8 animals that can be found only in Australia

The world has some of the most unique species of animals, but Australia may take the top prize. It is cut off from the rest of the world’s land masses, has been for millions of years, and its isolation enabled species to evolve in their own unique way, hence you can find animals there that are found nowhere else. Endemic to Australia, this country’s native animals are an extraordinary reflection of its distinctive evolutionary journey and unique environment. Each species, whether the hopping kangaroo or the gliding greater glider, offers a snapshot of a world that has been shaped by isolation, adaptation and persistence. Preserving these animals and their habitats means this unique wildlife will flourish for future generations.
From jumping marsupials to spiky desert residents, Australia’s native wildlife is as much an icon of the country as its weathered outback. Here are eight species that live in the wild only on Australia.

Kangaroos are probably the best-known of all Australian animals. These have strong rear legs and large tails, and can be found across the Australian continent. Females raise their offspring, called joeys, in pouches, one of the distinctive features of marsupial reproduction. Several species of these ‘regal’ kangaroos, such as the red kangaroo and eastern grey are found only in Australia, where they have become national symbols for entire continent.

Misleadingly referred to as bears, koalas are arboreal marsupials endemic to the eucalyptus forests of eastern and southeastern Australia. They survive largely on nutrient-poor eucalyptus leaves, which are toxic to most other creatures. To survive, koalas snooze for as many as 20 hours a day to spare their energy and process the tough, fibrous foliage they eat.

Wombats are roly-poly marsupials with strong claws and stout bodies that are excellent at burrowing. They live in forests, mountains and grassland areas. They have a distinctive backwards pouch to stop soil going in whilst digging along. Wombats are known for their cube-shaped poops, little droppings that help them mark territory.

The Tasmanian devil (the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial) is found in the wild only in Tasmania. Although its size is like that of a small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the thylacine in 1936. It is further related to quolls, and is also distantly related to the thylacine.

The quokka is a small macropod which is around the size of a domestic cat. They are herbivorous, and inhabit Rottnest Island and some locations in Western Australia, where human interaction is controlled to protect the-friendly quokka. They have become an icon of Aussie wildlife tourism.

The numbat is a tiny, termite-eating marsupial with bold white stripes across its back. It was once distributed throughout southern Australia but now mainly only occurs in certain areas of Western Australia. Unlike most of the other marsupials, numbats are diurnal and use their long sticky tongues for eating termites.

The greater glider is the gliding marsupial and is found in forests of eastern Australia. It has a patagium between its limbs, which it uses to glide amongst the trees during the night. Its size, night-time activities and large eyes enable it to move around and feed in the dark of night; it feeds almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves.

Bilbies are small marsupials that live in the desert with long ears and silky fur. They create big networks of burrows to cool down and avoid predators. Although they were widely distributed across Australia, bilbies are now largely found in reserves in central and western Australia. A conservation icon, much is being done to help ensure their numbers continue to grow.