| Australia's Unique Animal Kingdom | | | | local parks as well. For a really striking gentleman, the |
| Flightless birds, Kangaroos with pouches who love to | | | | Pied oyster catcher appears to be ready for formal |
| box the ears off any willing opponent and adorable little | | | | flight in his tuxedo style feathers. While peacocks are |
| bears that love to climb trees with the shyest | | | | colorful, the Australian "Lyrebird", though less colorful, is |
| expressions are just a few of the reasons Australian | | | | no match for the harp-shaped tail all males wear with |
| Animals are so unique. In a land that is ultra urban and | | | | pride. When in their element, they love to mimic other |
| yet surrounded by water, such animals present a rare | | | | birds. Here's a guy who builds his own center stage |
| opportunity for tourists as well as Australians to view | | | | from a mound of dirt just to attract a mate. If she isn't |
| the habitats of creatures like dingos, cassowary, | | | | bowled over by his glitz and glam, she won't escape |
| goannas and the legendary "Tasmanian Devil". | | | | his crooning for very long. For color appeal, there's the |
| Australian Marsupials and Mammals | | | | Australian kingfisher. That laughter heard in the |
| If the sight of a Kangaroo and its progeny fail to excite, | | | | background? That's a kookaburra, part of the |
| there is a similar creature, "the wallaby", a kind of | | | | kingfisher family. With a pale brown fuzzy head, the |
| combination kangaroo and wallaby known as the | | | | body is a vision in varying shades of brown and taupe. |
| "wallaroo". Australia's animal kingdom has no | | | | What makes a kookaburra laugh? It could be that the |
| competition where animal evolution is concerned. Even | | | | kookaburra is just plain happy to be part of the |
| the water babies, like the bottleneck dolphin, dugong | | | | Australian bird kingdom. They start their day with a |
| and furseal are signature "Australian". One really unique | | | | laugh and end it that way too. |
| sea creature, the "sea dragon", whether the "leafy" or | | | | Only in Australia... |
| "weedy" breed, seem to emulate a sea horse. The | | | | Where else but in the Land Down Under would |
| difference is that they have appendages that are | | | | anyone find a "Flying Fox"? These unusual creatures |
| delicate and graceful. The theme song from the movie, | | | | appear to have started out as prehistoric bats, which |
| "Jaws" might just be the royal announcement of | | | | is fairly accurate since they are of the bat family. The |
| Australia's Great White Shark, that sleek, yet fierce | | | | difference is that they are larger than the iconic bat |
| king of the sea. | | | | most people imagine. If there is one unique extinct |
| The Avians of Australia | | | | Australian creature, it is the Thylacine, or, "dog-headed |
| Not to be outdone by their land-bound animal relatives, | | | | pouch dog", appearing canine, the stripes on his back |
| the Australian skies are a treasure trove of birds. Not | | | | are similar to a tiger. The Thylacine had a long, almost |
| to be missed because of its patently beautiful feathers | | | | beak-like mouth with an unusually wide opening. Like |
| is the Galah, a rosy-breasted cockatoo. Actually, Galah | | | | kangaroos, the Thylacine had a pouch. |
| can't be missed. His shrill call will remind you of his | | | | What Makes Them So Unique? |
| presence. Though Galah likes the wide open plains | | | | A continent of many wonders make Australia's |
| Australia is so famous for, he (or she) may be found in | | | | animals unique. |