Australian flora and fauna. Natural features of Australia

Vegetation and precipitation

It is obvious that the spread of individual plant groups depends on the microclimate and soils, but the placement of large vegetation zones Australia (at the level of formation types) reveals a close relationship with average annual precipitation. A striking feature of the Australian climate is the presence of an arid center of the continent, from which the amount of precipitation consistently increases towards the periphery. Vegetation changes accordingly.

1. Average annual precipitation is less than 125 mm. Sandy deserts are developed. Stiff-leaved perennial grasses of the genera Triodia and Spinifex dominate.

2. Average annual precipitation is 125–250 mm. These are semiarid regions with two main types of vegetation. a) Shrub semi-desert – open areas with a predominance of representatives of the genera Atriplex (quinoa) and Kochia (sweetweed). Native plants are exceptionally drought-resistant. The area is used for sheep pasture. b) Arid scrub on sandy plains or on bedrock outcrops on remnant hills. These are dense thickets of low-growing trees and shrubs with a predominance of various types of acacias. The most widely used mulga scrub is made with veinless acacia (Acacia aneura). Both types of vegetation are characterized by vigorous development of annual plants after infrequent rainfall.

3. Average annual precipitation is 250–500 mm. There are two main types of vegetation here. In the south, where precipitation occurs only in winter months, malli scrub is common. These are dense thickets dominated by various bushy eucalyptus trees, forming several trunks (arising from one underground root) and tufts of leaves at the ends of the branches. In the north and east of Australia, where rainfall occurs mainly in the summer, grasslands are common with a predominance of representatives of the genera Astrebla and Iseilema.

4. Average annual precipitation is 500–750 mm. Here you can see savannas - open park landscapes with eucalyptus trees and a grass-forb lower layer. These areas were intensively used for grazing and growing wheat. Grass savannas are found in places on more fertile soils and in the zone of sclerophyllous (hard-leaved) forests.

5. Average annual precipitation is 750–1250 mm. Sclerophyllous forests are typical for this climatic zone. They are dominated by different species of eucalyptus, forming a closed tree stand, and a dense undergrowth of hard-leaved shrubs is developed, and the grass cover is sparse. On the more arid edge of this zone, forests give way to savanna woodlands, and on the more humid edge, to tropical rainforests. Relatively dry sclerophyllous forests have the highest concentrations of typical Australian species. These forests are an important source of timber hardwood.

6. Average annual precipitation is over 1250 mm. Tropical rainforests are confined to areas with high rainfall and soils usually developed on basaltic rocks. The species composition of trees is very diverse, without clearly defined dominants. Characterized by an abundance of vines and dense undergrowth. These forests are dominated by species of Indo-Melanesian origin. In more southern temperate-humid forests, the role of the Antarctic element of the flora increases (see below).

Floristic analysis

In Australia, approx. 15 thousand species of flowering plants, and about 3/4 of them are indigenous. Even J. D. Hooker, in his Introduction to the Flora of Tasmania (J.D. Hooker, Introductory Essay to the Flora of Tasmania, 1860), pointed out that three main elements played a decisive role in the development of the Australian flora: Antarctic, Indo-Melanesian and local Australian.

Antarctic element

This category includes groups of species common to southeastern Australia, New Zealand, the subantarctic islands and the southern Andes South America. Examples of genera with such ranges are Nothofagus, Drimys, Lomatia, Araucaria, Gunnera and Acaena. Their representatives were also found in fossil remains of Paleogene age on the now ice-covered Seymour Island and on Graham Land (Antarctic Peninsula). Such plants are not found anywhere else. It is believed that they or their ancestors arose at a time when Australia was part of Gondwana. When this supercontinent split into parts that moved to their current positions, the ranges of representatives of the Antarctic flora turned out to be greatly separated. However, it is obvious that these plants were widespread in Australia in the Paleogene, since Nothofagus and Lomatia were found in the Oligocene deposits of South Australia and Victoria along with such Australian births, like Eucalyptus, Banksia and Hakea. Currently, this element of the flora is best represented in temperate humid forests. The term "Antarctic element" is sometimes used to designate larger groups of plants now found only in the Southern Hemisphere and common to South Africa and Australia, such as the genera Caesia, Bulbine, Helichrysum and Restio. However, Australia's connections with South Africa seem more distant than the connections with South America. It is believed that closely related plants found in the first two regions descended from common ancestors who migrated there from the south.

Indo-Melanesian element

These are plants common to Australia, the Indo-Malayan region and Melanesia. Floristic analysis reveals two clearly defined groups: one of Indo-Malay origin, the other of Melanesian origin. In Australia, this element includes paleotropical representatives of many families, especially the tropical plexifalates, and reveals a close relationship with the flora of the Asian continent, especially India, the Malacca Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago.

Australian element

It includes genera and species that are found only in Australia or are most widespread there; There are few endemic families, and their role is insignificant. Typical Australian flora is concentrated in the southwest and southeast of the mainland. The south-west is rich in distinctive Australian families, with about 6/7 of them best represented in this region, and the remainder in the south-east. Whether this element actually formed locally or whether it originates from older paleotropical or Antarctic migrants is difficult to determine. In any case, it is clear that some groups of modern plants are found exclusively in Australia.

The importance of native plant species to humans has only recently become recognized, although many of them have been consumed by indigenous peoples of Australia for thousands of years. For example, Macadamia ternifolia has been widely cultivated in Australia for its tasty nuts since the 1890s (it is cultivated on an even larger scale in Hawaii and is known as the Queensland nut). Gradually in Australia, the cultivation of plants such as the local species of ficus (Ficus platypoda), Santalum (Santalum acuminatum, S. 1anceolatum), desert lime (Eremocitrus glauca), Australian capers (Capparis sp.), various so on began to be established. n. “desert tomatoes” from the nightshade genus (Solanum sp.), small-flowered basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), a local species of mint (Prostanthera rotundifolia) and many other cereals, root vegetables, fruits, berries and herbaceous plants.

Australia forms the bulk of the Australasian zoogeographic region, which also includes Tasmania, New Zealand, New Guinea and adjacent islands of Melanesia and the Malay Archipelago west of the Wallace Line. This imaginary line, limiting the distribution of typical Australian fauna, runs north between the islands of Bali and Lombok, then along the Makassar Strait between the islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi, then turns northeast, passing between the Sarangani Islands in the Philippine archipelago and Miangas Island. At the same time, it serves as the eastern border of the Indo-Malayan zoogeographic region.

Mammals

There are 230 known species of mammals in Australia. Three of them are monotreme oviparous, about 120 are marsupials, bearing their young in “pockets” on the abdomen, the rest are placental, in which embryonic development ends in the uterus.

The most primitive order of mammals currently existing is the monotremes (Monotremata), which are not found in other parts of the world. The platypus (Ornithorhynchus), with a duck-like beak, is covered in fur, lays eggs and feeds the hatchlings with milk. Thanks to the efforts of Australian conservationists, this species is relatively abundant. Its closest relative, the echidna (Tachyglossus), is similar to the porcupine, but also lays eggs. The platypus is found only in Australia and Tasmania, while the echidna and the closely related proechidna (Zaglossus) are also found in New Guinea.

The kangaroo, a well-known symbol of Australia, is far from a typical representative of marsupials. Animals of this order of mammals are characterized by the birth of immature cubs, which are placed in a special bag, where they are born until they can take care of themselves.

The fact that marsupials have long lived in Australia is evidenced by the fossil remains of the giant wombat (Diprotodon) and the carnivorous marsupial “lion” (Thylacoleo). In general, less adapted groups of mammals were slowly pushed aside southern continents as more aggressive groups emerge. As soon as monotremes and marsupials retreated to Australia, the region’s connection with the Asian continent was severed, and both groups were spared from competition with placentals better adapted to the struggle for survival.

Isolated from competitors, marsupials divided into many taxa, differing in animal size, habitats and methods of adaptation. This differentiation occurred largely parallel to the evolution of placentals on the northern continents. Some of the Australian marsupials are similar in appearance to carnivores, others to insectivores, rodents, herbivores, etc. With the exception of the American possums (Didelphidae) and the peculiar South American caenolesidae (Caenolesidae), marsupials are found only in Australasia.

Carnivorous marsupials (Dasyuridae) and bandicoots (Peramelidae) with 2-3 low incisors on each side of the jaw belong to the group of multi-incisors. The first family includes marsupial martens(Dasyurus), marsupial devil(Sarcophilus) and arboreal brush-tailed marsupial rats (Phascogale), feeding on insects, etc. The latter genus is widespread throughout Australasia. Close relative predatory marsupials - the marsupial wolf (Thylacinus cynocephalus), which was widespread in Tasmania at the beginning of the era of European settlement, but is not found anywhere else, although there is evidence of its presence in prehistoric times in Australia and New Guinea. Despite problematic sightings in some areas, most experts consider the species to be extinct because it was hunted to extinction and the last individual died in captivity in 1936. The marsupial anteater (Myrmecobius) and marsupial mole(Notoryctes), living in northern and central Australia, descended from a group combining carnivorous marsupials and the marsupial wolf. The bandicoot family (Peramelidae), distributed throughout Australasia, occupies the same ecological niche, as insectivores (Insectivora) on the northern continents.

Two-incisor marsupials, distinguished by the presence of only one pair of low incisors, are known more widely than multi-incisor marsupials. Their distribution is limited to Australasia. Among them are the family of climbing marsupials (Phalangeridae), which includes the cuzu, or brushtails (Trichosurus); dwarf cuscus (Burramyidae), including the dwarf flying cuscus (Acrobates pygmaeus), which can glide between trees and fly up to 20 m, and marsupial flying squirrels (Petauridae), of which there are several species. The beloved koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), which looks like a funny miniature bear cub and was chosen as the emblem of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, belongs to the family of the same name. The wombat family (Vombatidae) includes two genera - long-haired and short-haired wombats. It's pretty large animals, similar in appearance to beavers and found only in Australia. Kangaroos and wallabies, belonging to the kangaroo family (Macropodidae), are common throughout Australasia. The large gray or forest kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), the most numerous representative of this family, lives in open forests, while the red gigantic kangaroo(M. rufus) is common in the plains of inland Australia. Open habitats are characteristic of rock kangaroos (Petrogale sp.) and dwarf rock kangaroos (Peradorcas sp.). Interesting are tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus), whose limbs are adapted for both climbing trees and jumping.

The fact that marsupials have long lived in Australia is confirmed by the findings here of the fossil remains of the giant wombat (Diprotodon) and the predatory “marsupial lion” (Thylacoleo).

Before the arrival of Europeans, placental mammals were represented in Australia by chiropterans and small rodents, which probably entered there from the north. The former include numerous genera of both fruit bats (Megachiroptera) and bats(Microchiroptera); Flying foxes (Pteropus) are especially noteworthy. Rodents, including Anisomys, Conilurus, Crossomys, and Hydromys, were probably carried across the sea on fins. Humans and dingoes (Canis dingo) were the only large placentals, with dingoes most likely introduced to Australia by humans around 40,000 years ago.

Australia's ecological balance was greatly disrupted by the introduction of exotic placental mammals following the arrival of Europeans. Rabbits, accidentally introduced in the 1850s, and livestock began to decimate native vegetation across much of Australia, supported - albeit on a smaller scale - by wild boar, goats, buffalo, horses and donkeys. Foxes, cats and dogs competed with local animals and often hunted them, which led to their extermination in various areas of the mainland.

The avifauna of Australia includes many very valuable and interesting species. Flightless birds include the emu (Dromiceius novaehollandiae) and the cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), which is native to northern Queensland. The Australian mainland is abundant different types ducks (Casarca, Biziura, etc.). Birds of prey include the wedge-tailed eagle (Uroaetus audax), the Australian kite (Haliastur sphenurus), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the Australian hawk (Astur fasciatus). Weed chickens (Leipoa) are very peculiar, constructing mounds-“incubators”; bush bigfoot (Alectura); bowers (Ailuroedus, Prionodura) and birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae), honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), lyrebirds (Menura). There is a great variety of parrots, pigeons and ducks, but vultures and woodpeckers are completely absent.

Reptiles

Australia is home to a variety of reptiles, including snakes, crocodiles, lizards and turtles. There are almost 170 species of snakes alone. The largest of poisonous snakes- taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), and the Queensland python (Python amethystinus) reaches a length of about 6 m. Crocodiles are represented by two species - the combed one (Crocodilus porosus), which attacks people and kills them, and the Australian narrow-snouted one (C. johnsoni); both of them live in northern Australia and New Guinea. There are about 10 species of turtles - from the genera Chelodina and Emydura. Among the more than 520 species of Australian lizards, legless lizards (Pygopodidae), found in Australia and New Guinea, and large monitor lizards (Varanidae), reaching a length of 2.1 m, are noteworthy.

The fauna of Australia is characterized by the complete absence of tailed amphibians (Urodela) and the diversity of frogs and toads. Among the Australian toads of the subfamily Criniinae, morphologically the most primitive of the true toads, the genera Crinia, Mixophyes and Helioporus are typical, and a total of 16 of them live in the region.

In Australia approx. 230 species of local freshwater fish, but there are no carp, carp, salmon and few catfish. Most representatives of the freshwater ichthyofauna descended from marine ancestors - cods (Oligorus), perches (Percalates, Plectoplites, Macquaria), terapons (Therapon), herrings (Potamalosa), half-snouts (Hemirhamphus) and gobies (Gobiomorphus, Carassiops). There are, however, two notable exceptions - the lungtooth (Neoceratodus) and the bone-lingual Scleropages. Australia and New Zealand are home to a number of Galaxias species, as well as Gadopsis.

Invertebrates

The invertebrate fauna of Australia includes at least 65 thousand species of insects, some of which are very unique.

Bibliography

To prepare this work, materials were used from the site http://www.krugosvet.ru/

The differences between the areas of relict and young endemics are illustrated by the diagram: An indispensable condition for the existence and preservation of endemism is isolation. And the longer the isolation remains, the higher the degree of endemism in the flora and fauna, the more unique the biota. Therefore, the share of endemism on the islands is understandable, and in high altitude zones mountains: Caucasus - 25% Mountains of Central Asia -30% Japan - 37% Canary Islands -45% ...

Lives in the waters a large number of aquatic inhabitants dangerous to humans. One of the most dangerous is, perhaps, the geographic cone1. 13. Sports and cultural events Australia Tourist attractions in Australia also include sporting events. Adelaide hosts the annual Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix; Australian Open Championship in Melbourne...

Orogenesis, uplift of platforms and regression of the sea occurred. In some areas the climate became drier, but still remained warm and mild, even in high latitudes. The Mesozoic stage of the development of life on Earth and the evolution of the biosphere has ended Cretaceous period. It was during this period that one of the most extensive transgressions of the Phanerozoic occurred. The maximum development of transgression occurred approximately...

Species, including hare, hare, wild rabbit, tolai, Manchurian hare. Selected species adapted for fast running, digging, swimming, climbing. Distributed everywhere, with the exception of the island of Madagascar, the southern regions of South America and Antarctica. Lead an active, solitary lifestyle; They do not have permanent shelters. They reproduce up to 4 times a year. There are 2-8 (up to 15) cubs in a litter. Cubs appear on...

Australia is a continent located in the Southern Hemisphere of our planet. The nature of Australia is diverse and unique. Here you can meet rare species animal and plant world.

Currently, there are about 1,000 thousand nature reserves operating in Australia. Unfortunately, every year everything more types flora and fauna completely disappear.

General characteristics of Australian nature

Australia is considered the oldest land mass on Earth. The continent is located on an ancient Precambrian platform, which was formed more than 3 billion years ago.

Australia is located within such climatic zones: tropical, subtropical, temperate and subequatorial. Australia's river network is rather poorly developed: the reason for this is the low amount of precipitation on this continent.

Flora of Australia

Since the Australian climate is particularly arid, mainly dry-loving plants grow here - eucalyptus, cereal crops, succulent trees, umbrella acacias. Trees that grow on the mainland have a very strong root system.

Thus, the roots of some types of trees go 20 m deep. In Australia, it is very rare to find trees of a rich green color; most of them have a dull green-gray color.

In some areas of the north mother

Bamboo thickets grow along the Pacific coast. The center of Australia is a semi-desert inhabited by acacia and eucalyptus bushes, as well as tall grasses. Many plant species were introduced to Australia by European colonists.

Australia's climate is conducive to the cultivation of crops such as oats, barley, corn, wheat and cotton.

Fauna of Australia

The fauna of Australia is very rich. It is home to a large number of rare animals that cannot be found on any other continent. Characteristic feature fauna of Australia is that there is only one species carnivorous mammals- This is a dingo dog.

The first Europeans who set foot on Australian soil were quite surprised by such animals as the platypus and kangaroo. Australia is also home to such unique animals as the koala, frilled lizards that walk on two legs, flying squirrels and echidnas.

The world of Australian birds is also amazing - emus, cockatoos, crowned pigeons, lyre birds. Many of them have very bright colors.

Australia delights tourists with unique landscapes and partially untouched nature. Here the flora spreads across different climatic zones. Animals live that are found nowhere else except Australia. So, let's take a closer look at the flora and fauna on the Australian continent.

Flora of Australia

Australia has been separated from the rest of the world by oceans for over 200 million years. Thanks to this, a wide variety of plants and animals appeared. The fifth continent has very specific vegetation and contains about 22,000 plant species. Of these plant species, approximately 90% are found nowhere else.

Fascinating flora in the rainforest. Eucalyptus and acacia trees are part of the Australian vegetation, numbering about 600 species, found in many areas, even in hot and dry central Australia. IN flora Australia has three large areas, broken down as follows:

tropical zone

The tropical zone is located along the northern coast to the middle of the eastern coast. She gets into the area monsoon climate and is densely planted predominantly deciduous trees. Ferns and palms thrive among the ash, oak, cedar and birch trees.

Temperate zone

The temperate zone runs through the south-eastern coastal plain and Tasmania and extends north along the east coast into tropical zone. The temperate zone is famous for its many shrubs and low-growing plants.

In the Australian Alps and the mountain landscapes of Tasmania, predominantly alpine vegetation is found. There are pine reserves along the east coast to Tasmania. The latter are in second place after eucalyptus trees in terms of their economic importance.

Eucalyptus species predominate in wooded, warm, and well-watered areas of the southeast and southwest. Tasmania is famous for its beech forests.

Dry zone

The dry zone is located throughout the middle, arid zone and the west of the fifth continent. The vegetation here is adapted to the arid climate. These are mainly eucalyptus trees and acacia (500 species in total). There are two species of eucalyptus in Western Australia, the so-called Jarra and Karri Eucalyptus. They are prized for their hard and durable wood.

There are approximately 2000 introduced plant species in Australia. Most of them came to the country with the development Agriculture, livestock and forestry. It is believed that before colonization by the first Europeans, a quarter of the country was covered with wooded savannah, shrubs and forests. Most of The native flora was destroyed to make way for colonization and agricultural use. This has led to the permanent extinction of more than 80 species of native plants. Today, another 840 species are threatened. That's why there are big ones in Australia nature reserves. About 12% of the area has been declared protected.

Fauna of Australia

The highlight of any trip to Australia is a special Live nature fifth continent. The peculiarity of the animals is that they live either only in Australia or in the zoo.

Kangaroo

The national animal of Australia is the kangaroo. This is the most famous marsupial subspecies. It is found in Sydney, Tasmania, New Guinea and other offshore islands in Australia.

Parrots

Found in almost all areas of Australia. They are only found on the coast of New South Wales and Tasmania. Only one sixth of Australia's native parrot species can be seen worldwide. The so-called lorikeets are very trusting. They eat bread straight from their hands. Cockatoos can be seen everywhere.

Mammals

Australia is home to six of the ten most venomous snakes in the world. The most dangerous is the taipan. In addition to it, Australia is home to: tiger snake, brown snake, deadly viper and copper serpent. Due to their camouflage color, they are barely distinguishable.

Crocodiles

The world's largest crocodiles, the so-called saltwater crocodiles, are also found in Australia. Salmon crocodiles can grow up to 6 meters in length and are considered very aggressive and cunning. Therefore, you should never swim in rivers or lakes that are not developed. This can be deadly. Crocodiles live not only in salt water, but also in river mouths. Reptiles have been spotted even 300 km from the coast.

Koala

Australia is also home to koalas. They can be seen not only in zoos, but also in the open air. They mostly sit high in the crowns eucalyptus trees. Koalas don't just jump from tree to tree, they also live on the ground. To return to their food source, leaves, they dig their claws into the bark and climb up the tree.

Sea turtle

Australia is home to about 20 species of turtles, six of which are marine. Appearance they have not changed for more than 200 years.

Whale shark

Reaches a length of up to 15 m and is not only the largest shark, but also the largest fish in the world. It is harmless to people, despite its enormous size. It feeds mainly on plankton and other microorganisms that it filters from the water.

Dangerous animals in the water

I wonder how many different dangerous animals live off the coast of Australia? Many of them look quite harmless, but some are deadly.

The reef shark, about 2 m long, is quite harmless to humans. According to statistics, every year in Australia there is a death more people, killed by a coconut than by a shark attack. The temperature of the water determines how many sharks will be off the coast.

The blue-eared octopus is one of the most poisonous animals in the world. The poison can kill an adult in a matter of minutes. There is currently no antidote; the only known treatments are cardiac massage and artificial respiration until the body processes the poison.

For swimmers, sea wasps are more dangerous than sharks. sea wasp- This is a cube jellyfish, considered the most poisonous marine animal in the whole world. It has up to 15 tentacles up to three meters long, and the available venom is enough for 200 people. Every year, more people die from exposure to these jellyfish than from shark attacks.

The so-called stone fish, as the name suggests, looks more like a stone. She has about 70 spines distributed throughout her body. Of the 70 spines, 18 are poisonous. If treatment is not promptly initiated after exposure to stonefish, the venom can be fatal. Found mainly in the southern half of Australia. The fish live there coral reefs, mainly near stones or directly on stones.

Australia's fauna includes about 200,000 animal species, many of which are unique.

The fauna of Australia is extremely unique. The fauna of Australia is the brightest component of its nature, although it is not distinguished by its richness of species. The fauna of the islands is especially poor. The reason for this is that the mainland and islands have long been separated from other land areas, and their fauna developed in isolation. At the same time, the fauna of Australia contains elements that are common or related to some representatives of the fauna of South America, Antarctica and South Asia.

The fauna of Australia and the mainland islands of Oceania, especially New Zealand, is characterized by poverty, antiquity and endemism and has a pronounced relict character.

Thus, in the fauna of Australia there are only 235 species of mammals, 720 of birds, 420 of reptiles, 120 of amphibians. Moreover, 90% of vertebrate species on the mainland are endemic. In New Zealand, there are no mammals in the wild fauna at all, and 93% of bird species are not found anywhere except in this area.

The most characteristic feature of the Australian fauna is the wide distribution of low-organized mammals: monotremes and marsupials. Monotremes, a cloacal order, is represented by two families: platypus and echidnaidae, they are preserved only on the mainland and some islands. There are over 150 species of marsupials in the Australian region. Modern families: predatory marsupials, marsupial anteaters, marsupial moles, couscoids, wombats, kangaroos, etc.

Obviously unable to withstand competition with more viable placental mammals, the lower mammals, almost extinct on other continents, found refuge in Australia, where the higher representatives of the class of mammals were unable to penetrate due to the intensification of Neogene period isolation of the mainland.

In areas with large supplies of food for herbivores, such characteristic representatives of marsupials as kangaroos (several genera and many species) live. Kangaroos usually live in herds; in case of danger, they move in large leaps. The jump of the largest great gray kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) reaches 10 m in length and 2-3 m in height. The length of its body, including the tail, can reach 3 m.

The fauna of the island of Tasmania has some peculiarities. For example, two representatives of marsupials that were not found on the mainland survived for a long time - the marsupial devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and the marsupial wolf (Thylacinus cynocephalus). And if the marsupial devil is currently quite common on the island, the marsupial wolf is considered completely exterminated.

The fauna of New Zealand is very unique. Due to its long-standing island position, it is poor in species, but some ancient animals have been preserved there, which are rightly called living fossils. The fauna of New Zealand is the oldest of the modern faunas; it has preserved in its composition animals from the end of the Mesozoic era and the beginning of the Paleogene period.

For humid tropical and sub tropical forests The north and east of Australia, as well as New Guinea and some other islands, are characterized by a variety of climbing animals. Particularly noteworthy is the marsupial bear, or koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), also called the marsupial sloth.

In areas with grass and shrub cover, marsupial rodents and insectivores also live: wombats and anteaters.

In Australia there are no representatives of the order of carnivores (except dingoes), monkeys, ungulates and other animals that are widespread in other parts of the world.

Due to the fact that there was no higher mammals, marsupials, without encountering competition or enemies, gave an extraordinary diversity of species corresponding to the biological types of higher mammals.

At the same time, these oviparous mammals- the platypus and echidna - in some features of their structure, are very similar to the most ancient mammals. They can truly be called "living fossils."

The bushes are home to the local endemic echidna (Echidna aculeata), a mammal whose body is covered with spines. Like the platypus, the echidna lays eggs, which it incubates in a pouch and feeds mainly on ants, collecting them with its long sticky tongue. She leads night look life, is very timid and buries itself in the ground when danger approaches. The echidna is hunted for its tasty meat.

The birds in Australia are also remarkable. Suffice it to recall the emu ostriches, and endemic representative of the Australian fauna, the helmeted, or common cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)

In treeless areas with thickets of bushes, Australian large flightless birds belonging to the order of cassowaries are found - emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), grass parrots that cause great damage to crops, various waterfowl and water-dwelling birds, many of which fly from the northern hemisphere.

A feature of the island fauna is the absence of mammals and a very wide variety of birds, many of which lead a terrestrial lifestyle, as if taking on the functions of mammals.

Birds of tropical forests are very diverse and richly represented: lyrebirds (Menula superba) with magnificent plumage, motley and brightly colored birds of paradise, unusually brightly colored pigeons, including the magnificent crowned pigeon. On eucalyptus trees, numerous honey sucker birds obtain insects, pollen and nectar with their tassel tongues. Birds of paradise - the closest relatives of our crows and jackdaws - are distinguished by their fancy and bright plumage, but have the same croaking voices.

Among the reptiles of Australia there are also extremely interesting species. For example, the already mentioned frilled lizard with a huge fold of skin in the form of a cape, capable of running quickly on its hind legs alone (it reminds small dinosaur); Moloch lizard covered with huge spines; numerous poisonous snakes a lot others.

There are a variety of snakes and lizards. Among snakes, poisonous ones predominate. The Moloch horridus lizard has special awl-shaped growths on its body that absorb moisture from the air - this is how this species has adapted to arid climatic conditions.

Flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) or flying dogs are a genus of bats in the fruit bat family. They feed on the juice and pulp of fruits and flowers. They live in New Guinea, Oceania, Australia.

During the daytime, fruit bats, like bats, spend time on tree branches, under roof eaves, in caves or, less commonly, in large hollows, alone or in clusters of up to several thousand individuals in one place. Usually the fruit bat hangs upside down, clinging with its sharp claws to a branch or unevenness on the ceiling of the cave. Sometimes he hangs on one leg and hides the other under the web; wraps its body in wide leathery membranes, like in a blanket. In hot weather, fruit bats open their wings from time to time and fan themselves with smooth movements, like a fan. Why are fruit bats called flying foxes?

9/10 animal species are endemic to Australia, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.

People are increasingly appreciating unique landscapes and animals of this continent. Modern Australians and the indigenous inhabitants of these places are connected together. Despite the changing landscape, the land is rich in strange, hardy animals. wild nature continues to exist even in the centers of large cities.

Modern Australia remains the most untamed and unique place on the planet.

The grand discovery made by scientists from James Cook University in October this year in Cape Melville National Park, located in northwestern Australia, is amazing and stunning.

Scientists have discovered a “lost world” in northern Australia, home to several previously unexplored vertebrate species.

James Cook University scientist Conrad Hoskin and a National Geographic team discovered new species of lizards from the family of geckos and skinks and frogs in a jungle area where no human has set foot before.

In the near future, scientists plan to return to the cape to begin new research. Biologists will be looking for new species of spiders, snails and even small mammals.

The fauna of Australia and the mainland islands of Oceania, especially New Zealand, is characterized by poverty, antiquity and endemism and has a pronounced relict character.

Apparently unable to withstand competition with more viable placental mammals, lower mammals, almost extinct on other continents, found refuge in Australia, where higher representatives of the class of mammals were unable to penetrate due to the increasing isolation of the continent at the end of the Neogene period.

The tropical and subtropical rainforests of the north and east of Australia, as well as New Guinea and some other islands, are characterized by a variety of climbing animals. Particularly noteworthy is the marsupial bear, or koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), also called the marsupial sloth.

In areas with grass and shrub cover, marsupial rodents and insectivores also live: wombats and anteaters.

In Australia there are no representatives of the order of carnivores (except dingoes), monkeys, ungulates and other animals that are widespread in other parts of the world.

Due to the fact that there were no higher mammals in the Australian zoogeographical region, marsupials, without encountering competition or enemies, gave an extraordinary diversity of species corresponding to the biological types of higher mammals.

At the same time, these egg-laying mammals - the platypus and the echidna - in some features of their structure are very reminiscent of the most ancient mammals. They can truly be called "living fossils."

The bushes are home to the local endemic echidna (Echidna aculeata), a mammal whose body is covered with spines. Like the platypus, the echidna lays eggs, which it incubates in a pouch and feeds mainly on ants, collecting them with its long sticky tongue. She is nocturnal, very timid and burrows into the ground when danger approaches. The echidna is hunted for its tasty meat.

The birds in Australia are also remarkable. Suffice it to recall the emu ostriches, and endemic representative of the Australian fauna, the helmeted, or common cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)

A feature of the island fauna is the absence of mammals and a very wide variety of birds, many of which lead a terrestrial lifestyle, as if taking on the functions of mammals.

Among the reptiles of Australia there are also extremely interesting species. For example, the already mentioned frilled lizard with a huge fold of skin in the form of a cape, capable of running quickly on its hind legs (it resembles a small dinosaur); Moloch lizard covered with huge spines; numerous poisonous snakes, many others.

Flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) or flying dogs are a genus of bats in the fruit bat family. They feed on the juice and pulp of fruits and flowers. They live in New Guinea, Oceania, Australia.

9/10 animal species are endemic to Australia, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.

People are increasingly appreciating the unique landscapes and animals of this continent. Modern Australians and the indigenous inhabitants of these places are connected together. Despite the changing landscape, the land is rich in strange, hardy animals. Wildlife continues to exist even in the centers of large cities.

Modern Australia remains the most untamed and unique place on the planet.

The grand discovery made by scientists from James Cook University in October this year in Cape Melville National Park, located in northwestern Australia, is amazing and stunning.

Scientists have discovered a “lost world” in northern Australia, home to several previously unexplored vertebrate species.

In the near future, scientists plan to return to the cape to begin new research. Biologists will be looking for new species of spiders, snails and even small mammals.

$mob_info$