By Madhavi Pothukuchi
August 18, 2022
Image source:: Alamy
The flora and fauna of Australia always seem to be on the wilder side compared to any other region in the world. Oversized insects, huge marsupials, regular sightings of crocodiles, ostriches and kangaroos — creatures you won’t find anywhere else. So what is it about Australia that makes its wildlife so unique? Let’s find out!
To understand Australia’s fascinating wildlife, let’s travel back 180 million years when all the continents were still one large land mass called Gondwana. It broke up around the Jurassic age, and the seven continents were formed. Australia broke away from South America and drifted the farthest, isolating itself from all other continents.
Image source:: Alamy
Image source:: Alamy
Given Australia’s distance from the rest of the world, the most widely-accepted theory is that its animals did not have the choice to migrate or travel. Instead, they evolved in the same environment their ancestors inhabited, thus making them unique.
Australia is home to more than 1 million species of animals and birds, of which close to 80% are unique to the island nation. Seventy-five percent of the world’s marsupial population can be found here, including kangaroos and wombats. The rare egg-laying mammal, the duck-billed platypus, is also found here.
Image source:: Alamy
Marsupials are mammals that carry their offspring in pouches and often have short gestation periods (fetal development from the time of conception until birth). The stripe-faced dunnart has a gestation period of only 11 days. Like the kangaroo, most marsupials carry their young in the pouch after birth until they’re strong enough to survive by themselves.
Image source:: Alamy
Image source:: Alamy
Australia is also home to the world’s largest population of venomous snakes. Statistics show that out of 25 species of venomous snakes, 21 are found in this country. It also is one of the rare regions that is home to both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles.
Another famous animal that is the symbol of Australian wildlife is the koala bear. Did you know that it is not a bear but a marsupial? What makes it unique is its diet – it only eats eucalyptus leaves. Following the massive forest fires in the country, conservationists fear that koalas could be in danger of extinction if they don’t diversify their diet.
Image source:: Alamy
If you travel to Australia, you may come across the dingo, an ancient lineage of wild dogs native to the country. It is also the largest carnivorous mammal on the continent but is believed to be shy and cautious around humans.
Image source:: Alamy
Image source:: Alamy
Australian wildlife discussion is incomplete without the emu. It is the second largest bird in the world and is one of the few flightless birds only found here. Did you know that Australians once took part in the Great Emu War in 1932 to get rid of the excessive emu population – and lost!
Image source:: Alamy
Last but not least is Australia’s coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef and home to the richest, most diverse aquatic life. It can be seen from space and is the world's largest single structure made by living organisms.