ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA

PAGE TWO

PLATYPUS

The Platypus has a bill that resembles a duck's bill but is actually an elongated snout covered with soft, moist, leathery skin and sensitive nerve endings. The body of the platypus is 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) long; the flattened tail measures 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) in length. The feet are webbed. The body and tail are covered with a thick, soft, woolly layer of fur, from which long, flat hairs protrude. The platypus has three layers of fur: 1. an inside layer to trap air and keep the animal warm 2. a middle layer which works like a wet suit 3. an outer layer to feel if it is close to objects A Platypus grows to a maximum weight of 1 to 2.4 kg (2.2 to 5.3 lb). The Platypus is known to live for at least 12 years in the wild

KOALA

Koalas are found in South Eastern Australia and has been described as an "ash coloured pouched bear". But they are not a bear they are a mammal ( meaning they feed their young on Milk) and are a Marsupial (meaning they carry their developing young mostly in a pouch) The name koala, comes from the Aboriginal saying that means "no drink". The Koala obtains enough moisture from the eucalypt leaves that it lives on

GALAH

The galah is a grey and pink cockatoo, very active and noisy with a shrill call Their faces have a pink eye ring and the difference between males and females is their eye colours The mature females is a "coppery"red whilst the mature males is darker

ECHIDNA

The Echidna found in Australia is the Short-beaked Echidna and along with the Platypus are the only members of the monotreme family which are Mammals that lay eggs and produces milk for its young
Echidnas (pronounced "E-kid-na") sometimes referred to as Spiny anteaters resemble the Hedgehog and the porcupine in that they are covered by sharp spines. The Echidna is found all over Australia and can survive a range of temperatures and habitats Though mostly nocturnal, in mild weather they can be seen during the day, but if the weather is extreme (either very cold or hot) Echidnas will stay in shelter. (under rocks, fallen timber or burying themselves in the ground)

Long Nosed Bandicoot

The most obvious characteristic is the reason for its name, that is that its muzzle is long and pointed.
Its colour is mainly Greyish brown on their back, whilst their underside creamy white as is parts of their feet
Their coat is bristly and rough, and they have no bars on their rump like many other species of bandicoots do.
Toatal length: 12 to 17 inches (approax)
Tail length: 5 to 6 inches (approax)
Weight: 850 gram to 1.1 Kg (approax)

Turquoise Parrot

About 8 inches long the Turquoisine Grass Parrot has a blue head and wings red wing bars, green upper parts and bright yellow underpants. The female Turquoisine Grass Parrot is not so brightly coloured as the males and have no wing bars

Tasmanian DEVIL

The Tasmanian Devil is usually black with a white "collar" or patch around its neck. It is the size of a small terrier dog very solid and "stout" and weighs in between 6 and 8 kgs It has a tail of between 9 to 12" long
Tasmanian Devils have an extremely
 large powerful head with a wide jaw with sharp teeth pointy pink ears (that turn red when angry due to increased blood flow)

Australian Magpie

There are 3 types:
- Black Back
- White Back
- Western (which normally have mottled backs)
Western are found in the Southern regions of the state of West Australia Black back and white back are found in the rest of Australia, the White Back to the North, the Black Back to the South. Interbreeding has made location lines very indistinct, with the Australian Magpie being one of Australias most common birds This is because it needs open ground to feed, some trees to roost in, and this describes a lot of Australias agriculture regions and urban landscapes

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

This very striking bird is found throughout a lot of Australia in the wild, and is often kept as pets all over the world.
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo in Australia has 4 main species which do not vary much except in the overall size of the bird and the size and shape of their crest.
*) Galerita Galerita ...... *) Galerita Fitzroyi ...... *) Galerita Triton ...... *) Galerita Eleonora
All birds in the species are white with yellow markings on their crest, ear, tail and parts of their "underfeathers"