lobster and lives in freshwater. Swamps, streams, lakes, and rivers dot the landscape throughout much of eastern Australia.
In Western Australia, where it is an invasive species and a danger to other native crayfish, the yabby has also been introduced.
Algae, plant detritus, and animal bones are all eaten by the yabby. The IUCN has classified it as a Vulnerable species.
Australian Animals List Conclusion
We hope you have found this list of Australian animals useful. This is just a taste of the infinite species that Australia has to offer.