3. Fauna - Animals
Australia is an island, it was separate from other
continents for a long time. So the plants and
animals are very different. 70% of its plants and
animals can only be found in Australia.
4. Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a
marsupial, with large
feet, a strong tail and
females have a pouch for
joeys. Kangaroos only
eat plants and they can
be red or grey. There are
more than 40 million
kangaroos in Australia.
Marsupial: a mammal which carries its baby in a pouch
Joey: a baby kangaroo
5. Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian Devil is about a metre long and has black
and white fur. It eats dead animals. It is very rare, only
found in Tasmania and a disease, like cancer, is killing a
lot of devils.
6. Koala
A koala is about the size of a cat. They have thick
grey/brown fur, fluffy ears and live in trees. Koalas
sleep a lot and eat eucalyptus leaves.
7. Wombat
A wombat is a short, muscular marsupial about 1
metre in length. Wombats live on the ground in
burrows. Their pouch faces backwards, so that no dirt
can get it. Wombats eat plants and they are grey
brown.
8. Platypus
A playtpus is a mammal which lays eggs and lives in
and around water. It has a bill, like a duck, feet like an
otter and tail like a beaver. It is venomous.
9. Echidna
An echidna is a mammal that lays eggs. They are
brown and black and have spikes and eat ants and
termites.
10. Emu
An emu is the biggest bird in Australia. It has soft
brown feathers and is about 2 metres tall. Emus can
run and they eat plants and insects. They lay big green
eggs. Emus cannot fly.
11. Kookaburra
A kookaburra is a brown and white bird. It’s call
sounds like laughter. Kookaburras eat small animals
and insects.
14. Crocodiles
Australia has two types of crocodiles, saltwater (they
live in the sea) and freshwater (they live in rivers and
lakes). Fresh water crocodiles can grow to 3 metres
long. Saltwater can grow to 7 metres long. They lay
eggs.
15. Flora – Plants
Australia has 24 000 kinds of plants, which are only
found in Australia. England has 1700.
Bottle Brush
Wattle
Grevilla
Banksia
Melaluca