Australian Animal Information

Australia is blessed with a variety of animal species. Marsupials, which include, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, Tasmanian wolves, Tasmanian devils, wombat, and many others, are the most successful group, in Australia. Apart from this, platypus and the echidna are egg-laying mammals. We can also find various different species of birds. Kookaburra, lyrebird, the flightless emu, cockatoo and parrots are a few to name. Australian animal information will help us know about the animals (found in Australia) and their distinct characteristics.

Here's a list of a few animals found in Australia:

• Kangaroo: Kangaroo got its name, when European explorers, first saw these strange, hoping creatures, asked an aborigine - a native of Australia, what it is called? The aborigine replied, "Kangaroo", which means, "I don't understand your question". The explorer's felt that this was the name of the animal. Kangaroo is a national symbol of Australia. Its picture is used on an emblem on some of the currencies, on some best known Australian organization's logo and on the Australian coat of arms' logo. A kangaroo is a marsupial. Marsupial are animals that give birth to their young ones in an immature state. Females carry and nurse their young in pouches or pouch-like area present on their abdomens. They move by hopping on their hind legs and are found in Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea.

• Emu: Emu is the largest bird found in Australia. It is also the second largest in the world after the ostrich. They have long necks, small ears and sharp beaks. They have unique, two sets of eyelids, one for blinking and the other one to keep away the dust. They have long feet, with three toes. One toe on each foot has a sharp hooked claw for fighting. They feed on flowers, grains, berries, insects, shoots or whatever else they can find. They can be tamed easily. They run very fast and travel long distances with great speed.

• Grey-headed flying fox: They are a type of bat, and thereby a kind of mammal. They are found along the east coast of Australia, from Rockhampton, Queensland in the north to Melbourne, Victoria in the south. They are very mobile and migrate in search of food. They feed on flowers and fruits. During the day they literally "hang out" on trees.

• Crocodile: There are two types of crocodiles found in Australia. They are the fresh water crocodiles and the salt water crocodiles. Salt water crocodiles are the biggest reptiles in the world. The salt water crocodiles have broad stubby snout with cone shaped teeth. They are mainly grayish brown in color with brown and yellow color on sides. They live up to 70 to 100 years. Fresh water crocodiles are smaller than the salt water crocodiles. Their teeth are shaped like needles. They lay eggs in sand, whereas the salt water crocodiles lay eggs in nests made of vegetation.

Apart from this, there are a lot many mammals, marsupial, birds, insects, reptiles, and aquatic life to add to the list. This definitely gives us an overall picture of the abundant animal life found in Australia.