Australia is a unique country rich in flora and fauna. Many animal species present there can’t be found anywhere else on the planet and hence represent endemic kinds. Of course, Australia is much more than just flora and fauna, but one of the first things that will cross your mind whenever you think of the continent down under is the kangaroo or koala. While these two species are the most popular Australian animals by a mile, you’ll be surprised to learn how many more you can find there, including some of those you’ve never heard of. Without further ado, let’s introduce some of the most common and hence popular animals in Australia. As reported by a survey done by bettingTips4you.com, the Kangaroo, who is the mascot of the Australian’s football and rugby team, it is the most loved animal by the locals.
Kangaroo
We simply have to start with the kangaroo. It is a member of the infraclass of marsupials, much like the majority of the animals, we will speak about in this article. Among more than 60 different species of kangaroos, the most popular ones are east and west grey kangaroos, antelope, and red kangaroos. The fact that they live exclusively on this continent makes them endemic species. According to the experts, there are currently around 55 million kangaroos in Australia. It is thus no wonder that this animal has its place on the Australian emblem as well as on some coins.
Koala
Koala is a marsupial herbivore usually located in coastal areas in the east and south of the country. Interestingly, there are no koalas in Western Australia or Tasmania. Koala became the national animal of Queensland in 1971. The animal is so specific because it spends its entire life on a eucalyptus tree. Their slow energy-keeping metabolism allows koalas to sleep as many as 20 hours a day. They eat in the remaining three to five hours, usually at night.
Wallaby
Wallaby belongs to the family of small and middle macropods. They live exclusively in Australia and New Guinea. They do belong to the same core family as kangaroos, but the latter group is further separated into more categories. So, wallabies are also marsupials, meaning they have strong legs that help them jump high. Unfortunately, wallabies are frequently hunted for their meat and fur and are currently endangered species.
Barbed Agama
Barbed agama is a small 15-centimeter-long reptile that reminds of a dragon. A barbed hump located in the middle of the neck is its main characteristic. It is a diurnal animal as you’ll rarely see a barbed agama moving during the night. This unique animal is well suited for the conditions found in the deserts because the morning dew condenses on its pricks and slides straight into the animal’s mouth. This helps barbed agamas to live without water for weeks. To protect themselves from the heat, barbed agamas often bury themselves in the sand.
Dingo
Dingo is a medium-sized Australian canine, often described as the Australian wild dog. Naturally, it has plenty of similarities and is often compared to wolves and modern-day dogs. It does not bark like regular dogs, although its bark can be much louder. Dingo often howls to call the other members of its herd and get rid of the enemies that way. Nowadays, you will find dingo pretty much all over Australia (mainly in the northern part of the country) as well as in southeastern Asia.
Tasmanian Devil
Last but not least, the Tasmanian devil is the biggest carnivorous marsupial on the planet. It has black fur and is also recognizable for its terrifying shrieks. This animal is only present in Tasmania in the present day. The Tasmanian devil vanished from Australia 3000 years ago. Since 1941, the hunt on the Tasmanian devil was banned because this species is threatened by extinction.
