Wildlife

Australia is full of many weird and wonderful creatures. They have all adapted well to their favoured parts of this magnificent continent.

Kangaroo
There are 47 species of Kangaroo in Australia, however the Grey and Red Kangaroos are most common, the Red Kangaroo being the largest. Kangaroos have a large tail that they use for balance and fighting. They can reach speeds of 60 km/h, and are the world's largest marsupials.

Platypus
The platypus is found in eastern Australia. They build nests within tunnels which they dig near lakes and creeks. They have webbed feet for swimming, a duck-like beak and a fur coat. They can hold their breath for up to ten minutes underwater; they are between 30cm and 45cm long. The have a diet of insects, fish and grubs. Male platypus have mildly venemous spurs, with poison only strong enough to kill small animals.

Dugong
Dugongs are born white but as they age, their thick hyde turns a deep grey. Young dugongs use their flippers to swim while older dugongs swim with their tales. Dugongs feed heavily on see grass, as it is an under nutritious food source

Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is a small, ferocious creature found in Tasmania. The eat only meat, and after reaching a certain age are very likely to grow facial cancer, a disease which cuts down their population dramatically.

Koala
Koalas live for approximately 15 years, and have a thick coat of protective fur. They are currently calssified as an endangered animal, due to damage done by land clearance, developement, Global Warming and predation. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves, which are an under nutritious food source. As a result, koalas spend most of their time eating and sleeping.