Australian Wildlife

MAMMALS Mammals all produce milk to suckle their young MAMMALS Mammals all produce milk to suckle their young. Mammals have fur or hair. There are three types of mammals and examples off each type are found in Australia. MONOTREMES are mammals that lay soft-shelled eggs. They can be found in Australia and New Guinea. Platypus Echidna (Spiny Anteater)

MARSUPIALS are mammals that give birth to young which are in an immature state. The females often have pouches in which to carry the young. The main groups of the 180 species of marsupials are: Kangaroo Possum Carnivorous Marsupials (Numbats, Moles, Native Cats) Koala, Wombat

PLACENTALS are mammals whose young are born in a more developed state, and produce a well developed placenta. The following species are found in Australia: Whales and Dolphins Native Rats and Mice Bats Dingoes Seals

TOOLACHE WALLABY The last toolache wallaby was seen in 1927. It is presumed that this animal became extinct through a combination of habitat clearing for farming and sport shooting.

Feral cats Feral cats are found throughout Australia. They kill many animals including small mammals, birds, frogs, reptiles and insects. Cats threaten the only mainland population of bandicoot in the state of Victoria.

Australian Foxes

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) and piercing dark eyes Its dark colouring helps it to move around unseen at night time (feeding time)

TASMANIAN DEVIL EATING Tasmanian Devils prefer to eat carrion, that is dead animals. They will eat anything lying around no matter how old and rotten, and their powerful jaws will help them crush bones so they can devour the whole carcass, meat, fur and bone, leaving nothing to pollute the environment. They can though kill their own prey such as snakes, birds, rodents,lizards, and small wallabies and lamb. it prefers to prey on animals smaller than itself It kills by inflicting a powerful bight onto the back of the neck or back of its victim It also needs to drinks water.

TASMANIAN DEVIL SCREAMING Tasmanian Devils are very loud especially when there are a number of them at the one carcass, trying to scare each other off. They have a range of sound, from barks to snorts to growling to screaming !. This screaming and their fierce looks gave birth to their "Devil" name

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