Buzz
When people think of Australia, they often picture red kangaroos, koalas with their trademark sleepy expressions, sharks lurking in the surf, and venomous snakes. However, these iconic animals only represent a small portion of the vast diversity of life in Australia. In fact, the country is one of only 17 'megadiverse' nations on Earth, home to more vertebrate animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) than 95% of other countries.
10. Feral Camel
While camels aren’t native to Australia, the country boasts the largest population of wild camels in the world, surpassing even the countries where these animals are originally from. Today, Australia's feral camel population is estimated to be as high as 1.2 million.
Wild camels were introduced to Australia in the 1800s, originating from Afghanistan, Arabia, and India. Once motorized transport made their use obsolete, thousands of camels were released into the wild. These feral camels have since become a major problem, damaging farm infrastructure like stock fences and posing a threat to Australia’s native plants and animals. Their extensive grazing and water usage have the potential to devastate essential habitats, particularly in drought conditions.
Efforts to control Australia’s feral camel population have largely focused on culling. Between 2009 and 2013, a collaboration between pastoralists, government officials, and Aboriginal landholders successfully reduced the camel population by around 160,000. A newer method involves the use of 'Judas camels'—camels tagged and tracked to guide shooters to feral herds. This technique was previously successful in reducing invasive goat populations on the Galapagos Islands and is now being applied to ongoing management efforts.
9. Little Penguin
Although penguins are typically associated with colder regions, Australia’s southern coasts, stretching from Perth to Sydney, are home to the world’s smallest penguin species. The little penguin, also known as the fairy penguin, stands only 33 centimeters (13 inches) tall and weighs a mere 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). These tiny birds consume their own body weight in fish, squid, and krill daily to fuel the energy they burn while swimming.
Although little penguins are commonly found in the southern waters of Australia and on nearby offshore islands, the population of mainland little penguins has drastically declined in recent years. On land, they are often hunted by house cats and dogs that roam beaches, while at sea, they face threats from overfishing, gill nets, and oil spills.
Nevertheless, several large mainland colonies continue to thrive. Some of the best locations to observe little penguins include the Manly colony in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, and the St. Kilda Pier in Melbourne, both situated on the outskirts of Australia's largest cities.
8. Weedy Sea Dragon
Although their name may sound intimidating, weedy sea dragons in Australia are far from ferocious. They are named for their leafy appendages, which provide them with excellent camouflage, allowing them to blend in effortlessly with their surroundings. To further conceal themselves, these sea creatures swim in a gentle, swaying motion that resembles the movement of seaweed.
While sea dragons are related to seahorses, they have some key differences. Like seahorses, male sea dragons are responsible for carrying and birthing the young, but instead of a pouch, they store their eggs in a spongy patch under their tails. Unlike seahorses, however, sea dragons cannot use their tails to grip objects. Mostly found in the waters of southern Australia, sea dragons inhabit shallow depths between 3 meters (10 ft) and 50 meters (165 ft), making them a favorite among divers.
7. Quokka
These adorable marsupials became famous in 2014 after their photobombing selfies went viral. Quokkas are one of the smallest wallaby species and are considered vulnerable. Their mainland populations have been severely reduced due to predators like dingoes and foxes, as well as habitat loss caused by human development.
Today, quokkas are mainly found in protected areas such as Rottnest Island and Bald Island. While these curious creatures often approach humans and seem friendly with their charming smiles (check out the selfies here), they should not be touched or fed. They are particularly susceptible to illness from consuming “human” foods that fall outside of their natural diet.
Unlike many other marsupials, quokkas have the ability to climb trees. Their tails, which store fat reserves, allow them to survive for extended periods without access to water. As herbivores, quokkas also set themselves apart from other species by foraging for food rather than grazing continuously.
6. Numbat
Numbats, often described as a mix of a chipmunk, squirrel, and anteater, are as adorable as quokkas, though they don't share the same social media fame. Known as 'banded anteaters,' numbats are found only in Australia. Unlike the giant anteaters of South America, numbats are actually marsupials. They are particularly unique as they are one of just two Australian marsupials that are exclusively diurnal. Additionally, female numbats do not have a true pouch, unlike most other marsupials.
The numbat is an endangered species, with its population having drastically declined due to predator cats, foxes, and habitat destruction from agriculture and bushfires. Currently, only about 1,000 numbats are left in the wild. To help protect this unique species and raise awareness about its situation, the numbat has been designated the official mammal emblem of Western Australia.
5. Spotted Handfish
Australia’s spotted handfish are renowned not only for their unusual appearance but also for their unique way of moving. Unlike most fish, they use their handlike fins to walk along the rocky or sandy sea floors, searching for small crustaceans and worms to feast on.
While spotted handfish are capable of using their distinctive pectoral fins for swimming when needed, they primarily use walking as their main mode of movement. Their vibrant appearance features striking color patterns, typically in fiery red with blue and white fin markings, or pinkish-cream with patches of red, orange, and brown.
Sadly, spotted handfish are a threatened species. The exact reasons for their decline remain unclear, but possible causes include egg predation, heavy metal contamination, and habitat loss due to land clearing, which results in silt pollution in their waters.
Their population in the wild is estimated to be around 1,000 at most, though many experts believe the number is likely in the low hundreds. The best chance for their survival lies in improving the water quality of the Derwent River estuary, where most of the population is concentrated, and controlling the number of invasive species, such as sea stars and crabs, that prey on their eggs.
4. Flying Fox
Though the name might bring to mind a sugar glider, a flying fox is actually the largest bat species known to humanity, with a wingspan that can exceed 1 meter (3 feet). Australia is home to four primary species of flying fox: the little red, black, grey-headed, and spectacled flying fox.
Among these, the grey-headed and spectacled flying foxes are classified as vulnerable species. Like many other endangered species, their greatest threat comes from habitat destruction caused by humans. Additionally, their dependence on the pollen and nectar of eucalypts, which flower unpredictably from year to year, poses a challenge to their survival.
Flying foxes are considered a 'keystone species,' meaning their ecological role is crucial for the health of the environments they inhabit. By feeding on nectar and pollen from eucalypts, they aid in pollination and seed dispersion. Their continued existence is essential for preserving endangered ecosystems, including the Wet Tropics and Gondwana Rainforests.
3. Greater Bilby
The greater bilby, the largest member of the ground-dwelling bandicoot family, is the last surviving species of the six bandicoots that once roamed Australia's arid and semi-arid regions. With their natural habitats shrinking by 80%, these nocturnal creatures are now classified as 'vulnerable' nationwide and 'endangered' in Queensland.
A century ago, the bilby population plummeted as human agricultural practices drastically altered and reduced their habitats. The biggest threat to these animals comes from domesticated cattle, sheep, and rabbits, who all compete with bilbies for food. Additionally, rabbits share the same burrowing grounds as bilbies. Known for their remarkable burrowing skills, bilbies use their strong forearms and claws to create spiraling tunnels that can be up to 3 meters (10 ft) long and 2 meters (7 ft) deep.
Though their long, rabbit-like ears have made them iconic at Easter in Australia, bilbies hold even greater significance in Aboriginal culture. They play an important role in 'Dreaming' creation stories that connect the past, present, Aboriginal people, and the land. For certain tribes, bilbies are a totem, a symbol of nature that forms an integral part of the community's identity. The decline in bilby numbers is a result of European settlers' actions, not those of the Aboriginal people.
2. Perentie
The perentie, Australia's largest lizard, can grow over 2.5 meters (8 ft) in length. These monitor lizards are incredibly fast, reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour (25 mph). Typically, they run using all four legs, but occasionally, they move using only their two hind legs.
With their impressive size and speed, perenties are formidable predators, hunting rabbits, birds, small marsupials, and even large venomous snakes. However, they are not at the top of the food chain. Large eagles prey on them, and perenties also serve as a traditional source of meat for Aboriginal people.
Despite their predatory skills, perenties are not endangered. They flourish in deserts across Australia and play a role in controlling invasive species, such as rabbits.
1. Elephant Shark
Elephant sharks, named after the distinctive, hoe-shaped extensions of their snouts, are strange-looking creatures. Found in the southern waters between Australia and New Zealand, these fish can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 ft) long. Living at depths of at least 200 meters (650 ft), they use their noses like metal detectors to search for shellfish buried in the soft, muddy ocean floor.
Also referred to as 'elephant fish,' they are more closely related to rays than to sharks. Their front dorsal fins feature long, serrated spines that are believed to be poisonous, serving as a defense mechanism against sharks and other larger fish.
Scientists suggest that elephant sharks may be the slowest-evolving vertebrates, showing little change since their ancestors first appeared hundreds of millions of years ago. Like all sharks and rays, they have cartilage-based skeletons, a trait uncommon in more recently evolved vertebrates.
With a simple and underdeveloped immune system consisting of just one type of immune helper cell, elephant sharks are like living fossils, providing a link to Earth's ancient past and the creatures that once roamed our primordial seas.
