Cuddly and Creepy Australians : Wildlife Australia

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Ranked #2,292 in Animals, #51,015 overall

Up close and personal with Australian Wildlife

Have you ever cuddled a koala?

They're warm, furry and they smell beautiful!

Plenty of other animals can be cuddly too, or at least look cuddly, like this Tasmanian Devil who, besides being a bit on the nose, has extremely strong teeth and jaws.

Australian animals have spent a long, long time separated from the rest of the world - on a life raft as it were - evolving in isolation for roughly 45 million years. Being so long separated from the rest of the large land masses allowed different evolutionary paths, and the Marsupials took the front seat.

There are all sorts of creatures in Australia, like mammals which lay eggs.

Some are cuddly and some are creepy. Come and meet a few.

Wombling Wombat 



Wombats spend between three and eight hours each night grazing on their favourite food like this little fellow.

They feed on native grasses such as wallaby, and kangaroo, grasses and also eat sedges, and the roots of shrubs and trees. They can wonble around for about 3 km a night looking for dinner.

They chomp through their food with sharp, chisel-like front teeth which grow continuously.

Wombats have been pushed into the scrub, into the rugged hills and mountains, far away from pesky people. They're endangered and are protected in some States.

Definitely Cuddly

Angelic Tasmanian Devil 



Curious and energetic, Tasmanian devils travel up to 16 km - 10 miles looking for food. They are carrion eaters, scavenging anything that comes their way, plus hunting any small mammals and birds. They are nocturnal hunters, with a keen sense of smell and hearing.

By day, they shelter in caves, bushes, old wombat burrows, or hollow logs. As they amble along with their stocky bodies and large heads, Tasmanian devils look slow and awkward in their movements, but they are the top carnivore in Tasmania!

Almost Cuddly

Devilish Links 

Save the Tasmanian Devil
There has been a 64 per cent decline in Devil sightings since a dreadful disease, Devil Facial Tumour Disease, appeared a few years back. Foxes (an introduced species) are also multiplying rapidly and the poor little Devil faces a very uncertain future.
Taz the Tasmanian Devil
Taz, from Looney Tunes shares the voracious appetite and 'crazy' behaviour of the real marsupial - but that's all!

The Devil on Video 

Bite of the Tasmanian Devil

The odd Tasmanian devil has a huge head to power its massive jaws. It also has an unsettling array of sounds. More Animal Oddities : SAT MARCH 15 9P et/pt : http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/?source=4003

Runtime: 3:13
211386 views
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The Mystery of the Tasmanian Tiger 

Playing Possum 



Despite the similarity in name, the 60+ "Opossums" from South America and the 20+ "Possums" from Australia are very different. They may look alike but they aren't closely related biologically. They are separated by 2 continents and 70+ million years.

In Australia, possums are almost a national treasure. They are protected under the provisions of various State laws. It's quite common to have a possum or two hanging out in your backyard.

I live backing onto a creek and any night of the week when I turn on my outside light, lots of eyes blink at me. My only anxiety is that they will chew my computer cable!

Definitely Cuddly

Possum Links 

The Lost Cat
This is a photo going round my neighbourhood at the moment.
Possums in the Roof
How to manage possums on your property

Possums on Video 

Possums eating bread at Carlton Gardens (12JUL2008)

I filmed some possums eating bread at Carlton Gardens in Melbourne the night of 12JUL2008.

Runtime: 3:21
112 views
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Dot and the Kangaroo 

A Classic for Children

It's hard to remember that Ethel Pedley wrote this book in 1889 and began it with this preface

To the children of Australia
in the hope of enlisting their sympathies
for the many beautiful, amiable, and frolicsome creatures
of their fair land,
whose extinction, through ruthless destruction,
is being surely accomplished


Dot and The Kangaroo

Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 07/04/2009)Buy Now

A very enjoyable story about friendship, and the fascinating cuddly creatures of Australia.

It teaches us that if we take the time to listen, animals speak and share their wisdom, a lovely movie to watch with your children.

Charming songs and cute animals, a little girl lost who is rescued by a kangaroo, an irate platypus, a kookaburra , dancing brolgas and some mean dingoes.

Sleepy Koala 



Once numbering in the millions, koalas suffered major declines in population during the 1920s when they were hunted for their fur. Today, habitat destruction, traffic deaths, and attacks by dogs kill an estimated 4,000 koalas yearly.

Definitely Cuddly

Koala Links 

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Over 130 koalas ready to cuddle
Save the Koala
The Australian Koala Foundation urges you to Foster a Koala

Poll : Pick a Pet 

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More Australian Wildlife 

Creepy Crocodile 



The Saltwater Crocodile is the world's largest reptile.

These amazing creatures are found on the northern coast of Australia and inland for up to 100 kms or more. Some have been measured as long as 7 metresm but the average size of a Saltie is 4 metres long.

Long enough!

The crocodile is now a protected species in Australia, however if human danger is a factor, the crocodile will be moved away from possible contact.

Definitely creepy

Creepy Carpet Python 



Carpet pythons are found in New Guinea as well as northwestern Western Australia and in the Northern Territory

They aren't venomous, they kill by constriction many different birds and mammals including brush-tailed possums. They eat vermin too.

Another definitely creepy

Creepy Great White Shark 



The Great White is found in temperate waters throughout the world's oceans. In Australia, many shark species are listed as threatened and the Great White is listed as "vulnerable".

Shark attacks on people are rare, but if a shark takes a bite at you, it's pretty sure to be fatal.

Avoid attacks by

* Not swimming or surfing where sharks are known to congregate.
* Always swimming or surfing with other people.
* Not swimming with pets and domestic animals

If schooling fish start to behave erratically or congregate in large numbers, get out of the water!

Creepy

Great White on video 

Great White Shark

Great white sharks leap out of the water in pursuit of their favorite food - seals. See all National Geographic videos: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/?source=4001

Runtime: 2:29
859131 views
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Poll : Creepiest 

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Creepy Links 

Sydney Aquarium
Crododile web cams
Australia Zoo
Complete with carpet pythons
Great White Shark
Predator of the Deep

Downunder Update 

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Cuddly and Creepy Feedback 

daoine wrote...

We have numerous brushtail and ringtail possums in our garden. They are gorgeous, but they stomp on our roof at night and they've eaten all but one of the flowers on my magnolia tree!

I love Tassie Devils too, but I wouldn't want one of them nipping at my ankles. Apparently they are one of the few animals of their size with the jaw power to crunch through a skull bone.

ReplyPosted September 02, 2008

estherjane13 wrote...

Great lens! 5*. When I went to Melbourne last year and drove the great ocean road I fell in love with kangaroos!

ReplyPosted August 04, 2008

tdove wrote...

Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!

ReplyPosted August 02, 2008

Stazjia wrote...

This is wonderful 5* lens and it's beautifully illustrated. More please on the creatures of Australia!

ReplyPosted August 01, 2008

Thanks for dropping by ...... 

Thanks very much for dropping by this lens. You're more than welcome to leave a note in the guest book above and, if you're a member of Squidoo, you can also rate this lens :)

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