Australia is home to some of the most unique
animals on the planet. Here are just a few of the
special animals native to Australia.
Pellucid Hawk Moth
Although found elsewhere in the world, these unique moths are known in Australia for their brightly colored bodies and transparent wings.
Cassowary
A giant flightless bird related to the emu, these birds are the second heaviest in the world and are often considered one of the most dangerous birds in the world.
Thylacine
Often referred to as the Tasmanian Tiger, this large carnivorous marsupial was once widespread throughout Australia before becoming extinct. The last known Thylacine died on September 7, 1936.
Echidna
Echidnas are egg-laying mammals and have remained unchanged since prehistoric times. They can be active during the day or night and have a lifespan of up to 58 years in captivity.
quoll
These small marsupial predators love to climb trees, dwell in caves during the day, and hunt at night.
Whistling Spider
Known as Australia’s tarantula or Bird-eating spiders, these large spiders got their name for the unique hissing sound they make.
Thorny Devil
Also known as thorny lizards, these ant-eating reptiles are active during the day and confuse predators with their oddly shaped bodies and slow, jerking movements.
Laughing Kookaburra
While rather plain looking, with brown and beige feathers and a boat-shaped beak, the kookaburra makes an incredibly loud bird call that sounds like a person laughing.
Wombat
These bulky marsupials use their sharp front claws to dig burrows in grasslands to sleep all day and come out at night to graze on vegetation.
Wallaby
Members of the kangaroo family of macropods, wallabies are marsupials that graze mostly on grass and plants.