The Red Kangaroo is the largest macropod and is one of Australia's heraldic animals, appearing with the Emu on the Coat of Arms of Australia.

The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of unique animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia.^[1] This high level of endemism can be attributed to the continent's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and the effects of an unusual pattern of climate change on the soil and flora over geological time. A unique feature of Australia's fauna is the relative scarcity of native placental mammals. Consequently the marsupials, a group of mammals that raise their young in a pouch, including the macropods, opossums and dasyuromorphs, occupy many of the ecological niches placental animals occupy elsewhere in the world. Australia is home to two of the five known extant species of monotremes, and has numerous venomous species, which include the Platypus, spiders, scorpions, octopus, jellyfish, molluscs, stonefish, and stingrays. Uniquely, Australia has more venomous than non-venomous species of snakes. Image File history File links Kangur. ... Image File history File links Kangur. ... Binomial name Desmarest, 1822 The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos and the largest surviving marsupial. ... Genera Lagostrophus Dendrolagus Dorcopsis Dorcopsulus Lagorchestes Macropus Onychogalea Petrogale Setonix Thylogale Wallabia Tree kangaroos have smaller ears for easier maneuvering between tree branches, and much longer tail. ... For other uses, see EMU. Binomial name (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in orange. ... Australian Coat of Arms (since 1912) The Coat of Arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Reptilia redirects here. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... For other uses, see Amphibian (disambiguation). ... Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean belonging or native to, characteristic of, or prevalent in a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; Native to an area or scope. ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ... Eucalypt woodlands in Victoria. ... Orders Superorder Xenarthra: Pilosa Cingulata Infraclass Epitheria: Superorder Afrotheria: Afrosoricida (Golden mole and tenrec) Macroscelidea (Elephant shrew) Tubulidentata (Aardvark) Hyracoidea (Hyrax) Proboscidea (Elephant) Sirenia (Manatee, Dugong) Superorder Laurasiatheria: Chiroptera (Bats) Insectivora (Shrews, Moles) Cetacea (Whale, dolphin) Artiodactyla (Ruminants et al) Perissodactyla(Horse et al. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... This article is about mammals. ... Kangaroo Joey inside the pouch The pouch is a distinguishing feature of marsupials; the name marsupial is derived from the Latin marsupium, meaning pouch. ... Genera Lagostrophus Dendrolagus Dorcopsis Dorcopsulus Lagorchestes Macropus Onychogalea Petrogale Setonix Thylogale Wallabia Tree kangaroos have smaller ears for easier maneuvering between tree branches, and much longer tail. ... Genera Several; see text Opossum fur is quite soft. ... Families †Thylacinidae Dasyuridae Myrmecobiidae The order Dasyuromorphia (meaning hairy tail[1]) is made up of most carnivorous marsupials, including quolls, dunnarts, the Numbat, the Tasmanian Devil, and the recently extinct Thylacine. ... Two lichens on a rock, in two different ecological niches In ecology, a niche; (pronounced nich, neesh or nish)[1] is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem[1]. The ecological niche; describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of... Families †Kollikodontidae Ornithorhynchidae Tachyglossidae †Steropodontidae Monotremes (monos, single + trema, hole; refers to the cloaca) are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Platypus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ... Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ... For other uses, see Octopus (disambiguation). ... Bold text For other uses, see Jellyfish (disambiguation). ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. ... Not to be confused with Rockfish For the Neighbours character, see Stonefish Rebecchi Binomial name Bloch & Schneider, 1801 The stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa, also known as the the reef stone or dornorn is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock. ... For other uses, see Stingray (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ...

The settlement of Australia by Indigenous Australians more than 40,000 years ago, and by Europeans from 1788, has significantly affected the fauna. Hunting, the introduction of non-native species, and land-management practices involving the modification or destruction of habitats have led to numerous extinctions. Some examples include the Paradise Parrot, Pig-footed Bandicoot and the Broad-faced Potoroo. Unsustainable land use still threatens the survival of many species. To target threats to the survival of its fauna, Australia has passed wide-ranging federal and state legislation and established numerous protected areas. Language(s) Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religion(s) Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group... For other uses, see Extinction (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Psephotus pulcherrimus (Gould, 1845) The Paradise Parrot (Psephotus pulcherrimus) was an unusually colourful medium-sized parrot native to the grassy woodlands of the Queensland - New South Wales border area of Australia. ... Binomial name Chaeropus ecaudatus Ogilby, 1838 The Pig-footed Bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus) was a small, mostly herbivorous bandicoot of the arid and semi-arid plains of inland Australia. ... Binomial name Potorous platyops The extinct Broad-faced Potoroo (Potorous platyops) was first collected in 1839 and described by John Gould in 1844, but even then it was rare and only a handful of specimens were ever collected, the last in 1875. ...

Origins of Australian fauna

Main article: Natural history of Australia

Evidence suggests that Australia was a part of the supercontinent Gondwana(land).

Both geologic and climatic events helped to make Australia's fauna unique. Australia was once part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana, which also included South America, Africa, India and Antarctica. Gondwana began to break up 140 million years ago (MYA); 50 MYA Australia separated from Antarctica, and was relatively isolated until the collision of the Indo-Australian Plate with Asia in the Miocene era 5.3 MYA. The establishment and evolution of the present-day fauna was apparently shaped by the unique climate and the geology of the continent. As Australia drifted, it was, to some extent, isolated from the effects of global climate change. The unique fauna that originated in Gondwana, such as the marsupials, survived and adapted in Australia. The natural history of Australia has been shaped by the geological evolution of the Australian continent from Gondwana and the changes in global climate over geological time. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (728x625, 116 KB) This image is a work of a United States Geological Survey employee, taken or made during the course of the persons official duties. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (728x625, 116 KB) This image is a work of a United States Geological Survey employee, taken or made during the course of the persons official duties. ... For other uses of Gondwana and Gondwanaland, see Gondwana (disambiguation). ... Basic geological regions of Australia, by age. ... For other uses of Gondwana and Gondwanaland, see Gondwana (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...  The Indo-Australian plate, shown in dull orange The Indo-Australian Plate is an overarching name for two tectonic plates that include the continent of Australia and surrounding ocean extending northwest to include the Indian subcontinent and adjacent waters. ... The Miocene Epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory Continental drift refers to the movement of the Earths continents relative to each other. ... Four of the 13 finch species found on the Galápagos Archipelago, and thought to have evolved by an adaptive radiation that diversified their beak shapes to adapt them to different food sources. ...

After the Miocene, fauna of Asian origin were able to establish themselves in Australia. The Wallace Line—the hypothetical line separating the zoogeographical regions of Asia and Australasia—marks the tectonic boundary between the Eurasian and Indo-Australian plates. This continental boundary prevented the formation of land bridges and resulted in a distinct zoological distribution, with limited overlap, of most Asian and Australian fauna, with the exception of birds. Following the emergence of the circumpolar current in the mid-Oligocene era (some 15 MYA), the Australian climate became increasingly arid, giving rise to a diverse group of arid-specialised organisms, just as the wet tropical and seasonally wet areas gave rise to their own uniquely adapted species. Wallaces line between Australasian and Southeast Asian fauna. ... Zoogeography is the branch of the science of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution of animal species. ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ...  The Eurasian plate, shown in green The Eurasian Plate is a tectonic plate covering Eurasia (a landmass consisting of the traditional continents of Europe and Asia) except that it does not cover the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian subcontinent, and the area east of the Verkhoyansk Range in East Siberia. ... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... This article is about arid terrain. ...

Mammals

Australia has a rich mammalian fossil history, as well as a variety of extant mammalian species, dominated by the marsupials. The fossil record shows that monotremes have been present in Australia since the Early Cretaceous 145–99 MYA,^[2] and that marsupials and placental mammals date from the Eocene 56–34 MYA,^[3] when modern mammals first appeared in the fossil record. Although marsupials and placental mammals did coexist in Australia in the Eocene, only marsupials have survived to the present. The placental mammals made their reappearance in Australia in the Miocene, when Australia moved closer to Indonesia, and bats and rodents started to appear reliably in the fossil record. The marsupials evolved to fill specific ecological niches, and in many cases they are physically similar to the placental mammals in Eurasia and North America that occupy similar niches, a phenomenon known as convergent evolution.^[4] For example, the top predator in Australia, the Tasmanian Tiger, bore a striking resemblance to canids such as the Gray Wolf; gliding opossums and flying squirrels have similar adaptations enabling their arboreal lifestyle; and the Numbat and anteaters are both digging insectivores. Families Kollikodontidae (extinct) Ornithorhynchidae - Platypus Tachyglossidae - Echidnas Steropodontidae (extinct) Monotremes are mammals that are best known for laying eggs, instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... The Early Cretaceous (timestratigraphic name) or the Lower Cretaceous (logstratigraphic name), is the earlier of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous period. ... This article is about mammals. ... hfajhfiudshfas == == == --24. ... The Miocene Epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23. ... “Chiroptera” redirects here. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ... Two lichens on a rock, in two different ecological niches In ecology, a niche; (pronounced nich, neesh or nish)[1] is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem[1]. The ecological niche; describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of... For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... North American redirects here. ... In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. ... Binomial name (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. ... Genera Alopex Atelocynus Canis Cerdocyon Chrysocyon Cuon Cynotherium † Dusicyon † Dasycyon † Fennecus (Part of Vulpes) Lycalopex (Part of Pseudalopex) Lycaon Nyctereutes Otocyon Pseudalopex Speothos Urocyon Vulpes The Canidae (′kanə′dÄ“, IPA: ) family is a part of the order Carnivora within the mammals (Class Mammalia). ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Range map. ... Genera Dactylopsila Gymnobelideus Petaurus The family Petauridae includes 11 medium-sized possum species: four striped possums, the six species wrist-winged gliders in genus Petaurus, and Leadbeaters Possum which has only vestigal gliding membranes. ... Two groups of rodents are referred to as flying squirrels. ... Binomial name Myrmecobius fasciatus Waterhouse, 1836 Subspecies Myrmecobius fasciatus fasciatus Myrmecobius fasciatus rufus The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a small marsupial endemic to western Australia. ... Genera Myrmecophaga Tamandua Cyclopes Anteaters are mammals of the order Xenarthra and the family Myrmecophagidae, commonly known for eating ants and termites. ...

Monotremes and marsupials

Monotremes are mammals with a unique method of reproduction: they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Two of the five known living species of monotreme occur in Australia: the Platypus and the Short-beaked Echidna. The Platypus — a venomous, egg-laying, duck-billed, amphibious mammal — is one of the strangest creatures in the animal kingdom. When a Platypus pelt was first presented by Joseph Banks to English naturalists in the late 1700s, they were convinced it must be a cleverly created hoax. Another strange monotreme is the Short-beaked Echidna; covered in hairy spikes, with a tubular snout in the place of a mouth, it has a tongue that can move in and out of the snout about 100 times a minute to capture termites. Families †Kollikodontidae Ornithorhynchidae Tachyglossidae †Steropodontidae Monotremes (monos, single + trema, hole; refers to the cloaca) are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... For other uses, see Platypus (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus. ... For clothing store, see JoS. A. Bank Clothiers. ... Families Mastotermitidae Kalotermitidae Termopsidae Hodotermitidae Rhinotermitidae Serritermitidae Termitidae Termites, sometimes known as white ants, are a group of social insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera. ...

The Spotted Quoll is mainland Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial and an endangered species.

Australia is also home to the world's largest and most diverse selection of marsupials: mammals with a pouch in which they rear their young. The marsupial carnivores — order Dasyuromorphia — are represented by two surviving families: the Dasyuridae with 51 members, and the Myrmecobiidae with the Numbat as its sole surviving member. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2460x1869, 543 KB)This is a picture that I took myself using an Olympus C8080W digial camera. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2460x1869, 543 KB)This is a picture that I took myself using an Olympus C8080W digial camera. ... Binomial name Dasyurus maculatus Kerr 1792 The Spotted Quoll, also known as the Spotted-tail Quoll and the Tiger Quoll, is a carnivorous marsupial mammal, native to Australia. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... This article is about mammals. ... Carnivorism redirects here. ... Families †Thylacinidae Dasyuridae Myrmecobiidae The order Dasyuromorphia (meaning hairy tail[1]) is made up of most carnivorous marsupials, including quolls, dunnarts, the Numbat, the Tasmanian Devil, and the recently extinct Thylacine. ... Subfamilies & Tribes Dasyurinae Dasyurini Phascogalini Sminthopsinae Sminthopsini Planigalini The marsupial family Dasyuridae includes 61 species divided into 15 genera. ... Binomial name Myrmecobius fasciatus Waterhouse, 1836 Subspecies Myrmecobius fasciatus fasciatus Myrmecobius fasciatus rufus The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a small marsupial endemic to western Australia. ...

The Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger was the largest Dasyuromorphia and the last living specimen of the family Thylacinidae; however, the last known specimen died in captivity in 1936. The world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial is the Tasmanian Devil; it is the size of a small dog and can hunt, although it is mainly a scavenger. It became extinct on the mainland some 600 years ago, and is now found only in Tasmania. There are four species of quoll, or native cat, all of which are threatened species. The remainder of the Dasyuridae are referred to as 'marsupial mice'; most weigh less than 100 g. There are two species of marsupial mole — order Notoryctemorphia — that inhabit the deserts of Western Australia. These rare, blind, earless carnivores spend most of their time underground; little is known about them. Binomial name (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. ... Binomial name (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. ... For other uses, see Tasmanian Devil (disambiguation). ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... Type species Didelphis maculata Anon. ... Species The marsupial moles are rare and poorly understood burrowing mammals of the deserts of western Australia. ... Binomial names Notoryctes typhlops Notoryctes caurinus The marsupial moles are rare and poorly understood burrowing mammals of the deserts of western Australia. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2005-06)  - Product ($m)  $107,910 (4th)  - Product per capita  $53,134/person...

The marsupial omnivores include the bandicoots and bilbies, order Peramelemorphia. There are seven species in Australia, most of which are endangered. These small creatures share several characteristic physical features: a plump, arch-backed body with a long, delicately tapering snout, large upright ears, long, thin legs, and a thin tail. The evolutionary origin of this group is unclear, but they share characteristics from both carnivorous and herbivorous marsupials. Pigs are omnivores. ... Families and Genera Chaeropodidae Chaeropus Peramelidae Isoodon Perameles Peroryctes Echymipera Microperoryctes Rhynchomeles A bandicoot is any of about 20 species of small to medium-sized, terrestrial marsupial omnivores in the order Peramelemorphia. ... For the band, see Bilby (band). ... Families Thylacomyidae †Chaeropodidae Peramelidae The order Peramelemorphia includes the bandicoots and bilbies: it equates approximately to the mainstream of marsupial omnivores. ...

The Koala does not normally need to drink, because it can obtain all of the moisture it needs by eating leaves.

The marsupial herbivores are classified in the order Diprotodontia, and further into the suborders Vombatiformes, Phalangeriformes and Macropodiformes. The Vombatiformes include the Koala and the three species of wombat. One of Australia's best-known marsupials, the Koala is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) species that feeds on the leaves of some 120 species of eucalyptus. Wombats, on the other hand, live on the ground and feed on grasses, sedges and roots. Wombats use their rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws to dig extensive burrow systems; they are mainly crepuscular and nocturnal. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1132x1113, 357 KB) Summary A Koala caught climbing up a tree. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1132x1113, 357 KB) Summary A Koala caught climbing up a tree. ... For the drawing program, see KoalaPad/Painter. ... A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... Suborders Vombatiformes Phalangeriformes Macropodiformes Diprotodontia is a large taxon of about 120 marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, Koala, wombats, and many others. ... Families Phascolarctidae Vombatidae Vombatiformes is one of the two suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia. ... Superfamilies and Families Phalangeroidea Burramyidae Phalangeridae Petauroida Pseudocheiridae Petauridae Tarsipedidae Acrobatidae A possum is any of about 63 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupials native to Australia. ... Families Hypsiprymnodontidae Macropodidae Potoroidae Macropodiformes is one of the three suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia. ... For the drawing program, see KoalaPad/Painter. ... For other uses, see Wombat (disambiguation). ... This article is about the plant genus. ... Subfamilies There are 7 subfamilies: Subfamily Arundinoideae Subfamily Bambusoideae Subfamily Centothecoideae Subfamily Chloridoideae Subfamily Panicoideae Subfamily Pooideae Subfamily Stipoideae The true grasses are monocotyledonous plants (Class Liliopsida) in the Family Poaceae, also known as Gramineae. ... Genera See text The Family Cyperaceae, or the Sedge family, is a taxon of monocot flowering plants that superficially resemble grasses or rushes. ... For other uses, see Root (disambiguation). ... Adult Firefly or Lightning Bug – a Crepuscular Beetle Photuris lucicrescens Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during the twilight. ... A bat illustrating nocturnal features. ...

The Phalangeriformes includes opossums and is a diverse group of arboreal marsupials, including six families and 26 species. They vary in size from the Little Pygmy Opossum, weighing just 7 g, to the cat-sized Common Ringtail and Brushtail opossums. The Sugar and Squirrel Gliders are common species of gliding opossum, found in the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, while the Feathertail Glider is the smallest glider species. The gliding opossums have membranes, called "patagiums," that extend from the fifth finger of their forelimb back to the first toe of their hind foot. These membranes, when outstretched, allow them to glide between trees. Genera Several; see text Opossum fur is quite soft. ... Binomial name Waterhouse, 1839 The Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a small gliding possum native to eastern and northern mainland Australia, New Guinea, and the Bismarck Archipelago, and introduced to Tasmania. ... Binomial name Petaurus norfolcensis (Kerr, 1792) The Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) is a gliding possum of the Marsupial family Petauridae. ... Binomial name Acrobates pygmaeus (Shaw, 1793) The Feathertail Glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), also known as the Pygmy Gliding Possum, Pygmy Glider, Pygmy Phalanger and Flying Mouse,[3] is the worlds smallest gliding mammal, and is named for its long feather-shaped tail. ...

The Macropodiformes are divided into three families that are found in all Australian environments except alpine areas: the Hypsiprymnodontidae, with the Musky Rat-kangaroo as its only member; the Potoroidae, with 10 species; and the Macropodidae which had 53 members in Australia but some species are extinct. The Potoroidae include the bettongs, potaroos and rat-kangaroos, small species that make nests and carry plant material with their tails. The Macropodiae include kangaroos, wallabies and associated species; size varies widely within this family. Most macropods move in a bipedal, energy-efficient hopping motion. They have powerfully muscled tails and large hind legs with long, narrow hind feet. The hind feet have a distinctive arrangement of four toes, while the short front legs have five separate digits. The Musky Rat-kangaroo is the smallest macropod and the only species that is not bipedal, while the male Red Kangaroo is the largest, reaching a height of about 2 m and weighing up to 85 kg. For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see climate) for a region above the tree-line. ... Binomial name Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Ramsay, 1876 The Musky Rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) is a marsupial species found in the rainforests of New Guinea and northeast Australia. ... Genera  Hypsiprymnodon  Aepyprymnus  Bettongia  Caloprymnus  Potorous The marsupial family Potoroidae includes the bettongs, potoroos and rat-kangaroos. ... Genera See text Macropods are marsupials belonging to the family Macropodidae, which includes kangaroos, wallabies, tree kangaroos, pademelons, and several others. ... Species Macropus rufus Macropus giganteus Macropus fuliginosus Macropus antilopinus A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning large foot). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the Red Kangaroo, the Antilopine Kangaroo, and the Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroo... For other uses, see Wallaby (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Tail is used to describe the rear end of an animals body, especially when it forms a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk. ... Binomial name Desmarest, 1822 The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos and the largest surviving marsupial. ...

Placental mammals

The Dingo was the first placental mammal introduced to Australia by humans.

Australia has indigenous placental mammals from two orders: the bats, order Chiroptera, represented by six families, and the mice and rats, order Rodentia, family Muridae. Bats and rodents are relatively recent arrivals to Australia. Bats probably arrived from Asia, and they are present in the fossil record only from as recently as 15 MYA. Although 7% of the world's bats species live in Australia, there are only two endemic genera of bats. Rodents first arrived in Australia 5–10 MYA and underwent a wide radiation to produce the species collectively known as the "old endemic" rodents. The old endemics are represented by 14 extant genera. About a million years ago, the rat entered Australia from New Guinea and evolved into seven species of Rattus, collectively called the "new endemics." Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x680, 235 KB) Foto taken by Summi from the German Wikipedia File links The following pages link to this file: Fauna of Australia ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x680, 235 KB) Foto taken by Summi from the German Wikipedia File links The following pages link to this file: Fauna of Australia ... For other uses, see Dingo (disambiguation). ... “Chiroptera” redirects here. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ... Subfamilies Deomyinae Gerbillinae Lophiomyinae Leimacomyinae Murinae Muridae is the largest family of mammals. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ...

Since human settlement, many placental mammals have been introduced to Australia and are now feral. The first was the Dingo; fossil evidence suggests that people from the north brought the Dingo to Australia about 5000 years ago.^[5] When Europeans settled Australia they intentionally released many species into the wild, including the Red Fox, Brown Hare, and the European Rabbit. Other domestic species have escaped and over time have produced wild populations including the cat, Fallow Deer, Red Deer, Sambar Deer, Rusa Deer, Chital, Hog Deer, Domestic Horse, Donkey, Pig, Domestic Goat, Water Buffalo, and the Dromedary. Only three species of Australia's non-indigenous placental mammals were not deliberately introduced: the House Mouse, Black Rat and the Brown Rat. Orders Superorder Xenarthra: Pilosa Cingulata Infraclass Epitheria: Superorder Afrotheria: Afrosoricida (Golden mole and tenrec) Macroscelidea (Elephant shrew) Tubulidentata (Aardvark) Hyracoidea (Hyrax) Proboscidea (Elephant) Sirenia (Manatee, Dugong) Superorder Laurasiatheria: Chiroptera (Bats) Insectivora (Shrews, Moles) Cetacea (Whale, dolphin) Artiodactyla (Ruminants et al) Perissodactyla(Horse et al. ... A feral horse (an American mustang) in Wyoming A feral animal or plant is one that has escaped from domestication and returned, partly or wholly, to its wild state. ... For other uses, see Dingo (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Red Fox (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Lepus capensis L., 1758 The Cape, Common or Brown Hare (Lepus capensis) is a hare natively found throughout Africa, and has spread to many parts of the Europe, Middle East and Asia, and was introduced to Australia. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Range map The European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a species of rabbit native to southern Europe. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Binomial name Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) The Fallow Deer (Dama dama) is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. ... This article is about the species of deer. ... Binomial name Cervus unicolor (Kerr, 1792) Sambar Sambar in forest Sambar (also sambur, sambhur), is the common name for several large dark brown and maned Asian deer, particularly for the Indian species, which attains a height of 102 to 160 cm (40 to 63 in) at the shoulder and may... [[Image:Example. ... Binomial name (Erxleben, 1777) The chital (or cheetal) deer, also known as the spotted deer or axis deer is a deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and most of India. ... Binomial name Axis porcinus Zimmermann, 1780 The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) is small deer whose habitat ranges from Pakistan, through northern India, to Myanmar, with a secondary range in southeast Asia. ... horse, see Horse (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 For other uses, see Donkey (disambiguation). ... Trinomial name Sus scrofa domestica Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Sus domestica The domestic pig (or in some areas hog) is normally given the scientific name Sus scrofa domestica, though some taxonomists use the term , reserving for the wild boar. ... For other uses of the term, see goat (disambiguation). ... For the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident. ... Binomial name Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758 Dromedary range The Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) (often referred to simply as the Dromedary) is a large even-toed ungulate native to northern Africa, Greater Middle East area and western India, also the land of east Africa, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The common House Mouse (Mus musculus) is one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus equivalent to the common term mouse. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Black Rat range The Black Rat (Rattus rattus), also known as the Asian black rat, Ship Rat, Roof Rat or House Rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus (Old World rodents) and the subfamily Murinae (murine rodents). ... Binomial name (Berkenhout, 1769) Brown Rat range The brown rat, common rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat or wharf rat (Rattus norvegicus) is one of the best-known and common rats, and also one of the largest. ...

The Dugong is an endangered species; the largest remaining population is found in Australian waters.

Forty-six marine mammals from the order Cetacea are found in Australian coastal waters, but since many of these species have a global distribution, some authors do not consider them Australian species. There are nine species of baleen whale, including the enormous Humpback Whale. There are 37 species of toothed whale, which include all six genera of the family Ziphiidae (Beaked whales), and 21 species of oceanic dolphin, including the Australian Snubfin Dolphin, a species first described in 2005. Some oceanic dolphins, such as the Orca, can be found in all waters around the continent; others, such as the Irrawaddy Dolphin, are confined to the warm northern waters. The Dugong (Order Sirenia) is an endangered marine species that inhabits the waters of north-eastern and north-western Australia, particularly the Torres Strait. It can grow up to 3 m long and weigh as much as 400 kg. The dugong is the only herbivorous marine mammal in Australia, feeding on sea grass in coastal areas. The destruction of sea grass beds is a threat to the survival of this species. Image File history File links From US Govt site: http://www. ... Image File history File links From US Govt site: http://www. ... Binomial name (Müller, 1776) Natural range of . ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Diversity Around 15 species; see list of cetaceans or below. ... Binomial name Borowski, 1781 Humpback Whale range The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a baleen whale. ... Genera Berardius Hyperoodon Indopacetus Mesoplodon Tasmacetus Ziphius A beaked whale is any of at least 20 species of small whale in the family Ziphiidae. ... Genera See text. ... Binomial name Orcaella heinsohni Beasley, Robertson, Arnold, 2005 The Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is a recently recognised species of dolphin first described in 2005. ... Binomial name Orcinus orca Linnaeus, 1758 Orca range (in blue) The Orca or Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) is the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). ... Binomial name Orcaella brevirostris Gray, 1866 Irrawaddy Dolphin range The Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a species of dolphin found near coasts and in estuaries in parts of south-east Asia. ... Binomial name (Müller, 1776) Natural range of . ... Families Dugongidae Trichechidae Hydrochichus (extinct) For information about the Gothic metal band, see Sirenia (band) The Sirenia are fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries and coastal marine waters. ... Torres Strait and islands The Torres Strait - Cape York Peninsula is at the bottom; several of the Torres Strait Islands can be seen strung out towards Papua New Guinea to the north. ... Johnsons seagrass in Florida coast Seagrass (or sea-grass in British English) is a term that refers to flowering plants from two plant families (Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitacea) that grow in the marine environment. ...

Ten species of seals and sea-lions (superfamily Pinnipedia) live off the southern Australian coast and in Sub-Antarctic Australian territories. Families Odobenidae Otariidae Phocidae Pinnipeds (fin-feet, lit. ...

Birds

The Emu is the second largest surviving species of bird. It is a heraldic bird, appearing on the Coat of Arms of Australia.

Main article: Birds of Australia

Australia and its territories are home to over 800 species of bird; about 350 of these are endemic to the zoogeographic region that covers Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. The fossil record of birds in Australia is patchy; however, there are records of the ancestors of contemporary species as early as the Late Oligocene.^[6] Birds with a Gondwanan history include the flightless ratites (the Emu and Southern Cassowary), megapodes (the Malleefowl and Australian Brush-turkey), and a huge group of endemic parrots, order Psittaciformes. Australian parrots comprise a sixth of the world’s parrots, including many cockatoos and galahs. The Kookaburra is the largest species of the kingfisher family, known for its call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter. Image File history File links Emu_showing_feet. ... Image File history File links Emu_showing_feet. ... For other uses, see EMU. Binomial name (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in orange. ... Australian Coat of Arms (since 1912) The Coat of Arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. ... Australia has about 800 species of bird, ranging from the tiny 8 cm Weebill to the huge, flightless Emu. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... Families Struthionidae (ostriches) Rheidae (rheas) Casuariidae (emus etc. ... For other uses, see EMU. Binomial name (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in orange. ... Binomial name Casuarius casuarius Linnaeus, 1758 The Southern Cassowary, Casuarius casuarius also known as Double-wattled Cassowary is a large, up to 170cm long, flightless black bird with hard and stiff plumage, a brown casque, blue face and neck, red nape and two red wattles hanging down its throat. ... Miamisburg Mound, the largest conical mound in Ohio, is attributed to the Adena archaeological culture. ... Binomial name Gould, 1840 The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken (to which it is distantly related). ... Binomial name Alectura lathami Gray, 1831 The Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami, also frequently called the Scrub Turkey, is a common, widespread species of mound-building bird from the family Megapodiidae found in eastern Australia from Far North Queensland to Illawarra in New South Wales. ... Families Cacatuidae Psittacidae The order Psittaciformes (Parrots) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. ... This article is about the family of birds. ... This article is about the bird species. ... Species Dacelo gaudichaud Dacelo leachii Dacelo novaeguineae Dacelo tyro For other uses, see Kookaburra (disambiguation). ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Kingfishers are birds of the three families Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). ...

The passerines of Australia, also known as songbirds or perching birds, include wrens, robins, the magpie group, thornbills, pardalotes, the huge honeyeater family, treecreepers, lyrebirds, birds of paradise and bowerbirds. The Satin Bowerbird is a fascinating bird that has attracted the interest of evolutionary psychologists: it has a complex courtship ritual in which the male creates a bower filled with blue, shiny items to woo mates. Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genera Donacobius Campylorhynchus Odontorchilus Salpinctes Catherpes Hylorchilus Cinnycerthia Thryomanes Ferminia Troglodytes Cistothorus Uropsila Thryorchilus Thryothorus Henicorhina Microcerculus Cyphorhinus Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) Stamp FR 345 of Postverk Føroya, Faroe Islands Issued: 22 February 1999 Artist: Astrid Andreasen The true wrens are members of a mainly New World passerine bird family... Genera Poecilodryas Heteromyias Plesiodryas Gennaeodryas Peneothello Tregellasia Eopsaltria Melanodyas Monachella Microeca Eugerygone Petroica Pachycephalopsis Drymodes The bird family Petroicidae includes roughly 45 species in about 15 genera. ... Subfamilies Artaminae Cracticinae The family Artamidae gathers together 20 species of mostly crow-like birds native to Australasia and nearby areas. ... Species Mountain Thornbill, Acanthiza katherina Brown Thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla Inland Thornbill, Acanthiza apicalis Tasmanian Thornbill, Acanthiza ewingii Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Acanthiza uropygialis Slaty-backed Thornbill, Acanthiza robustirostris Western Thornbill, Acanthiza inornata Buff-rumped Thornbill, Acanthiza reguloides Slender-billed Thornbill, Acanthiza iredalei Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Yellow Thornbill, Acanthiza nana... Species punnctatus quadragintus rubricatus striatus Pardalotes are very small, brightly coloured birds native to Australia, with short tails, strong legs, and stubby blunt beaks. ... Genera Anthochaera Acanthagenys Plectorhyncha Philemon Xanthornyzma Entomyzon Manorina Xanthotis Meliphaga Lichenostomus Melithreptus Notiomystis Glycichaera Lichmera Trichodere Grantiella Phylidonyris Ramsayornis Conopophila Acanthorhynchus Certhionyx Myzomela Anthornis Prosthemadera Epthianura Ashbyia The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also... There are 7 species of Australasian treecreeper in the passerine bird family Climacteridae. ... Species Menura novaehollandiae Menura alberti A Lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds, most notable for their extraordinary ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment. ... For the flowering plant of this name, see Strelitzia Genera Cicinnurus Diphyllodes Epimachus Lophorina Manucodia Paradisaea Parotia Ptiloris Seleucidis Lesser Bird of Paradise Paradisaea minor (c)Roderick Eime The birds of paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes, found in Oceania. ... Genera Ailuroedus Archboldia Amblyornis Prionodura Sericulus Ptilonorhynchus Chlamydera The 19 bowerbirds and catbirds make up the family Ptilonorhynchidae. ... Binomial name Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Vieillot, 1816) The Satin Bowerbird, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, is a typical bowerbird, found in eastern Australia. ...

A female Gang-gang Cockatoo.

Relatively recent colonists from Eurasia are swallows, larks, thrushes, cisticolas, sunbirds, and some raptors, including the large Wedge-tailed Eagle. A number of bird species have been introduced by humans; some, like the European Goldfinch and Greenfinch, coexist happily with Australian species, while others, such as the Common Starling, Common Blackbird, House Sparrow and Indian Mynah, are destructive of some native bird species and thus destabilise the native ecosystem. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1098x1190, 163 KB) Gang-gang Cockatoo female - photo taken by me at the Australian National Botanic Gardens 2005 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1098x1190, 163 KB) Gang-gang Cockatoo female - photo taken by me at the Australian National Botanic Gardens 2005 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Binomial name Callocephalon fimbriatum (Grant, 1803) Gang-gang Cockatoo range (in red) The Gang-gang Cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum, is found in the cooler and wetter forests and woodlands of Australia, particularly alpine bushland. ... For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... Genera Many, see text. ... For other uses, see Lark (disambiguation). ... Genera 22 genera, see text The Thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. ... Cisticolas are very small insectivorous birds formerly classified in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, but now usually considered to be in the family Cisticolidae, along with other southern warbler genera. ... Genera Many: see text The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. ... Orders Accipitriformes     Cathartidae     Pandionidae     Accipitridae     Sagittariidae Falconiformes     Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. ... Binomial name Aquila audax (Latham, 1802) The Wedge-tailed Eagle or Eaglehawk (Aquila audax) is a very large Australasian raptor and the most common of all the worlds large eagles. ... Binomial name Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) Carduelis carduelis carduelis 1 summer 2 all year Carduelis carduelis caniceps 3 summer 4 all year The Goldfinch or European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family. ... Binomial name Carduelis chloris Linnaeus, 1758 The European Greenfinch, or just Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. ... Binomial name Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 The Common Starling or European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is a passerine bird in the family Sturnidae. ... For other uses, see Blackbird (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the Old World sparrow family Passeridae, and is, somewhat controversially, considered a relative of the Weaver Finch Family. ... Binomial name Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) The Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, is a myna, a member of the starling family. ...

About 200 species of seabird live on the Australian coast, including many species of migratory seabird. Australia is at the southern end of the East Asian-Australasian flyway for migratory water birds, which extends from Far-East Russia and Alaska through Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand. About two million birds travel this route to and from Australia each year. One very common large seabird is the Australian Pelican, which can be found in most waterways in Australia. The Little Penguin is the only species of Penguin that breeds on mainland Australia. The Sooty Tern is highly aerial and marine and will spend years flying at sea without returning to land. ... Far Eastern Federal District (highlighted in red) Russian Far East (Russian: ; IPA: ) is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i. ... For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Binomial name Temminck, 1824 The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a large water bird, widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant to New Zealand. ... Korora redirects here. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ...

Amphibians and reptiles

Main articles: Amphibians of Australia and Reptiles of Australia

The Eastern Banjo Frog is a common frog species across eastern Australia.

Australia has four families of native frogs and one introduced toad, the Cane Toad. In 1935 the Cane Toad was introduced to Australia in a failed attempt to control pests in sugarcane crops. It has since become a devastating pest, spreading across northern Australia. As well as competing with native insectivores for food, the Cane Toad produces a venom that is toxic to native fauna, as well as to man. The Myobatrachidae, or southern frogs, are Australia's largest group of frogs, with 120 species from 21 genera. A notable member of this group is the colourful and endangered Corroboree Frog. The tree frogs, from family Hylidae, are common in high rainfall areas on the north and east coasts; there are 77 Australian species from three genera. The 18 species from two genera of the Microhylidae frogs are restricted to the rainforests; the smallest species, the Scanty Frog, is from this family. There is a single species from the world's dominant frog group, family Ranidae — the Australian Wood Frog — which only occurs in the Queensland rainforests. As elsewhere, there has been a precipitous decline in Australia's frog populations in recent years. Although the full reasons for the decline are uncertain, it can be at least partly attributed to the fatal amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis. Families See text Australias native amphibians are limited to those in the order Anura, commonly known as frogs. ... The Perentie (Varanus giganteus) is Australias largest lizard. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 578 KB) Eastern Banjo Frog, Limnodynastes dumerili, commonly known as the Pobblebonk File links The following pages link to this file: Frog User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery Eastern Banjo Frog User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery/20D/Animals Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Pobblebonk... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 578 KB) Eastern Banjo Frog, Limnodynastes dumerili, commonly known as the Pobblebonk File links The following pages link to this file: Frog User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery Eastern Banjo Frog User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery/20D/Animals Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Pobblebonk... Binomial name Limnodynastes dumerilii (Peters, 1863) The eastern banjo frog it is also commonly called the pobblebonk after its distinctive bonk call, is a frog species from the family Myobatrachidae. ... Families At least 9, see article. ... Binomial name Bufo marinus Linnaeus, 1758 The Giant Neotropical Toad (Bufo marinus) is native to the Americas from southern Texas to northern Argentina. ... Species Saccharum arundinaceum Saccharum bengalense Saccharum edule Saccharum officinarum Saccharum procerum Saccharum ravennae Saccharum robustum Saccharum sinense Saccharum spontaneum Sugarcane or Sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical... Distribution of Myobatrachidae (in black) Subfamilies See text Myobatrachidae is a family of frogs, of the order Anura. ... Binomial name J. A. Moore, 1953 Pseudophryne pengilleyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 Distribution of in blue, in red, in NSW The Corroboree frogs are two species of small, ground dwelling frogs, native to Southern Tablelands of Australia. ... Distribution of Hylidae and Rhacophoridae (in black) Genera See text. ... Subfamilies Asterophryinae Brevicipitinae Cophylinae Dyscophinae Genyophryninae Melanobatrachinae Microhylinae Phrynomerinae Scaphiophryninae Microhylidae is a family of order Anura. ... Binomial name Cophixalus exiguus (Zweifel & Parker, 1969) The Scanty Frog or the Dainty Nursery Frog (Cophixalus exiguus) is a tree frog found in a restircted area of rainforest of north east Queensland. ... Genera Batacia Opyum Rana - Frog is the common name for amphibians in the order, Anura. ... Binomial name Rana daemeli Steindachner, 1868 The Australian wood frog (Rana daemeli), also commonly known as the wood frog, is the only species from the family Ranidae that occurs in Australia. ... Since about 1950, the populations of many species of amphibians (caecilians, frogs, toads, salamanders and newts) throughout the world have declined markedly; some species have become extinct. ... Orders Chytridiales Spizellomycetales Blastocladiales Monoblepharidales Neocallimasticales Chytridiomycota is a division of the Fungi kingdom and contains only one class, Chytridiomycetes. ... Chytridiomycosis in Atelopus varius - two sporangia containing numerous zoospores are visible Chytridiomycosis is a fatal infectious disease that affects amphibians, caused by the chytrid - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis . ...

The Saltwater Crocodile is the largest species of crocodile in the world.

Australia has both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles. The Saltwater Crocodile, known colloquially as the "salty," is the largest living crocodile species; reaching over 7 m and weighing over 1000 kg, they can and do kill people. They live on the coast and in the freshwater rivers and wetlands of northern Australia, and they are farmed for their meat and leather. Freshwater Crocodiles, found only in Northern Australia, are not considered dangerous to man. Image File history File linksMetadata SaltwaterCrocodile('Maximo').jpg Summary Source: http://library. ... Image File history File linksMetadata SaltwaterCrocodile('Maximo').jpg Summary Source: http://library. ... Binomial name (Schneider, 1801) Range of the Saltwater Crocodile in black The Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all living crocodilians and reptiles. ... Binomial name (Schneider, 1801) Range of the Saltwater Crocodile in black The Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all living crocodilians and reptiles. ... Binomial name Crocodylus johnstoni (Krefft, 1873) Range of the Freshwater Crocodile in black The Freshwater Crocodile also known as Johnstons Crocodile or Freshies are found in the northern regions of Australia. ... For other uses, see Crocodile (disambiguation). ...

The Australian coast is visited by six species of sea turtle: the Flatback, Green Sea, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead and the Leatherback Sea Turtles; all are protected in Australian waters. There are 29 species of Australian freshwater turtles from eight genera of family Chelidae. The Pig-Nosed Turtle is the only Australian member of that family. Australia and Antarctica are the only continents without any living species of land tortoise. Genera Caretta Lepidochelys Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator Dermochelys Sea turtles are large, ocean-dwelling turtles. ... Binomial name Natator depressus (Garman, 1880) The Flatback Turtle (Natator depressus) is a sea turtle endemic to the continental shelf of Australia. ... Binomial name Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) This page redirects from Chelonia, which is the genus name of this turtle, but has also been used for the order Testudines of all turtles and tortoises. ... Binomial name Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766 Range of the Hawksbill turtle subspecies Eretmochelys imbricata bissa (Rüppell, 1835) Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766) Synonyms Eretmochelys imbricata squamata junior synonym The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. ... Binomial name Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829) The Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is one of the smallest species of sea turtle. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) is a sea turtle and the only member of the genus Caretta. ... Binomial name Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the biggest of all living turtles, reaching a length of over 2. ... For other uses, see Turtle (disambiguation). ... The Chelidae are a family of reptiles commonly known as the Austro-American Side-necked Turtles. ... For other uses, see Tortoise (disambiguation). ...

Blue-tongued lizards are the largest species of skink.

Australia is the only continent where venomous snakes outnumber their non-venomous cousins. Australian snakes belong to seven families. Of these, the most venomous species, including the Fierce Snake, Eastern Brown Snake, Taipan and Eastern Tiger Snake are from the family Elapidae. Of the 200 species of elapid, 86 are found only in Australia. Thirty-three sea snakes from family Hydrophiidae inhabit Australia's northern waters; many are extremely venomous. Two species of sea snake from the Acrochordidae also occur in Australian waters. Australia has only 11 species from the world's most significant snake family Colubridae; none are endemic, and they are considered to be relatively recent arrivals from Asia. There are 15 species of boa, and 31 species of insectivorous blind snake. Download high resolution version (864x750, 229 KB)This is an image I took myself using an Olympus C8080W digital camera. ... Download high resolution version (864x750, 229 KB)This is an image I took myself using an Olympus C8080W digital camera. ... Species See text Western blue-tongued skink Centralian blue-tongued skink from the Tanami desert Blue-tongued lizards are one of the largest members of the skink family. ... This article is about the reptile. ... Binomial name Oxyuranus microlepidotus Range of Fierce Snake (in red) The Fierce Snake, also known as the Small Scaled Snake and Inland Taipan is a highly venomous snake that lives in Australia, notorious for having the most potent venom of any species of snake in the world. ... Binomial name Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 The Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis), sometimes referred to as the Common Brown Snake, is an elapid snake native to Australia and parts of New Guinea. ... This article is about the Australian snake. ... Species Notechis scutatus Notechis ater The tiger snakes are two species of highly venomous snake found in Australia. ... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... For sea snakes in mythology and cryptozoology, see Sea serpent. ... Species Acrochordus granulatus Acrochordus arafurae Acrochordus javanicus Acrochordidae is a family of three species of primitive xenophidian snakes from the Australian and Indonesian regions. ... Genera According to ITIS: Adelophis Adelphicos Alsophis Amastridium Arizona Arrhyton Atractus Bogertophis Boiga Carphophis Cemophora Cerberus Chersodromus Chilomeniscus Chionactis Clelia Clonophis Coluber Coniophanes Conophis Conopsis Contia Cryophis Dendrelaphis Dendrophidion Diadophis Dipsas Dryadophis Drymarchon Drymobius Elaphe Enulius Eridiphas Erythrolamprus Farancia Ficimia Geagras Geophis Gyalopion Heterodon Hypsiglena Imantodes Lampropeltis Leptodeira Leptophis Liochlorophis... This article is about the Korean pop singer. ... Genera Acutotyphlops Cyclotyphlops Ramphotyphlops Rhinotyphlops Typhlops Xenotyphlops TYPHLOPIDAE (blind snakes) This family contains 240 species in 3 genera. ...

There are 26 species of Goanna in Australia.

There are more lizards in Australia than anywhere else in the world, with representatives of five families. There are 114 species in 18 genera of gecko found throughout the Australian continent. The Pygopodidae is a family of limbless lizards endemic to the Australian region; of the 34 species from eight genera, only one species does not occur in Australia. The Agamidae or Dragon lizards are represented by 66 species in 13 genera, including the Thorny Devil, Bearded Dragon and Frill-necked Lizard. There are 26 species of monitor lizard, family Varanidae, in Australia, where they are commonly known as goannas. The largest Australian monitor is the Perentie, which can reach up to 2 m in length. There are 389 species of skink from 38 genera, comprising about 50% of the total Australian lizard fauna; this group includes the blue-tongued lizards. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2418x1882, 1707 KB) Perentie Lizard at Perth Zoo in September 2005. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2418x1882, 1707 KB) Perentie Lizard at Perth Zoo in September 2005. ... For other uses, see Goanna (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Gecko (disambiguation). ... Classification Family Pygopodidae Subfamily Pygopodinae Genus Paradelma Genus Pygopus Genus Delma Subfamily Lialisinae Tribus Lialisini Genus Lialis Tribus Aprasiaini Subtribus Pletholaxini Genus Pletholax Subtribus Aprasiaini Genus Ophidiocephalus Genus Aprasia Categories: Lizards | Legless lizards ... Genera Many: see text Agamas or Agamids are the Agamidae family of lizards, containing more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia and a few in Southern Europe. ... Binomial name Moloch horridus Gray, 1841 The Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) is also known as the Thorny Dragon, Thorny Lizard, or the Moloch. ... Species Pogona barbata Pogona henrylawsoni Pogona microlepidota Pogona minima Pogona minor Pogona mitchelli Pogona nullarbor Pogona vitticeps Bearded Dragon is the common name for any agamid lizard in the genus Pogona. ... Binomial name Gray, 1827 The Frill-necked Lizard, or Frilled Lizard also known as the Frilled Dragon, (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is so called because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. ... Species Many, see text. ... For other uses, see Goanna (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Varanus giganteus (Gray, 1845) The Perentie is the largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia. ... This article is about the reptile. ... Species See text Western blue-tongued skink Centralian blue-tongued skink from the Tanami desert Blue-tongued lizards are one of the largest members of the skink family. ...

Fish

Main article: Fish in Australia

The Murray cod is Australia's largest wholly freshwater fish.

More than 4400 species of fish inhabit Australia's waterways;^[7] of these, 90% are endemic. However, due to the relative scarcity of freshwater waterways, Australia has only 170 species of freshwater fish. Two families of freshwater fish have ancient origins: the arowana or "bony tongues," and the Queensland lungfish. The Queensland lungfish is the most primitive of the lungfish, having evolved before Australia separated from Gondwana. One of the smallest freshwater fish, peculiar to the south-west of Western Australia, is the salamanderfish, which can survive desiccation in the dry season by burrowing into mud. Other families with a potentially Gondwanan origin include the Retropinnidae, Galaxiidae, Aplochitonidae and Percichthyidae. Apart from the ancient freshwater species, 70% of Australia's freshwater fish have affinities with tropical Indo-Pacific marine species that have adapted to freshwater.^[8] Nevertheless, fossil evidence indicates that many of these freshwater species are still ancient in origin. These species include freshwater lampreys, herrings, catfish, rainbowfish, and some 50 species of gudgeon, including the sleepy cod. Native freshwater game fish include the barramundi, Murray cod, and golden perch. Two species of endangered freshwater shark are found in the Northern Territory. There are many species of fish in Australia, and fishing is a popular Australian activity. ... Image File history File links Murray_cod. ... Image File history File links Murray_cod. ... Trinomial name Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell, 1838) The Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) is a large and striking predatory freshwater fish of the Maccullochella genus and the Percichthyidae family. ... Genera Subfamily Heterotidinae  Arapaima  Heterotis Subfamily Osteoglossinae  Osteoglossum  Scleropages Arowanas, also known as aruanas or arawanas are freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, sometimes known as bony tongues. ... Binomial name Neoceratodus forsteri Krefft, 1870 The Queensland Lungfish, also known as Burnett Salmon and Barramunda, is the sole member of the family Ceratodontidae, and one of the only six lungfish species that remain. ... For the band, see Lungfish (band). ... For other uses of Gondwana and Gondwanaland, see Gondwana (disambiguation). ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2005-06)  - Product ($m)  $107,910 (4th)  - Product per capita  $53,134/person... Binomial name Lepidogalaxias salamandroides (Mees, 1961) The Salamanderfish is the only species from the family Lepidogalaxiidae. ... Genera Prototroctes Retropinna Stokellia See text for spcies. ... Genera Galaxias Lepidogalaxias Neochanna The Galaxiidae is a family of freshwater fishes of Gondwana origin. ... Genera See text The Aplochitonidae are a family of ray-finned fish that are found in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, mostly in the Indonesian and Australian regions. ... Genera Bathysphyraenops (disputed) Bostockia Coreoperca Edelia Gadopsis Guyu Howella Lateolabrax Maccullochella Macquaria Nannatherina Nannoperca Percichthys Siniperca The Percichthyidae Family are known as the Temperate perches. ... Subfamilies Geotriinae Mordaciinae Petromyzontinae A lamprey (sometimes also called lamprey eel) is a jawless fish with a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Anodontiglanis Cnidoglanis Euristhmus Neosiluroides Neosilurus Oloplotosus Paraplotosus Plotosus Porochilus Tandanus The eeltail catfish are a family (Plotosidae) of catfish whose tails are elongated in an eel-like fashion. ... Genera See text The Rainbowfishes or blue-eyes are a family of freshwater fish that are found in northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea and some other nearby islands. ... Genera ~35, see text The Eleotridae are a family of fish found predominately in the found in the tropical Indo-Pacific. ... Binomial name Oxyeleotris lineolatus The sleepy cod (Oxyeleotris lineolatus) is a medium-sized freshwater fish, native to tropical regions of northern Australia. ... Binomial name Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) The barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a species of diadromous fish in family Centropomidae of order Perciformes. ... Trinomial name Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell, 1838) The Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) is a large and striking predatory freshwater fish of the Maccullochella genus and the Percichthyidae family. ... Binomial name Macquaria ambigua (Richardson, 1845) The Golden Perch, Macquaria ambigua is an Australian native freshwater fish, primarily of lowland reaches of the Murray-Darling river system, but also known to push some way into upland reaches as well. ... The river shark is one of 6 rare species of the genus Glyphis. ... For similar terms, see Northern Territories (disambiguation) Slogan or Nickname: The Territory, The NT, The Top End Motto(s): none Other Australian states and territories Capital Darwin Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator Ted Egan Chief Minister Clare Martin (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2004...

A number of exotic freshwater fish species, including brown, brook and rainbow trout, Atlantic and Chinook salmon, redfin perch, carp and mosquitofish, have been introduced to Australian waterways.^[9] The mosquitofish is a particularly aggressive species known for harassing and nipping the fins of other fish. It has been linked to declines and localised extinctions of a number of small native fish species. The introduced trout species have had serious negative impacts on a number of upland native fish species including trout cod, Macquarie perch and galaxias species as well as other upland fauna such as the Spotted Tree Frog. The carp is strongly implicated in the dramatic loss in waterweed, decline of small native fish species and permanently elevated levels of turbidity in the Murray-Darling Basin of southwest Australia. Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Morphs Salmo trutta morpha trutta Salmo trutta morpha fario Salmo trutta morpha lacustris The brown trout (Salmo trutta morpha fario and morpha lacustris) and the sea trout ( morpha trutta) are fish of the same species. ... This article is about the species of fish. ... It has been suggested that Steelhead be merged into this article or section. ... Binomial name Salmo salar Linnaeus, 1758 Atlantic salmon, known scientifically as Salmo salar, is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the Atlantic. ... Binomial name (Walbaum, 1792) The Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (derived from Russian чавыча), is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. ... Binomial name Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 The European perch (Perca fluviatilis) is a species of perch found in Europe and Asia. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The Common carp or European carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a widespread freshwater fish distantly related to the common goldfish (Carassius auratus), with which it is capable of interbreeding[1]. It gives its name to the carp family Cyprinidae. ... Binomial name Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, 1853) The mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, is a species of freshwater fish. ... Cascadilla Creek, near Ithaca, New York in the United States, an example of an upland river habitat. ... Binomial name Maccullochella macquariensis Cuvier, 1829 The Trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) is a freshwater fish found in the Murray-Darling river system in south eastern Australia. ... Binomial name Macquaria australasica Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830 The Macquarie Perch, Macquaria australasica, is an Australian native freshwater fish of the Murray-Darling river system. ... Binomial name Galaxias olidus Günther, 1866 Galaxias fuscus Mack, 1936 The Mountain Galaxias species complex is a group of freshwater Galaxiid fish found all over southeast Australia. ... Semi-arid grazing country near Burra Creek, South Australia The Murray-Darling Basin being 3430km long, drains one-seventh of the Australian land mass and is currently by far the most significant agricultural area in Australia. ...

The weedy sea dragon, a fish related to pipefish and seahorses, is found in the waters around southern Australia.

Most of Australia's fish species are marine. Groups of interest include the moray eels and squirrelfish, as well as the pipefish and seahorses, whose males incubate their partner's eggs in a specialised pouch. There are 80 species of grouper in Australian waters, including one of the world's biggest bony fish, the giant grouper, which can grow as large as 2.7 m and weigh up to 400 kg. The trevally, a group of 50 species of silver schooling fish, and the snappers are popular species for commercial fishing. The Great Barrier Reef supports a huge variety of small- and medium-sized reef fish, including the damselfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, gobies, cardinalfish, wrassees, triggerfish and surgeonfish. There are a number of venomous fish, among them several species of stonefish and pufferfish and the red lionfish, all of which have toxins that can kill humans. There are 11 venomous species of stingray, the largest of which is the smooth stingray. The barracudas are one of the reef's largest species. However, large reef fish should not be eaten for fear of ciguatera poisoning. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 94 KB) Description: Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), Location: Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, Australia, Date: 3 January 2005 Photographer: Richard Ling <richard@research. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 94 KB) Description: Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), Location: Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, Australia, Date: 3 January 2005 Photographer: Richard Ling <richard@research. ... Binomial name Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacepède, 1804) Phyllopteryx taeniolatus range. ... Syngnathidae is a family of fishes, including seahorses, pipehorse, pipefish and sea dragons, among others. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Corniger Holocentrus Myripristis Neoniphon Ostichthys Plectrypops Pristilepis Sargocentron The Holocentridae is a family of ray-finned fish also known as squirrel or soldierfish. ... Genera See text. ... Species See text. ... Genera Acanthistius Alphestes Anyperidon Caprodon Cephalopholis Cromileptes Dermatolepis Epinephelus Gonioplectrus Gracila HypoplectrodesLiopropoma Mycteroperca Niphon Paranthias Plectropomus Saloptia Triso Variola For the computer program, see Grouper (Windows application). ... Classes Actinopterygii Sarcopterygii Osteichthyes are a taxonomic superclass of fish, also called bony fish that includes the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and lobe finned fish (Sarcopterygii). ... Binomial name Epinephelus lanceolatus Bloch, 1790 The Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) is also known as the Brindle Bass and as the Queensland Grouper in Australia. ... A family of fishes which includes the Pompanos and Jacks Pilot fish - Naucrates ductor Categories: Fish stubs ... Genera Aphareus Aprion Apsilus Etelis Hemilutjanus Hoplopagrus Lipocheilus Lutjanus Macolor Ocyurus Paracaesio Pinjalo Pristipomoides Randallichthys Rhomboplites Symphorus Snapper can also refer to the Snapping turtle. ... The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef system,[1][2] composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,616 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (132,974 sq mi). ... Cocoa damselfish (Stegastes variabilis) Damselfish refers to members of the family Pomacentridae, except those of the two genera Amphiprion and Premnas. ... Genera Amphichaetodon Chaetodon Chelmon Chelmonops Coradion Forcipiger Hemitaurichthys Heniochus Johnrandallia Parachaetodon Prognathodes The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. ... Genera Apolemichthys Centropyge Chaetodontoplus Genicanthus Holacanthus Pomacanthus Pygoplites See text for species. ... Subfamilies Amblyopinae Gobiinae Gobionellinae Oxudercinae Sicydiinae See also list of Gobiidae genera The gobies form the family Gobiidae, which is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. ... Genera Apogon Apogonichthys Archamia Astrapogon Cercamia Cheilodipterus Coranthus Foa Fowleria Glossamia Gymnapogon Holapogon Lachneratus Mionorus Neamia Paxton Phaeoptyx Pseudamia Pseudamiops Pterapogon Rhabdamia Siphamia Sphaeramia Vincentia The Apogonidae are a family of ray-finned fish also known as the cardinalfishes. ... Genera (60 genera) The wrasses are a family (family Labridae) of reef safe marine fish, many of which are brightly-colored and popular for aquaria. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Acanthurus Ctenochaetus Naso (unicornfishes) Paracanthurus Prionurus Zebrasoma (tangs) Acanthuridae (thorn tail) is the family of surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. ... Not to be confused with Rockfish For the Neighbours character, see Stonefish Rebecchi Binomial name Bloch & Schneider, 1801 The stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa, also known as the the reef stone or dornorn is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock. ... Genera Amblyrhynchotes Arothron Auriglobus Canthigaster Carinotetraodon Chelonodon Colomesus Contusus Ephippion Feroxodon Fugu Gastrophysus Javichthys Lagocephalus Liosaccus Marilyna Monotretus Omegaphora Pelagocephalus Polyspina Reicheltia Sphoeroides Takifugu Tetractenos Tetraodon Torquigener Tylerius Xenopterus For species see Genera articles. ... Binomial name Pterois volitans Linnaeus, 1758 The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish from the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. ... For other uses, see Stingray (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Barracuda (disambiguation). ... Chemical structure of the ciguatoxin CTX1B Ciguatera is a foodborne illness poisoning in humans caused by eating marine species whose flesh is contaminated with a toxin known as ciguatoxin, which is present in many micro-organisms (particularly, the micro-algae Gambierdiscus toxicus) living in tropical waters. ...

The spotted wobbegong is the largest wobbegong shark, reaching a length of 3.2 m.

Sharks inhabit all the coastal waters and estuarine habitats of Australia’s coast. There are 166 species, including 30 species of requiem shark, 32 of catshark, six of wobbegong shark, and 40 of dogfish shark. There are three species from the family Heterodontidae: the Port Jackson shark, the zebra bullhead shark and the crested bullhead shark. In 2004, there were 12 unprovoked shark attacks in Australia, of which two were fatal.^[10] Only 3 species of shark pose a significant threat to humans: the bull shark, the tiger shark and the great white shark. Some popular beaches in Queensland and New South Wales are protected by shark netting, a method that has reduced the population of both dangerous and harmless shark species through accidental entanglement. The overfishing of sharks has also significantly reduced shark numbers in Australian waters, and several species are now endangered. A megamouth shark was found on a Perth beach in 1988; very little is known about this species, but this discovery may indicate the presence of the species in Australian coastal waters. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 103 KB) A Spotted Wobbegong shark (Orectolobus maculatus), showing skin flaps round the mouth and cryptic colouration. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 103 KB) A Spotted Wobbegong shark (Orectolobus maculatus), showing skin flaps round the mouth and cryptic colouration. ... Binomial name Orectolobus maculatus (Bonnaterre, 1788) The spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, is a carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, found in the eastern Indian Ocean from Western Australia to southern Queensland, between latitudes 20° S to 40° S. It reaches a length of 3. ... For other uses, see Shark (disambiguation). ... Genera Carcharhinus Galeocerdo Glyphis Isogomphodon Lamiopsis Loxodon Nasolamia Negaprion Prionace Rhizoprionodon Scoliodon Sphyrna Triaenodon The requiem sharks are a family (Carcharhinidae) that includes some of the best-known and most common types of sharks, such as the tiger shark, blue shark, bull shark, and milk shark. ... Genera Apristurus Asymbolus Atelomycterus Aulohalaelurus Cephaloscyllium Cephalurus Galeus Halaelurus Haplolepharus Holohalaelurus Parmaturus Pentanchus Poroderma Schroederichthys Scyliorhinus The cat sharks or catsharks are a large family (Scyliorhinidae) of sharks, with over 110 species recorded. ... Genera Eucrossorhinus Orectolobus Sutorectus Wotwentwong is the common name given to the six species of carpet sharks in the family Orectolobidae. ... Genera See text. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name (Meyer, 1793) Range of Port Jackson shark (in blue) The Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, is a type of bullhead shark of the family Heterodontidae, found in the coastal region of southern Australia, including the waters off Port Jackson. ... Binomial name Heterodontus zebra (Gray, 1831) The zebra bullhead shark, Heterodontus zebra , is a bullhead shark of the family Heterodontidae, found in the subtropical western Pacific Ocean between latitudes 40° N to 20° S, at depths of between 50 and 200 m. ... Binomial name Heterodontus galeatus (Günther, 1870) The crested bullhead shark, Heterodontus galeatus, is a bullhead shark of the family Heterodontidae, found in the western Pacific Ocean on the continental shelf around eastern Australia from the surface to 90 m. ... Binomial name (Müller and Henle, 1839) Range of bull shark The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the bull whaler, Zambezi shark or informally Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers. ... For other uses, see Tiger shark (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Range (in blue) For other uses, see Great White (disambiguation). ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Anna Bligh (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd... NSW redirects here. ... A shark net is a submerged net placed around beaches to reduce the occurrence of interactions between sharks and swimmers. ... Binomial name Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno and Struhsaker, 1983 The megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, is an extremely rare and unusual species of shark, discovered in 1976, with 37 specimens known to be caught or sighted as of 2006. ... Location of Perth within Australia This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ...

Invertebrates

Of the estimated 200,000 animal species in Australia, about 96% are invertebrates. While the full extent of invertebrate diversity is uncertain, 90% of insects and molluscs are considered endemic.^[1] Invertebrates occupy many ecological niches and are important in all ecosystems as decomposers, pollinators, and food sources. The largest group of invertebrates is the insects, comprising 75% of Australia's known species of animals. The most diverse insect orders are the Coleoptera, with 28,200 species of beetles and weevils, the Lepidoptera with 20,816 species including butterflies and moths, and 12,781 species of Hymenoptera, including the ants, bees and wasps. Order Diptera, which includes the flies and mosquitoes, comprises 7,786 species, Order Hemiptera, including bugs, aphids and hoppers, comprises 5,650 species; and there are 2,827 species of order Orthoptera, including grasshoppers, crickets and katydids.^[11] Introduced species that pose a significant threat to native species include the European wasp, the red fire ant, the yellow crazy ant and feral honeybees which compete with native bees. The sponge, in the phylum Porifera, is a very primitive and specialized animal. ... Subphylum/Classes[1] Anthozoa — corals and sea anemones Medusozoa:[2] Cubozoa — sea wasps or box jellyfish Hydrozoa — hydroids, hydra-like animals Polypodiozoa Scyphozoa — jellyfish Staurozoa — stalked jellyfish unranked: Myxozoa - parasites Cnidaria[3] (IPA: [4]) is a phylum containing some 11,000 species of apparently simple animals found exclusively in aquatic... Classes Monogenea Trematoda Cestoda Turbellaria The flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Greek platy: flat; helminth: worm) are a phylum of relatively simple soft-bodied invertebrate animals. ... Classes Archiacanthocephala Palaeacanthocephala Eoacanthocephala The Acanthocephala (gr. ... Classes Adenophorea    Subclass Enoplia    Subclass Chromadoria Secernentea    Subclass Rhabditia    Subclass Spiruria    Subclass Diplogasteria The roundworms or nematodes (Phylum Nematoda from Gr. ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora Monoplacophora Bivalvia Scaphopoda Gastropoda Cephalopoda † Rostroconchia The mollusks or molluscs are the large and diverse phylum Mollusca, which includes a variety of familiar creatures well-known for their decorative shells or as seafood. ... For the characters from System Shock 2, see The Many. ... Global range of Onychophora: Peripatidae in green, Peripatopsidae in blue Extant families Peripatidae Peripatopsidae Onychophora, the velvet worms (occasionally called walking worms or spitting worms), are segmented, caterpillar-like, terrestrial animals somewhat resembling both arthropods and annelid worms. ... For the Dutch band, see Crustacean (band). ... Orders Acarina Amblypygi Araneae Opiliones Palpigradi Pseudoscorpionida Ricinulei Schizomida Scorpiones Solifugae Uropygi The arachnids, Arachnida, are a class of invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Classes Subphylum Homalozoa Gill & Caster, 1960 Class Homostelea Class Homoiostelea Class Stylophora Gill & Caster, 1960 Class Ctenocystoidea Robison & Sprinkle, 1969 Subphylum Crinozoa Class Eocrinoidea Jaekel, 1899 Class Paracrinoidea Regnéll, 1945 Class Cystoidea von Buch, 1846 Class Blastoidea Class Crinoidea Subphylum Asterozoa Class Ophiuroidea Class Asteroidea Subphylum Echinozoa Helicoplacoidea †  ?Arkarua... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora Monoplacophora Bivalvia Scaphopoda Gastropoda Cephalopoda † Rostroconchia The mollusks or molluscs are the large and diverse phylum Mollusca, which includes a variety of familiar creatures well-known for their decorative shells or as seafood. ... Two lichens on a rock, in two different ecological niches In ecology, a niche; (pronounced nich, neesh or nish)[1] is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem[1]. The ecological niche; describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of... For other uses, see Beetle (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Beetle (disambiguation). ... Families Anthribidae - fungus weevils Attelabidae - leaf rolling weevils Belidae - primitive weevils Brentidae - straight snout weevils Caridae Curculionidae - true weevils Nemonychidae - pine flower weevils Wikispecies has information related to: Curculionoidea A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. ... Subdivisions See Taxonomy of Lepidoptera and Lepidopteran diversity. ... Superfamilies and families Superfamily Hedyloidea: Hedylidae Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. ... For other uses, see Moths A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. ... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... For other uses, see Ant (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Western honey bee and Bee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ... Suborders Nematocera (includes Eudiptera) Brachycera Diptera (di - two, ptera - wings), or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. ... For other uses, see Fly (disambiguation) and Flies (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Mosquito (disambiguation). ... Suborders Archaeorrhyncha Clypeorrhyncha Prosorrhyncha Sternorrhyncha Hemiptera is a large, cosmopolitan order of insects, comprising some 67,500 known species in three suborders. ... Suborders and families Suborder Ensifera - crickets Superfamily Gryllacroidea Gryllacrididae - camel crikets Rhaphidophoridae - cave crickets Schizodactylidae - dune crickets Stenopelmatidae - king crickets Superfamily Grylloidea Gryllidae - true crickets Gryllotalpidae - mole cricket Mogoplistidae Myrmecophilidae Superfamily Tettigonioidea Anostostomatidae - king crickets Bradyporidae - armoured crickets Haglidae Phaneropteridae Tettigoniidae - katydids, koringkrieks Suborder Caelifera - grasshoppers, locusts Superfamily Acridoidea Acrididae... For other uses, see Grasshopper (disambiguation). ... Subfamilies See Taxonomy section Crickets, family Gryllidae (also known as true crickets), are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets (family Tettigoniidae). ... Subfamilies See text. ... Binomial name (Fabricius, 1793) The three dots on the German wasps face The German wasp, or European wasp, Vespula germanica, is a wasp found in much of the Northern Hemisphere, native to Europe, northern Africa, and temperate Asia. ... It has been suggested that Fire ant be merged into this article or section. ... Binomial name F. Smith, 1857 The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) is a species of ant introduced accidentally to northern Australia and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, becoming a pest in both locations. ... Binomial name Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 The Western honeybee or European honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a species of honeybee comprised of several subspecies or races. ...

There are 1,275 described species and subspecies of ant from Australia.^[12] These green ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) are found in tropical Australia and build nests in leaves.

Australia has a wide variety of arachnids, including 135 species of spider that are familiar enough to have common names. There are a number of highly venomous species, including the notorious Sydney funnel-web and red-back spiders, whose bites can be deadly. There are thousands of species of mites and ticks from order Acarina. Australia also has eight species of pseudoscorpion and nine scorpion species. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1352, 224 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Fauna of Australia Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1352, 224 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Fauna of Australia Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Binomial name Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius, 1775 Oecophylla smaragdina (common names include weaver ant, green tree ant and orange gaster) is a species of arboreal ant found in Asia and Australasia. ... Orders Acarina Amblypygi Araneae Opiliones Palpigradi Pseudoscorpionida Ricinulei Schizomida Scorpiones Solifugae Uropygi The arachnids, Arachnida, are a class of invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. ... For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, (Atrax robustus) is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ... Binomial name Thorell, 1870 The redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) is a potentially dangerous spider native to Australia. ... Suborders Acariformes Parasitiformes Opilioacariformes Acarina or acari is an order of arachnids that consists of mites and ticks. ... A pseudoscorpion, (also known as a false scorpion or book scorpion), is an arachnid belonging to the order Pseudoscorpionida, also known as Pseudoscorpiones or Chelonethida. ... Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ...

In the Annelida (sub)class Oligochaeta there are many families of aquatic worms, and for native terrestrial worms: the Enchytraeidae (pot worms) and the "true" earthworms in families Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae and Megascolecidae. The latter includes the world's largest earthworm, the giant Gippsland earthworm, found only in Gippsland, Victoria. On average they reach 80 cm in length, but specimens up to 3.7 m in length have been found. Classes and subclasses Class Polychaeta (paraphyletic?) Class Clitellata    Oligochaeta - Earthworms and others    Acanthobdellida    Branchiobdellida    Hirudinea - Leeches Class Myzostomida Class Archiannelida (polyphyletic) Class Echiura *Some authors consider the subclasses under Clitellata to be classes The annelids, collectively called Annelida, are a large phylum of animals, comprising the segmented worms, with about... This Tree of Life article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... For other uses, see Worm (disambiguation). ... The Enchytraeidae are a microdrile oligochaete family and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly organic environments and iceworms such as Mesenchytraeus solifugus that live in ice fields. ... Genera See text. ... Binomial name Megascolides australis McCoy, 1878 The giant Gippsland earthworm (Megascolides australis), is one of Australias 1000 native earthworm species. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... VIC redirects here. ...

The wolf spider, Lycosa godeffroyi, is common in many areas of Australia. In this family of spiders, the female carries her egg-sac.

The large family Parastacidae includes 124 species of Australian freshwater crayfish. These include the world's smallest crayfish, the swamp crayfish, which does not exceed 30 mm in length, and the world's largest crayfish, the Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish, measuring up to 76 cm long and weighing 4.5 kg. The crayfish genus Cherax includes the common yabby, in addition to the farmed species marron and Queensland red claw. Species from the genus Engaeus, commonly known as the land crayfish, are also found in Australia. Engaeus species are not entirely aquatic, because they spend most of their lives living in burrows. Australia has seven species of freshwater crab from the genus Austrothelphusa. These crabs live burrowed into the banks of waterways and can plug their burrows, surviving through several years of drought. The extremely primitive freshwater mountain shrimp, found only in Tasmania, are a unique group, resembling species found in the fossil record from 200 MYA. Download high resolution version (1024x809, 232 KB)Wolf Spider with her egg sac Taken by User:Fir0002 File links The following pages link to this file: Wolf spider Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Wolf Spider with egg sac Categories: GFDL images ... Download high resolution version (1024x809, 232 KB)Wolf Spider with her egg sac Taken by User:Fir0002 File links The following pages link to this file: Wolf spider Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Wolf Spider with egg sac Categories: GFDL images ... Diversity 107 genera, 2320 species Genera Adelocosa Alopecosa Arctosa Geolycosa Hogna Lycosa Pardosa Pirata Sosippus Trochosa many more Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, so named because their method of hunting is to run down their prey. ... Genera Astacoides Astacopsis Cherax Engaeus Engaewa Euastacus Geocherax Gramastacus Paranephrops Parastacoides Parastacus Samastacus Tenuibranchiurus Virilastacus Parastacidae is the family of freshwater crayfish found in the southern hemisphere. ... Binomial name Tenuibranchiurus glypticus Riek, 1951 The swamp crayfish, Tenuibranchiurus glypticus, is a tiny freshwater crayfish that occurs in freshwater waterways in Queensland, and is the smallest known species of crayfish. ... Binomial name Astacopsis gouldi (Clark, 1936) The Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world. ... Species about 40; see text Cherax is the largest and most widespread genus of crayfish in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Binomial name Cherax destructor Clark, 1936 The Common yabby, Cherax destructor, is a freshwater crayfish. ... Binomial name Cherax tenuimanus Smith, 1912 Cherax tenuimanus, the marron, is a large freshwater crayfish found in the south-west corner of Australia. ... Binomial name Von Martens, 1868 The Australian red claw crayfish, also called Queensland red claw or just redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus, is an Australian freshwater crayfish. ... Engaeus is a genus of freshwater crayfish found in Australia. ... Species Austrothelphusa agassizi Austrothelphusa angustifrons Austrothelphusa raceki Austrothelphusa tigrina Austrothelphusa transversa Austrothelphusa valentula Austrothelphusa wasselli Austrothelphusa is a genus of freshwater crab found in Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. ... Anaspididae is an family of freshwater crustacean that exist only in Tasmania. ...

A magnificent sea anemone on the Great Barrier Reef, with an Ocellaris clownfish.

A huge variety of marine invertebrates are found in Australian waters, with the Great Barrier Reef an important source of this diversity. Families include the Porifera or sea sponges, the Cnidaria (includes the jellyfish, corals and sea anemones, comb jellies), the Echinodermata (includes the sea urchins, starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, the lamp shells) and the Mollusca (includes snails, slugs, limpets, squid, octopus, cockles, oysters, clams, and chitons). Venomous invertebrates include the box jellyfish, the blue-ringed octopus, and ten species of cone snail, which can cause respiratory failure and death in humans. The crown-of-thorns starfish usually inhabits the Reef at low densities. However, under conditions that are not yet well understood, they can reproduce to reach an unsustainable population density when coral is devoured at a rate faster than it can regenerate. This presents a serious reef management issue. Other problematic marine invertebrates include the native species purple sea-urchin and the white urchin, which have been able to take over marine habitats and form urchin barrens due to the over harvesting of their natural predators which include abalone and rock lobster. Introduced invertebrate pests include the Asian mussel, New Zealand green-lipped mussel, black-striped mussel and the Northern Pacific seastar, all of which displace native shellfish. Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) home. ... Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) home. ... Binomial name Heteractis magnifica (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) Heteractis magnifica (known variously as magnificent sea anemone or Ritteri anemone) is a species of sea anemone that lives in the Indo-Pacific area, and can grow up to 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter in the wild. ... The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef system,[1][2] composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,616 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (132,974 sq mi). ... Binomial name (Lacépède, 1802) The Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) or false Percula clownfish is a popular aquarium fish. ... The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef system,[1][2] composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,616 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (132,974 sq mi). ... The sponge, in the phylum Porifera, is a very primitive and specialized animal. ... Subphylum/Classes[1] Anthozoa — corals and sea anemones Medusozoa:[2] Cubozoa — sea wasps or box jellyfish Hydrozoa — hydroids, hydra-like animals Polypodiozoa Scyphozoa — jellyfish Staurozoa — stalked jellyfish unranked: Myxozoa - parasites Cnidaria[3] (IPA: [4]) is a phylum containing some 11,000 species of apparently simple animals found exclusively in aquatic... Bold text For other uses, see Jellyfish (disambiguation). ... Extant Subclasses and Orders Alcyonaria    Alcyonacea    Helioporacea Zoantharia    Antipatharia    Corallimorpharia    Scleractinia    Zoanthidea [1][2]  See Anthozoa for details For other uses, see Coral (disambiguation). ... Families Many, see text. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Classes Subphylum Homalozoa Gill & Caster, 1960 Class Homostelea Class Homoiostelea Class Stylophora Gill & Caster, 1960 Class Ctenocystoidea Robison & Sprinkle, 1969 Subphylum Crinozoa Class Eocrinoidea Jaekel, 1899 Class Paracrinoidea Regnéll, 1945 Class Cystoidea von Buch, 1846 Class Blastoidea Class Crinoidea Subphylum Asterozoa Class Ophiuroidea Class Asteroidea Subphylum Echinozoa Helicoplacoidea †  ?Arkarua... Subclasses Subclass Perischoechinoidea Order Cidaroida (pencil urchins) Subclass Euechinoidea Superorder Atelostomata Order Cassiduloida Order Spatangoida (heart urchins) Superorder Diadematacea Order Diadematoida Order Echinothurioida Order Pedinoida Superorder Echinacea Order Arbacioida Order Echinoida Order Phymosomatoida Order Salenioida Order Temnopleuroida Superorder Gnathostomata Order Clypeasteroida (sand dollars) Order Holectypoida Wikispecies has information related to... Orders Brisingida (100 species[1]) Forcipulatida (300 species[2]) Paxillosida (255 species[3]) Notomyotida (75 species[4]) Spinulosida (120 species[5]) Valvatida (695 species[6]) Velatida (200 species[7]) For other uses, see Starfish (disambiguation). ... Orders ME Oegophiurida Ophiurida Phrynophiurida Brittle stars are echinoderms, closely related to starfish. ... Orders Subclass Apodacea Apodida Molpadiida Subclass Aspidochirotacea Aspidochirotida Elasipodida Subclass Dendrochirotacea Dactylochirotida Dendrochirotida Wikispecies has information related to: Holothuroidea The sea cucumber is an echinoderm of the class Holothuroidea, with an elongated body and leathery skin, which is found on the sea floor worldwide. ... Diversity About 4000 genera Subphyla and classes See Classification Brachiopods (from Latin bracchium, arm + New Latin -poda, foot) are a nearly extinct, small phylum of benthic invertebrates. ... For other uses, see Snail (disambiguation). ... This article is about land slugs. ... Suborders See text. ... For other uses, see Squid (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Octopus (disambiguation). ... Genera Acanthocardia Americardia Cardium Cerastoderma Clinocardium Corculum Ctenocardia Dinocardium Discors Fragum Fulvia Laevicardium Lophocardiium Lyrocardium Lunulicardia Microcardium Nemocardium Papyridea Parvicardium Plagiocardium Ringicardium Trachycardium Trigoniocardia Serripes Cockle is the common name for bivalve mollusks of the family Cardiidae. ... For other uses, see Oyster (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Clam (disambiguation). ... Families See text. ... Binomial name Southcott, 1956 Chironex fleckeri, commonly known as box jellyfish, marine stinger and formerly the sea wasp, is a highly venomous species of box jellyfish. ... Species See text. ... Genera Asprella Chelyconus Conus Floraconus Leptoconus The cone snails or cone shells, sometimes simply known as cones, (family Conidae), are a taxonomic family of medium-sized to large, sophisticated predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster planci) is a seastar with thorn-like spines sprouting all over its body for protection. ... Species Many, see species section. ... Binomial name Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875) The rock lobster or spiny rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii, sometimes called crayfish) is a species of spiny lobster found throughout waters of the south coast of Australian, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands coastal waters. ... Binomial name Musculista senhousia Benson, 1842 The Asian mussel is a small mussel species native to the northwest Pacific. ... Binomial name Perna canaliculus Gmelin, 1791 The New Zealand Green-lipped mussel, also know as the New Zeland mussel or the Greenshell mussel is an economially important mussel species native to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Mytilopsis sallei The black-striped mussel is a small marine bivalve mollusc originating from Central and South America. ... Binomial name Asterias amurensis Lütken, 1871 Asterias amurensis, commonly referred to as the northern Pacific sea star, is an invasive species in Australia, and native to the coasts of northern China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and Japan. ...

There are many unique marine crustaceans in Australian waters. The best-known class, to which all the edible species of crustacean belong, is Malacostraca. The warm waters of northern Australia are home to many species of decapod crustaceans, including crabs, false crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and prawns. The Peracarids, including the amphipods and isopods, are more diverse in the colder waters of southern Australia. Less-well-known marine groups include the classes Remipedia, Cephalocarida, Branchiopoda, Maxillopoda (which includes the barnacles, copepods and fish lice), and the Ostracoda. Notable species include the Tasmanian giant crab, the second largest crab species in the world, found in deep water, and weighing up to 13 kg, and the Australian spiny lobsters, such as the Western rock lobster, which are distinct from other lobster species as they do not have claws. // Subclasses Eumalacostraca Hoplocarida Phyllocarida See text for orders. ... Suborders Dendrobranchiata Pleocyemata See text for superfamilies. ... For other uses, see Crab (disambiguation). ... Superfamilies Lomisoidea Lomisidae Paguroidea Coenobitidae Diogenidae Lithodidae Paguridae Parapaguridae Galatheoidea Aeglidae Chirostylidae Galatheidae Kiwaidae Porcellanidae Hippoidea Albuneidae Hippidae Anomura (sometimes Anomala) are a group of decapod crustaceans, including hermit crabs and others. ... Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infra-order Paguroidea, distinct from the true crabs in the infra-order Brachyura. ... Genera Jasus Linuparus Palinurus Panulirus Spiny lobsters, also known as rock lobsters are a family (Palinuridae) of about 45 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia. ... Superfamilies and Families Thalassinoidea Thalassinidae Callianassoidea Callianassidae Callianideidae Ctenochelidae Laomediidae Thomassiniidae Upogebiidae Axioidea Axiidae Calocarididae Micheleidae Strahlaxiidae Thalassinidea is an infraorder of decapod crustaceans that live in burrows in muddy bottoms of the worlds oceans. ... Superfamilies and families Penaeoidea Aristeidae Benthesicymidae Penaeidae Sicyoniidae Solenoceridae Sergestoidea Luciferidae Sergestidae Wikispecies has information related to: Dendrobranchiata Prawns are shrimp–like crustaceans, belonging to the sub-order Dendrobranchiata [1]. Prawns are distinguished from the superficially similar shrimp by the gill structure which is branching in prawns (hence the name... Suborders   Order Amphipoda - amphipods   Order Cumacea - cumaceans   Order Isopoda - pillbugs, sowbugs   Order Lophogastrida   Order Mictacea   Order Mysida The superorder Peracarida is a large group of crustaceans, having members in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats. ... Sub-orders Gammaridea Caprellidea Hyperiidea Ingolfiellidea Amphipoda (amphipods) include about 4600 different species of small, shrimp-like crustaceans. ... Suborders Anthuridea Asellota Calabozoida Epicaridea Flabellifera Microcerberidea Oniscidea Phreatoicidea Valvifera Wikispecies has information related to: Isopoda Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Isopoda Isopods are one of the most diverse orders of crustaceans, however they do not have gills, but with many species living in all environments, and are common... Orders Enantiopoda (extinct) Nectiopoda Remipedia is a class of blind crustaceans found in deep caves connected to salt water, in Australia and the Caribbean Sea. ... Genera Chiltonella Hampsonellus Hutchinsoniella Lightiella Sandersiella Cephalocarida is a class inside the subphylum Crustacea that comprises only about 9 shrimp-like benthic species. ... Subclasses and Orders Subclass Sarsostraca Order Anostraca (fairy shrimp) Subclass Phyllopoda Order Notostraca (tadpole shrimp) Superorder Diplostraca Order Cladocera (water fleas) Order Conchostraca (clam shrimps) Suborder Laevicaudata Suborder Spinicaudata Suborder Cyclestherida Branchiopoda is a group of primitive and primarily fresh water crustaceans, mostly resembling shrimp. ... Sub-classes Thecostraca Tantulocarida Branchiura Pentastomida Mystacocarida Copepoda Maxillopoda is a class of crustaceans, characterised by a reduction of the abdomen and its appendages. ... For other uses, see Barnacle (disambiguation). ... Orders Calanoida Cyclopoida Gelyelloida Harpacticoida Misophrioida Monstrilloida Mormonilloida Platycopioida Poecilostomatoida Siphonostomatoida Copepods are a group of small crustaceans found in the sea and nearly every freshwater habitat. ... Branchiura is a group of parasitic crustaceans of uncertain position within the Maxillopoda. ... Orders Archaeocopida (extinct) Leperditicopida (extinct) Palaeocopida (extinct) Podocopida Platycopida Myodocopida Introduction Ostracoda is a class of the Crustacea, sometimes known as the seed shrimp because of their appearance. ... Binomial name Pseudocarcinus gigas Lamarck, 1818 The Tasmanian giant crab, sometimes known as the giant deepwater crab, giant southern crab and queen crab, is a species of crab that occurs in the southern waters of Australia on the edge of the continental shelf at a depth of 30-820 m... Genera Jasus Linuparus Palinurus Panulirus Spiny lobsters, also known as rock lobsters are a family (Palinuridae) of about 45 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia. ... Binomial name Panulirus cygnus George, 1962 The western rock lobster or western crayfish, Panulirus cygnus, is a spiny lobster found off the west coast of Australia, and is Australias most valuable fishery, making up 20% of value of Australias total fishing industry. ... Subfamilies and Genera Neophoberinae Acanthacaris Thymopinae Nephropsis Nephropides Thymops Thymopsis Nephropinae Homarus Nephrops Homarinus Metanephrops Eunephrops Thymopides Clawed lobsters comprise a family (Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine crustaceans. ...

Invasive species

The poisonous cane toad

Main article: Invasive species in Australia

Introduction of exotic fauna in Australia by design, accident and natural processes has led to a considerable number of invasive, feral and pest species which have flourished and now impact the environment adversely. Introduced organisms affect the environment in a number of ways. Rabbits render land useless for economic use. Foxes affect local endemic fauna by predation while the cane toad poisons the predators by being eaten. The invasive species include birds (Indian Mynah) and fish (common carp), insects (red imported fire ant) and molluscs (Asian mussel). The problem is compounded by invasive exotic flora as well as introduced diseases, fungi and parasites. Common invasive species in the Adelaide Hills: Olive, Cotton thistle, Fennel and Bamboo Invasive species are a serious threat to the native biodiversity of Australia and are an ongoing cost to Australian agriculture. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... A feral horse (an American mustang) in Wyoming A feral animal or plant is one that has escaped from domestication and returned, partly or wholly, to its wild state. ... Carpet beetle larvae damaging a specimen of Sceliphron destillatorius in an entomological collection A pest is an organism which has characteristics that are regarded as injurious or unwanted. ... For other uses, see Rabbit (disambiguation). ... This article is about the animal. ... Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean belonging or native to, characteristic of, or prevalent in a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; Native to an area or scope. ... Predator and Prey redirect here. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Distribution of the Cane Toad. ... Binomial name Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) The Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, is a myna, a member of the starling family. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The Common carp or European carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a widespread freshwater fish distantly related to the common goldfish (Carassius auratus), with which it is capable of interbreeding[1]. It gives its name to the carp family Cyprinidae. ... It has been suggested that Fire ant be merged into this article or section. ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. ... Binomial name Musculista senhousia Benson, 1842 The Asian mussel is a small mussel species native to the northwest Pacific. ... Simplified schematic of an islands flora - all its plant species, highlighted in boxes. ...

Costly, laborious and time-consuming efforts at control of these species has met with little success and this continues to be a major problem area in the conservation of Australia's biodiversity.

Human impact and conservation

Main article: Conservation in Australia

For at least 40,000 years, Australia's fauna played an integral role in the traditional lifestyles of Indigenous Australians, who exploited many species as a source of food and skins. Vertebrates commonly harvested included macropods, opossums, seals, fish and the Short-tailed Shearwater, most commonly known as the Muttonbird. Invertebrates used as food included insects like the Bogong moth and larvae collectively called witchetty grubs and molluscs. The use of fire-stick farming, in which large swathes of bushland were burnt to facilitate hunting, modified both flora and fauna — and are thought to have contributed to the extinction of large herbivores with a specialised diet, such as the flightless birds from the genus Genyornis.^[13] The role of hunting and landscape modification by aboriginal people in the extinction of the Australian megafauna is debated.^[14] Conservation in Australia is an issue of state and federal policy. ... Language(s) Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religion(s) Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group... Binomial name Puffinus tenuirostris (Temminck, 1835) The Short-tailed Shearwater also commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in Australia and they are one of the few Australian native birds that is commercially harvested. ... Binomial name Agrotis infusa (bogong moth) , Subspecies The Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is a temperate species of night-flying moth notable for appearing in major proportions around major public buildings in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, during spring (late September to November). ... Some witchetty grubs, ready to be eaten. ... Fire-stick farming is a term coined by Australian archeologist Rhys Jones in 1969 to describe the practice of Indigenous Australians where fire was used regularly to burn vegetation to facilitate hunting and to change the composition of plant and animal species in an area. ... Binomial name Genyornis newtoni Stirling & Zietz, 1896 Genyornis (Genyornis newtoni) was a genus of large, flightless bird that lived in Australia until about 50,000 years ago. ... Marsupial Lion skeleton in Naracoorte Caves, South Australia. ...

The grey nurse shark is critically endangered on the Australian east coast.

The impact of Aborigines on native species populations is widely considered to be less significant than that of the European settlers,^[14] whose impact on the landscape has been on a relatively large scale. Since European settlement, direct exploitation of native fauna, habitat destruction and the introduction of exotic predators and competitive herbivores has led to the extinction of some 27 mammal, 23 bird and 4 frog species. Much of Australia's fauna is protected by legislation; a notable exception is kangaroos, which are prolific and are regularly culled. The federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was created to meet Australia's obligations as a signatory to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. This act protects all native fauna and provides for the identification and protection of threatened species. In each state and territory, there is statutory listing of threatened species. At present, 380 animal species are classified as either endangered or threatened under the EPBC Act, and other species are protected under state and territory legislation.^[15] More broadly, a complete cataloguing of all the species within Australia has been undertaken, a key step in the conservation of Australian fauna and biodiversity. In 1973, the federal government established the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), which coordinates research in the taxonomy, identification, classification and distribution of flora and fauna. The ABRS maintains free online databases cataloguing much of the described Australian flora and fauna. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 123 KB) A Grey Nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) shows off its piscivorean dentition. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 123 KB) A Grey Nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) shows off its piscivorean dentition. ... Binomial name Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810 Not to be confused with nurse shark. ... The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places. ... The Convention on Biological Diversity, known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international treaty that was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. ... Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) is a project undertaken by Parks Australia Division of Australias Department of the Environment and Heritage. ...

Australia is a member of the International Whaling Commission and is strongly opposed to commercial whaling—all Cetacean species are protected in Australian waters. Australia is also a signatory to the CITES agreement and prohibits the export of endangered species. Protected areas have been created in every state and territory to protect and preserve the country's unique ecosystems. These protected areas include national parks and other reserves, as well as 64 wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention and 16 World Heritage Sites. As of 2002, 10.8% (774,619.51 km²) of the total land area of Australia is within protected areas.^[16] Protected marine zones have been created in many areas to preserve marine biodiversity; as of 2002, these areas cover about 7% (646,000 km²) of Australia's marine jurisdiction.^[17] The Great Barrier Reef is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority under specific federal and state legislation. Some of Australia's fisheries are already overexploited,^[18] and quotas have been set for the sustainable harvest of many marine species. International Whaling Commission Logo The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was set up by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW)[1] on December 2, 1946 to promote and maintain whale fishery stocks. ... The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ... The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef system,[1][2] composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometres (1,616 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (132,974 sq mi). ...

The State of the Environment Report, 2001, prepared by independent researchers for the federal government, concluded that the condition of the environment and environmental management in Australia had worsened since the previous report in 1996. Of particular relevance to wildlife conservation, the report indicated that many processes—such as salinity, changing hydrological conditions, land clearing, fragmentation of ecosystems, poor management of the coastal environment, and invasive species—pose major problems for protecting Australia's biodiversity.^[19] Soil Salinity is a major environmental issue in Australia, chiefly affecting agricultural lands in many areas of W.A. (Western Australia) Much of central Australia was at one time a shallow inland sea. ... Common invasive species in the Adelaide Hills: Olive, Cotton thistle, Fennel and Bamboo Invasive species are a serious threat to the native biodiversity of Australia and are an ongoing cost to Australian agriculture. ...

See also

• List of Australian mammals
  • List of Australian monotremes and marsupials
  • List of Australian bats
  • List of Australian rodents
  • List of placental mammals introduced to Australia
  • List of Australian marine mammals

• List of Australian birds and the List of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds

• List of common Australian spiders

• Threatened fauna of Australia

• Extinct Australian fauna
  • Recently extinct Australian animals: from 1788 to present;
  • Australian megafauna: from first human colonisation to 1788

• Invasive species in Australia
  • List of placental mammals introduced to Australia
  • List of introduced fish in Australia.

A total of 379 species of mammals have been recorded in Australia and surrounding continental waters; 357 indigenous and 22 introduced[1]. The list includes 2 monotremes, 159 marsupials, 76 bats, 69 rodents (5 introduced), 10 seals, 3 placental terrestrial carnivores (2 recent and 1 sub-recent introductions), 13 introduced... // Mammals are divided into two subclasses based on reproductive techniques: egg laying mammals (the monotremes), and live birth mammals. ... Grey-headed Flying-fox Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) This is a list of Australian bats. ... This is a list of Australian rodents. ... // A variety of placental mammals have been introduced to Australia since the arrival of Captain Cook in 1770. ... This is a list of Australian marine mammals. ... // This list is based on the Birds Australia list, September 2003 (PDF, free registration required). ... // This list is based on the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds list, May 2002 update, with the doubtfuls omitted. ... Huntsman spider. ... Threatened fauna of Australia are those species and subspecies of birds, fish, frogs, insects, mammals, molluscs and reptiles to be found in Australia that are in danger of becoming extinct. ... Following is a complete list of Australian vertebrate extinctions from 1788 to the present. ... Marsupial Lion skeleton in Naracoorte Caves, South Australia. ... Common invasive species in the Adelaide Hills: Olive, Cotton thistle, Fennel and Bamboo Invasive species are a serious threat to the native biodiversity of Australia and are an ongoing cost to Australian agriculture. ... // A variety of placental mammals have been introduced to Australia since the arrival of Captain Cook in 1770. ... Due to its geographical situation and isolation Australia has distinct fish fauna, including many endemic species. ...

References

Cited references

Nature is a prominent scientific journal, first published on 4 November 1869. ... The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, centering on natural history and anthropology, with collections centering on vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as minerology, palaeontology, and anthropology. ... The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is the national government body for scientific research in Australia. ... Science is the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). ... The Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) is a department of the Australian federal government. ...

General references

External links

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More spoken articles

• Australian Biological Resources Study
• Australian Insect Common names
• Australian Museum, Australia's natural history museum
• Crustacean Gallery- Marine crustacean from southeastern Australia
• Fauna of Australia, full contents of Mammalia and some of Amphibia & Reptilia available in .pdf format
• Fossil Sites of Australia
• University of Melbourne Australian Venom Research Unit, descriptions and images of many venomous species

Image File history File links Fauna_of_Australia. ... Image File history File links Sound-icon. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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