If the intruder approaches too close, the bird will stretch itself as tall as possible, ruffle its feathers and let at a loud hiss to scare the intruder off. If a Cassowary is approached it will generally stand its ground. Young Cassowaries are browner than adults and have duller coloured head and neck. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but the female is generally larger than the male, with a taller casque, and is brighter in colour. The bare skin of the head and fore-neck is blue, while the rear of the neck is red. The feathers of the body are black and hair-like. The Cassowary’s large size, its large greyish helmet (casque) and the red wattle hanging from the neck, make it easy to identify. Here Quokkas occupy a wide range of semi-arid areas.Ĭassowaries are ratites (flightless birds without a keel on their sternum bone) that are native to the tropical forests of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Indonesia), East Nusa Tenggara, the Maluku Islands, and north-eastern Australia. Quokkas prefer a warm climate but are adapted to the seasonal variations on Rottnest Island. Mainland populations tend to be clustered around dense streamside vegetation but can also be found in shrubland and heath areas, particularly around swamps. Quokkas are curious creatures that will often approach humans, which has led to the quokka selfie trend. Wallabies are more active in the evening and early morning, especially those in arid areas.Ībundant on Rottnest Island, these smiling marsupials are also found in small, scattered areas in the South-West of Western Australia. When grazing, wallabies will often congregate in small groups, though most species are typically solitary. They can also eat leaves and fruits, and other plants like ferns and herbs. Wallabies are herbivores and they mostly eat grass. While a kangaroo can reach a towering two meters, their more petite relatives range from between 30 cm to just one meter. The most striking difference between kangaroo and wallaby is their size. The hands have individual fingers that move independently which provide greater dexterity and grip.Ī wallaby is a small- or mid-sized macropod native to Australia and New Guinea. Their feet are broader than those of ground kangaroos and have padded soles to aid with gripping and sharp curved claws for climbing. Shorter hind limbs, strong, stocky arms, and a long tail for balance while leaping among the branches. Tree Kangaroo has all of the specialised adaptations needed for an arboreal life. Six of ten species are found in Papua New Guinea, in some of the last undisturbed rain forest habitat in the world. Tree kangaroos are found only in the rain forests of Australia, West Papua, and Papua New Guinea. The Taipan lives in grasslands, coastal heaths, grassy beach dunes and cultivated areas such as cane fields in the far north of Australia and down the Queensland coast, but has also been found in Northern New South Wales. The taipans are considered some of the deadliest known snakes. There are currently three recognised species, one of which, the coastal taipan, has two subspecies. Taipan is large, fast-moving, highly venomous, and endemic to Australasia. The powerful tail features large triangular scales known as ‘scutes’ along its length, which is almost half the total length of the animal. The nostrils and eyes sit at the top of the head and the fine sharp teeth are clearly visible even when the mouth is closed. Its colour ranges from grey to tan-brown, with dark patches along the sides and top of the body. The Freshwater Crocodile is slender-snouted and considerably smaller in build and overall size compared to its cousin, the Saltwater Crocodile. Unlike their much larger Australian relative, the saltwater crocodile, freshwater crocodiles are not known as man-eaters, although they will bite in self-defence and brief non-fatal attacks, apparently the result of mistaken identity, have occurred. It was hunted for its skin throughout its range up to the 1970s and is threatened by illegal killing and habitat loss.įreshwater Crocodile is a species of crocodile endemic to the northern regions of Australia. Australian saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptile in the world in terms of mass (can be over 1000kg), and the largest crocodile with a confirmed measurement and regarded as dangerous by people who share the same environment. Australian Saltwater crocodiles are by far the most dangerous animals in Australia.
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