The Australian fauna is incredible and in the order of mammals, reptiles, insects, fish and amphibians almost 90% is endemic of the country .It is believed that this fact is due to the fact that the continent was very isolated and that its tectonic plates are very stable.special weather patterns that made it unique.
Between the differences between its fauna and that of the rest of the world, it is worth noting that there are very few placental mammals and many marsupials .Many of the Australian animals call our attention for their "originality." We bring you five of them that we found especially lovely.
Red kangaroo
It is the largest marsupial that exists Currently, it is called a red kangaroo because of the color of its fur.It is endemic to Australia and among its most curious features is having a 300º viewing angle (we humans have 180º).
Red kangaroos jump around because they CANNOT walk , did you know? Another curiosity is that in during the dry season the males do not produce sperm , therefore the females conceive only if there has been abundant rains.They are evening and nocturnal animals, a fact that helps them withstand the heat.
Koala
E l koala is a marsupial whose characteristic is to have very little activity , sleep 20 hours a day! more than lazy, who sleeps 18.They live in trees, especially in eucalyptus, and they hold on to them perfectly because of their five fingers , two are in opposite position to the other three.
They have the large head with respect to the body and rounded ears.Although they are solitary animals (except for mating) they have a organization very complex social Each Koala has its territory and the hierarchies are very clear.The females usually live about fifteen years and the males a little less.
Platypus
The platypus lives in eastern Australia and in Tasmania.It is a semi-aquatic mammal .Among its peculiarities is the fact that it lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young .The male has spurs on the hind legs that release a poison when it is stuck.In the human being this poison produces a strong pain.
The physical appearance of the platypus is very curious, since it has duckbill , the legs like an otter and the tail of a beaver .It's truly original!
Possum
They are marsupials endemic from Australia, although you can find them in New Guin ea, Celebes and also in New Zealand , where they have become a plague that ends many crops.They weigh between 2 and five kilos and their bulging eyes are one of their main characteristics.They are solitary animals that do not create couple bonds.
Females have one baby per year (exceptionally two) and these are born with only 0.2 grams of weight.They crawl to the marsupial bag of the mother where they stay for about 70 days.
Dugong
The dugong is not endemic to Australia , but we find it in many places in the Pacific and the Indico.We have included it here because it is an animal that we can easily find in a large part of the Australian coast .
The dugong is a mermaid .The only one left of his gender.When he reaches adulthood, he measures the 3 meters and It weighs about 200 kilos .It is only salt water and you will not find it in waters below 20º.It is herbivorous and likes to graze at night near the coast.
There are many more incredible animals populating Australian.This article, maybe you want more curiosities about Australia.
Images: E Nava, Matt Kieffer, Albuquerque BioPark, Jason James, Trevira1, Kumachii, Karen, Frank Gloystein
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