Australian High Commission
New Zealand
High Commission address: 72-76 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington - Telephone: +64 (0)4 473 6411 - Fax: +64 (0)4 498 7135

OzKids Animals

The Australian landmass was isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years. Australia has deserts, tropical forests, alpine mountains and rich pastureland. As a result, Australia has a diverse range of creatures that are unique and unlike anything seen anywhere in the world.

Land Animals

This section looks at land animals including, Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Wallaby, Dingo, Tasmanian Devil, Platypus, and Echidna.

Birds

The emu is probably Australia's best known bird, and like the ostrich and the now extinct Moa, emus cannot fly. But Australia has far more famous birds than just the emu.

This section includes information on the Emu, the Kookaburra and the Sulphur - Crested Cockatoo

Reptiles and Amphibians

There are hundreds of reptiles and amphibious creatures native to Australia. From the small tree frogs that inhabit the rainforests of north Queensland to the lizards of the parched central deserts of South and Western Australia. Australia has some of the most diverse and unusual cold-blooded creatures in the world.

This section includes information on the Crocodile, Goanna, Frilled Lizard and the Blue Mountain Tree Frog

Snakes

Australia has some of the most deadly snakes in the world. In fact Australia has more venomous snakes than any other country, and the three deadliest snakes in the world all live only in Australia.

There are about 30 poisonous snames in Australia, this section includes information on the Taipan, Death Adder, Red-Bellied Black Snake, Eastern Brown Snake, Australian Copperhead, and Tiger Snake.

Spiders

Of all the thousands of Australia spiders, arthropods and insects, only three have bites which alone are capable of causing death, the Funnel Web Spider (and related atrax species), the Red Back Spider and the Paralysis Tick.

Find out more about the Sydney Funnel Web Spider and Red Back Spider.

Water Creatures

Because the Australian land mass is so large and stretches from the warm waters of the tropics in far northern Queensland, to the cold waters off the coast of souther Tasmanian and the Australian Territory of Heard Island near the Antartic, Australia has a large and very diverse range of marine life.

This section contains information about the Australian Sea Lion and the Dugong.

 

Disclaimer Privacy An Australian Government website Copyright Commonwealth of Australia