Australia's most famous native animals are by far its marsupials. Koalas, kangaroos, and wombats are some of the nation's most globally recognised and loved animals. But did you know that more than 80 per cent of Australia's mammals, reptiles and frogs are found nowhere else in the world?
Some of our Australian animals are very well known like kangaroos, dingos, wallabies and wombats and of course the koala, platypus and echidna.
Arguably the most famous Aussie animal of all, the kangaroo can be spotted just about anywhere across the country, but how can we go past a location named after these iconic creatures?
Hunted for meat and for sport, and used as a motif in the decorative arts, the kangaroo was finally recognised as an official symbol of Australia when it was included on the nation's coat of arms in 1908. The kangaroo has appeared on currency and stamps and on Royal Australian Air Force aircraft.
Among the endemic animal species - species that can only be found in Australia - are the monotremes, which are mammals that lay eggs! The platypus and two species of echidna are the world's only egg-laying mammals, so called monotremes.
Australia is known for many things, including swathes of tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, cute koalas, rolling wine country, and lush rainforests.
Around 40% of Australian households include at least one dog, making them the most popular type of pets. This is followed by cats (27%), fish (11%), birds (9%), small mammals (3%) and reptiles (2%) - with another 2% of households reporting that they have pets such as horses, goats, cows, alpacas and hermit crabs.
Australia's most famous native animals are by far its marsupials. Koalas, kangaroos, and wombats are some of the nation's most globally recognised and loved animals.
The Happiest Animal
The quokka, a close cousin of the kangaroo, rocketed to internet fame when tourists began taking selfies with the animal, which is unafraid of humans and appears to smile for pictures.
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Australian birds are arguably among the smartest in the world. Some display complex behaviours such as problem solving, learning and tool use comparable to behaviours observed in great apes.
Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog, and Garfield have brought joy to generations, while real animals such as Ham the chimp and Balto the Siberian husky are regarded as heroes. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Can you have an owl as a pet in Australia? Owls are not allowed to be kept as pets in Australia as they are considered “exotic pets”.
Golden retrievers have been crowned the number one dog breed in Australia, beating family favourites like cavoodles, Labradors and Border Collies.
Colloquial names for Australia include "Oz" and "the Land Down Under" (usually shortened to just "Down Under"). Other epithets include "the Great Southern Land", "the Lucky Country", "the Sunburnt Country", and "the Wide Brown Land".
Australia has plentiful supplies of natural resources, including the second largest accessible reserves of iron ore in the world, the fifth largest reserves of coal and significant gas resources. For a long time, commodities have made up a sizeable share of our exports.
Living in Australia means encountering many opportunities; it is a young, multicultural and open country with an ever-growing economy. Australia's quality of life and unrivalled natural beauty make it the ideal destination for you if you have ever dreamed about improving your future.
The 46-metre-long siphonophore was found lurking 625 metres beneath the waves off the Western Australian coastline. A deep-sea expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute has discovered 30 potentially new species of marine creatures, including a siphonophore that's thought to be the longest animal ever observed.
Silver-headed antechinus
This small-shrew like marsupial is considered one of the rarest mammals in Australia. In fact, until 2013 we had no idea they even existed. They favour high altitude open-forest habitats in central Queensland.
Aussies such as Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman, singing and acting legend Olivia Newton-John and actor, singer, dancer and all-round good guy Hugh Jackman have long been household names worldwide for their talent, abilities and that affable, down-to-earth quality that comes from growing up down under.