Fauna and flora of Australia

English project

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Australia, a megadiverse country

2. Fauna

3. Fauna

4. References

Page

2

3

8

10

2

AUSTRALIA, A MEGADIVERSE COUNTRY

Australian is recognised as a megadiverse country for his biodiverse;

about 85 per cent of flowering plants, 84 per cent of mammals,

more than 45 per cent of birds, and 89 per cent of in-shore, temper-

ate-zone fish are endemic. Australia has also the greatest number of

reptiles of any country, with 755 species.

Australia is a special country with extraordinary animals and plants.

3

FAUNA

MAMMALS[1]

Australian mammals are divided in two groups:

Monotremes[2]

The monotremes are mammals that lay eggs. Two examples of monotremes are the platypus and the

echidna.

The platypus[3] is one of the weirdest animals in the world. Is a mammal

oviparous that looks like a duck. This animal is brown on the back and sides

of head, body and legs, and the ventral region are blond or grey. The tail is

similar to the tail of the beaver, but the platypus only uses that for

maneuvering in the water. The weight varies between 700 and 2,400 grams,

and males are larger than females: males are about 50 cm and females are

about 43 cm.

The echidnas [4] are mammals similar to hedgehogs. This animal only dwells

in the island of New Guinea and Australia and they are hard to find. Usually

measured between 35 and 50 centimetres long, have got a tail of 10

centimetres and a weight of 2 to 7 kg. Males are larger than females. They

hunt insects and worms with its sticky tongue that can reach 20 centimetres

long.

Marsupials[5]

The marsupials are characterized by large part of growth of mammary glands caught inside the marsupial

sack. Two examples of these animals are the koala and the kangaroo.

The koala[6] reaches a body length of 76 cm; the body is stocky and

covered with soft hair. Males are distinguished from females by the

scrotal sac and the gland that are in the chest, that realises odor.

Females are identified by the marsupial sack. Also, they are usually more

beautiful than the males. Koalas live in trees and do most of their

activities at night. They are not comfortable on the floor. They sleep 20

hours per day to save energy.

4

The kangaroos[7] have large powerful hind legs, large feet designed for

jumping, long, muscular tail for balance and a small head. Kangaroos are

herbivores, feeding on grass and roots. All species are nocturnal, usually

spending the day quietly and feeding in the afternoons and cold nights,

usually in groups. They have a life expectancy of about 18 years.

Placental mammals

The dingo[8] is described as an Australian wild dog, but is not limited to Australia

and is not originally from there. Modern dingoes are found throughout South-east

Asia. Adult dingoes measure from 50 to 58 centimetres,

with a weight of 23 to 32 kilograms. Males are larger and

heavier than females.

The dugong [9] is a marine animal. Is 3 meters long and weighs

200 kg. It is a peaceful herbivore that eats only seaweeds in

coastal areas, which often pasture at night. It lives in salty waters

with temperatures above 20 C. Dugongs live lonely, in pairs of

small family groups, but in some exceptional cases has been

detected up to 100 dugongs feeding in the same area.

5

INVERTEBRATES[1]

Of the 200,000 animal species that are considered present in Australia, about 96% are invertebrates. The

most diverse group is the group of insects, which account for 75% of the Australian fauna. Australia has a

wide variety of arachnids, among which 135 species of spiders. There are some very poisonous spiders like

the black widow and funnel.

The black widows[10] are not aggressive, and only the females bits people.

Every year in Australia happen about 5000 to 10000 bites, most of them in

male genitals. The females are 10 mm high and the males are 3 or 4 mm.

Normally they eat insects, but also eat small lizards.

BIRDS[1]

Of the 828 bird species listed in Australia, about half are found nowhere else. Isolation has also contributed

to the development and survival of unusual birds. Some outstanding examples are cassowaries, black

swans, fairy penguins, kookaburras, lyrebirds and currawongs. There are 55 species of parrots in Australia.

Many of these birds are as numerous as they are colourful, including a spectacular variety of cockatoos,

rosellas, lorikeets, cockatiels, parakeets and budgerigars.

A number of bird species have been introduced by humans, some like the European Goldfinch and Green-

finch, coexist happily with Australian species,[citation needed] while others, such as the Common Starling,

Common Blackbird, are destructive of some native bird species and destabilise the native ecosystem.

The Emu[11] is the second largest surviving

species of bird. It is a heraldic bird, appearing

on the Coat of Arms of Australia.

The soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds

reach up to 2 metres in height. They have

long thin necks and legs. Emus can travel

great distances at a fast, they can sprint at 50 km/h for some dis-

tance.

They feed on a variety of plants and insects, but have been known to

go weeks without food. Emus ingest stones, glass shards and bits of

metal to grind food in the digestive system. They drink infrequently, but take in copious fluids when the

opportunity arises. Also they can swim. Emus can live between 10 and 20 years in the wild and are predat-

ed by dingos, eagles and hawks.

6

The Kookaburra[12] is the largest species of the kingfisher family,

known for its call, which sounds like loud human laughter. They

are large with a total length of 2842 cm. Kookaburras are car-

nivorous. They will eat lizards, snakes, insects, mice, other small

birds, and raw meat.

Kookaburras are threatened primarily due to habitat destruc-

tion and because they are easy targets for sport shooting.

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES[1]

Australia has more species of venomous snakes than any other con-

tinent (21 of the world's 25 deadliest snakes).The Eastern Banjo

Frog is a common frog species across eastern Australia.

Australia has four families of native frogs and one introduced toad,

the Cane Toad.

In 1935 the Cane Toad [13] was introduced to Australia in a failed

attempt to control pests in sugarcane crops. It has since become a

devastating pest, spreading across northern Australia. As well as competing with native insectivores for

food, the Cane Toad produces a venom that is toxic to native fauna, as well as to humans.

The Myobatrachidae, or southern frogs, are Australia's largest

group of frogs, with 112 species classified into anywhere from 17

to 22 genere.

A notable member of this group is the colourful and endangered

Corroboree Frog.

Australia has two species of crocodile. The Saltwater Crocodile,

known colloquially as the "salty," is the largest living crocodile

species. They can and do kill people. They live on the coast and in the freshwater rivers and they are

farmed for their meat and leather.

FISHES [1]

The Murray Cod [14] is Australia's largest wholly freshwater fish.

Murray cod are large fish, with adult fish regularly reaching 80

100 centimetres. They are white to cream on their ventral sur-

face. Their back is usually yellowish-green to green, overlain with

heavy darker green, but occasionally brown or black, mottling.

7

Sharks inhabit all the coastal waters and estuarine habitats of

Australia's coast.

There are 166 species, including 30 species of requiem shark , 32

of catshark , six of wobbegong

shark , and 40 of dogfish shark .

The overfishing of sharks has

also significantly reduced shark

numbers in Australian waters, and several species are now endangered.

A megamouth shark was found on a Perth beach in 1988. Very little is

known about this species, but this discovery may indicate the presence of

the species in Australian coastal waters.

Australia is also home to the world's largest coral reef system, the

UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.

8

FLORA

Macrozamia moorei[15] its one of the oldest trees in the world, of the same age of the dinosaurs. This has undergone many mutations and be-came extremely poisonous to survive. Is the tallest-growing species of Macrozamia, growing to 7 meters tall with a trunk 5080 cm diameter. It has keeled leaves up to 2.5 meters long.

Platycerium alcicorne[16] is formed in the southern continent Gondwana some 150 million years ago during the superior Jurassic, just before that separated Africa and Madagascar.

Syagrus romanzoffiana[17] is a palmer called Coco feathery, formed for branched groups of flower pollen. It is a medium-sized palm, quickly reaching maturity at a height of up to 15 meters tall, with pinnate leaves.

Adenanthos sericeus[18] has erect branches that are covered in short hairs when

young, but these are lost with age. Leaves may be up to 40 mm long, and repeat-

edly divide by threes into from 5 to 50 narrow laciniae, circular in cross-section,

with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm.

The Eucalyptus camaldulensis[19] (River Red Gum) can grow to 45 metres tall; it has smooth bark, ranging in colour from white and grey to red-brown. The tree has a large, dense crown of leaves. Traditionally used in rot resistant applications like stumps, fence posts and sleepers, more recently it has been recognised in craft furniture for its spectacular deep red colour and typical fiddleback figure.

9

Acacia harpophylla[20] (Brigalow) is found in central and

coastal Queensland to northern New South Wales and

it can reach up to 25 meters tall and forms extensive

open-forest communities on clay soils.

Acacia aneura[21] (mulga or true mulga) can form dense forests up to 15 me-tres high, or small, almost heath-like low shrubs spread well apart. Mulga is long-live plant; a typical life span for a tree undisturbed by fire is on the or-der of 200 to 300 years.

Acacia cambagei[22] (Gidgee) is found primarily in semi-arid and arid

Queensland but extends into the Northern Territory, South Australia

and north-western New South Wales. It can reach up to 12 meters in

height and can form extensive open woodland communities. The

leaves produce a characteristic odour, vaguely reminiscent of boiled

cabbage, that accounts for the common name of "stinking gidgee".

Epacris impressa[22], also known as Common Heath, has an erect habit and can grow to 2 to 3 metres high. The branches are stiff and have small leaves with prickly, pointed apices that are 8 to 16 mm long. The flowers are white, pink or red.

Exocarpos cupressiformis[23] (native cherry or cherry ballart) is found in sclero-

phyll forest on the east coast of Australia and in the Mount Lofty Ranges in

South Australia.

It is a small tree hemiparasitic on the roots of other trees. The leaves are re-

duced to small scales and the stems are the site of photosynthesis. Its resem-

bles the cypress. Its flowers are arranged in clusters on short spikes; the fruit is a

globular nut on a short stalk. The fruit is 4-6 mm long and is edible.

10

REFERENCES

[1] About Australia: flora and fauna http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/flora_and_fauna.html

[2] Monotreme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotreme

[3] Platypus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus

[4] Echidnas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidnas

[5] Marsupials http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupials

[6] Koala http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

[7] Kangaroo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo

[8] Dingo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingo

[9] Dugong http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong

[10] Spiders: Brown Recluse, Black Widow, and Other Common Spider

http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2294/EPP-7301webcolor.pdf

[11] Emu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu

[12] Kookaburra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kookaburra

[13] Cane Toad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Toad

[14] Murray Cod http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Cod

[15] Macrozamia moorei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrozamia_moorei

[16] Platycerium alcicorne http://jardin-mundani.blogspot.com/2011/08/platycerium-alcicorne-se-formo-

en.html

[17] Syagrus romanzoffiana http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syagrus_romanzoffiana

[18] Adenanthos sericeus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenanthos_sericeus

[19] Eucalyptus camaldulensis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_camaldulensis

[20] Acacia harpophylla http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_harpophylla

[21] Acacia aneura http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_aneura

[22] Acacia cambagei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_cambagei

[23] Exocarpos cupressiformis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exocarpos_cupressiformis