The document summarizes the key characteristics of the fauna found in the Australasian region, which includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Some key points: - The region has a thin diversity of vertebrate species and lacks many families found elsewhere. However, it contains many unique genera. - Marsupials and monotremes are only found in this region. Common mammals like rabbits have been introduced. - Birds are abundant with many unique families like cassowaries, emus, and birds of paradise. - Reptiles include crocodiles, turtles, geckos, and snakes. Amphibians are few and do not include toads

1. B.ASHOK KUMAR
LECTURER IN ZOOLOGY
KRK GOVT DEGREE COLLEGE
ADDANKI-523201
@9652929696,9441635264

5. Geographical Limits:
It includes Australia,NewZealand,
New Guinea, Tasmania, Moluccas
and neighbouring islands
This region has no land
connection with any other region

6.  Climatic conditions:
It is partly tropical and partly
temperate
New Guinea is tropical and is mostly
covered with rain forests.
The Northern part of Australia is
tropical but most of the interior is arid
Tasmania is cool and temperate.

7.  Fauna:
The vertebrate fauna is very thin.
It lacks both the variety as well as the
number of families
But it has several unique genera
The most peculiar feature is the absence of
highly evolved mammals and it contains
many primitive forms
Marsupials and Monotremes are found only
in this region

8.  Fauna-Fishes:
Fresh water fishes are Osteoglossids and
Neoceratodus.but both have restricted
distribution

10.  Fauna-Amphibians:
Amphibians are few
The common Toads and tailed Amphibians are
absent
The Australian representatives are Frogs like Hyla
and Rana

12.  Fauna-Reptilia:
Reptiles are moderately varied
Two families are exclusive.
Crocodiles,Turtles,Geckos,Skinks,Varanus,Typhlops
,Pythons and some Colubrids occur in New Guinea
and parts of Australia
Pythons and tiger snakes are abundant

14.  Fauna-Aves:
Bird fauna is abundant having 58 families about 44 are
more or less widely distributed all over the world
Two families are divided between Australia and
Oriental regions
12 families are exclusive
Trangon and King fishers,Hawks,Cockoos,Pigeons and
Parrots are very numerous.
The pigeons and parrots have reached their maximum
diversity

15.  Fauna-Aves:
There are three exclusive families of parrots and
cuckoos
Loris and pigmy parrots, frog mouths, wood
swallows, flower peckers and megapodes are
shared with oriental region.
Pheasants, finches barbets and wood peckers are
absent
Total 10 families are exclusive

16.  Fauna-Aves:
Total 10 families are exclusive like
Cassowaries
Emu
Honey suckers
Lyrebirds
Bower birds
Legendary bird of Paradise
Megapodes
Owlet frogmouths
Flower peckers
Bell magpies
Scrub birds

20.  Fauna-Mammals:
Complete absence of eutherian mammals.
Few Monotremes
Several families of Marsupials.
Echidna and Ornythorhynchus are the monotremes
found only in this region
Dasyurus,Perameles,Opposums,
Bandicoots,Wombbats and Phascolomidae are 6
families of Marsupials
6 families of insectivorus bats and few fruit bats
,mice,Australian dog and European rabbit and Hare
have introduced into this region