Koala, wombat, emu and 9 more of the most amazing animals of Australia

Australia – is a unique continent, known for its rich and unusual animal world. Here are the 15 most amazing representatives of Australian fauna.

Kangaroo

The kangaroo – is, of course, the most famous Australian animal. They live in many parts of Australia and are a symbol of this country. A large kangaroo can reach a weight of up to 90 kg and jump distances of up to 9 m. There are dozens of varieties of these animals in Australia, and the total number of kangaroos on the continent exceeds the number of people

Koala

Koalas – are cute and charming creatures that are often confused with bears. But in reality, they belong to a separate family, the koalas. They have an excellent sense of balance, which allows them to hold on to trees. Incredibly, koalas spend about 18 hours a day in the trees!

Koalas feed on eucalyptus leaves, and the toxic substances in these leaves have no effect on them.

Wombat

The wombat – is another symbol of Australia. These bear-like animals live in deep burrows and feed on grass. One of the wombats’ amazing physical features – is a huge and very developed brain: they are smarter than many animals.

Emu

The emu – is a bird that cannot fly but can run fast. Their long necks allow them to track and hunt their opponents, and their strong legs make them swift runners. In the past, emus were used as transport for carrying loads.

Lyrebird

The lyrebird – is one of the most amazing animals of Australia. They have an unusually shaped tail that resembles a musical instrument – the lyre. The male lyrebird erects special structures where it performs its famous dance. And the lyrebird can also copy any sounds, from a human voice to the noise of cars.

Australian desert frog

This is a unique species – the smallest frog in the world. Its length does not exceed 1.5 cm. The size and way of life of this frog have allowed it to survive in the harsh conditions of Australia’s desert regions. It is able to store so much water in its body that for the next five years it can live in the dry desert and not come out of the sands.

Dingo 

It combines cunning, agility, and endurance. It is known that the dingo – is a pet of the Australian Aborigines, who used them as hunting dogs. The dingo resembles a wild dog but differs in its golden fur and longer muzzle.

Tasmanian devil

Another amazing animal of Australia. This beast is small in size but possesses enormous strength and teeth comparable to those of a crocodile. This animal can also make very loud sounds resembling the scream of a devil, which is where its name comes from. 

Southern cassowary

This unique mammal is covered with powerful spines, which protect it from predators and allow it to survive in the conditions of Australia’s harsh environment.

Platypus

An amazing animal that lives in the tropical forests of Australia. These cute creatures have long, curved beaks resembling the bills of ducks. But they have a special feature – they can make sounds resembling the voices of other animals, which helps them survive in the wild.

Australian box jellyfish

This is the most venomous jellyfish in the world. It lives off the coast of Australia and can kill a person within a few minutes. This jellyfish has no brain and no bones, but it possesses an extremely well-developed sting.

Blue-ringed octopus 

The smartest of all octopuses. It has the incredible ability to instantly change its color and skin texture in order to better blend in with its surroundings. In addition, the blue-ringed octopus is able to remember objects it has seen before and use this information for its defense.

Cuscus 

A small animal that lives in the north of Australia. It has long, fluffy fur that allows it to stay warm on cold days. The cuscus – is a true master acrobat that can balance on tree branches, and it lives mostly up high, rarely coming down to the ground.