2. Australia is a very unusual country. Everybody knows that it is the smallest
continent in the World. And we also know that the fauna of Australia
consists of a huge variety of the most unusual animals. But have you ever
heard that Australians admire their animals so much that they make coins
with the animals’ images? We’ll tell you about these wonderful species.
3. The largest kangaroo - red kangaroo (Red Kangaroos). They can jump with a speed of
70km/h for short distances. Kangaroo live about 9-18 years, and some species live
up to 30 years. Most kangaroo live in the Bush, but they can be found also on the
beach or in the mountains, where rock Wallaby (rock wallabies) live.
4. The koala
(Phascolarctos
cinereus) is found in
coastal areas of the
mainland's eastern
and southern
regions, inhabiting
Queensland, New
South Wales, Victoria
and South Australia.
It is easily
recognisable by its
stout, tailless body;
round, fluffy ears;
and large, spoon-
shaped nose. The
koala has a body
length of 60–85 cm
5. Kookaburras (genus
Dacelo) grow to between
28–42 cm in length. The
name is a loanword from
Wiradjuri guuguubarra, it
is onomatopoeic . The
kookaburra's loud call
sounds like echoing
human laughter. They
are found in habitats
ranging from humid
forest to arid savanna,
as well as in suburban
areas with tall trees or
near running water
6. The saltwater crocodile is a large reptile growing to about 5 m (16 ft) in length. The males are bigger
than the female, with some rare individuals longer than 6.6 metres.They can weigh up to 1,000
kg.They have a powerful tail which helps with swimming. Saltwater crocodiles are now a protected
species in Australia. Hunting crocodiles is illegal.
7. The dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is a free-ranging dog, currently classified as a
subspecies of the grey wolf, Canis lupus. For many Australians, the dingo is a
cultural icon.
8. Platypus are found in Eastern Australia from Queensland to Tasmania. They
also brought on Kangaroo island, South coast of Australia. They usually live
near wetlands, riverbanks and lakes, feeling at home and in cool mountain
streams, and in the warm tropical lagoons. They build a deep hole, in which
shelter and breeding. Close the input tunnel is designed to wring out the
water with coats of the owner.
9. A lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds, that form the genus,
Menura, and the family Menuridae. They are most notable for their superb ability to mimic
natural and artificial sounds from their environment. As well as their extraordinary
mimicking ability, lyrebirds are notable because of the striking beauty of the male bird's
huge tail when it is fanned out in display. Lyrebirds have unique plumes of neutral coloured
tailfeathers and are among Australia's best-known native birds.
10. The Australian ostriches Emu
are the largest among not
flying birds. Height of an
ostrich can fluctuate from
1,5 to 1,8 meters, and
weight – from 45 to 55
kilograms. These birds can't
fly because of an
underdeveloped structure of
skeletons of the wings in
which there are no moss
feathers and steering
feathers. The Emu have
very long legs which are
perfectly developed. They
have three fingers, and also
one internal finger. This
finger inside is the main
weapon of an ostrich in fight
11. Wombats are short-
legged, muscular
quadrupedal
marsupials, native to
Australia,
approximately 1
metre in length, with
short, stubby tails.
They are adaptable
in habitat tolerance,
and are found in
forested,
mountainous, and
heathland areas of
south-eastern
Australia, including
Tasmania, as well as
an isolated patch of
about 300 hectares
in Epping Forest
12. Оpossum is a tiny
Australian marsupial
weighing just 7-11 g for
the male, and 8-16 g for
the female—about half the
weight of a mouse. Their
body length ranges from
6.5 cm to 9 cm..The
possum is mainly
nocturnal, but will come
out to feed during daylight
in cooler weather.
Generally, though, it
spends the days asleep in
a shelter of convenience:
a rock cranny, a tree
cavity, the hollow inside of
a grass tree, or an
13. Tasmanian devil is
also a marsupial, —
a mammal species
of predatory
marsupials; the only
type of the sort
Sarcophilus. It is
black ,has got huge
mouth with sharp
teeth.Its terrible night
shouts and furious
temper gave to the
first European
settlers the idea to
call it "devil".
14. The great white shark is a ferocious predator with 3,000 teeth at any one time. Only
the underbelly of the great white shark is actually white; its top surface is grey to blue
grey. This is useful in hunting its prey. The great white usually strikes from below and
its grayish top coloration blends in with the dark water.The biggest great white shark
on record was 23 feet (7 m) long, weighing about 7,000 pounds (3200 kg). Females
are larger than males, as with most sharks.
15. Echidnas are the only extant mammals that lay eggs. They eat
termites and ants, which they catch with their long sticky tongue
eggs.
