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These animals are all featured in
one or more of my books.
All these animals are unique to Australia,
where I grew up. Many of them are
severely endangered.
** KANGAROOS - What Makes
the Big Hoppers Hop?
Hey, don't you wish you
could do humongous hops like a kangaroo? You could too if you had powerful back
legs and long back feet. But they can't walk backward, and they don't have thumbs:
so you're even, mate! They DO have a long fourth toe with a wicked claw. This
toe is the secret behind those huge hops - it helps push them forward! Their
tail ( apart from making yummy kangaroo tail soup) helps them balance when
hopping fast. If you like hamburgers and fried chicken, don't go dine with a
kangaroo - strictly salad I'm afraid.
Babies grow big in
Mama's"marsupial" pouch. Kangaroo mamas must LOVE babies, because
adult females are almost always pregnant. After that first Joey starts sucking
on the teats in her pouch, Mama K's milk just keeps on flowing - an on-tap milk
bar! Kangaroos are silent types, but even they offer a few
"love grunts" when romance is in the air. People yell and scream when
they're scared, right? But kangaroos just lift that big back foot and thump
the ground to warn of danger. Now here's something to make you hop up and down - almost 280 companies worldwide want to use a picture of the
kangaroo as their trademark. HOP over for more Kangaroo Clues + National Graphic Extras.
** NUTTY NOTES: A kangaroo is just a huge mouse with springs in its legs!
** KOALAS - Are They
REALLY Soft and Cuddly?
Don't you
believe it, mate! Koalas are feisty little blokes who like to be left alone.
For Koalas, eucalyptus gum trees are the only game in town! They sleep in them,
climb in them, and eat the tender tip of the gum leaves. If your mom says you're
lazy, you can tell her that you are no match for the koala. They spend 80% of
their days sleeping - YAWN! They do move around in the gum trees after sunset,
nibbling away for a few hours. If another koala sneaks onto their turf, a fight
might break out, and both angry furballs will bark loudly at each other. The
baby Joey is born, blind, hairless and less than an inch long. WOW! Then, he crawls into his mum's pouch and slurps milk from one
of 2 teats. Baby K hides inside Mom's pouch for 6 months. If your family
drives near a koala family, be careful not to run them over. Bush fires also
can kill these cute fellows. They are built for climbing, not running. Koalas
may look cuddly, but watch out for those CLAWS! Read more fun Koala Facts.
** NUTTY NOTES: A koala is just a crabby old man
in a furry, gray suit.
** PLATYPUS - Is he made up of animal bits &
pieces?
The platypus is shy. A loud noise will make them dive into the
water. They are fussy home builders too- building mud burrows in the banks of
only the finest freshwater lakes and streams. Platypus are weird! They like to
swim underwater with their eyes and ears closed. Can you close YOUR ears?
Pretty neat, eh?
But they have to use their webbed feet to swim DOWNWARDS all
the time, because their fur traps air, and this makes them buoyant. If they
don't keep swimming DOWN, they pop back up to the surface, like a cork! BEWARE,
male platypus come armed! A sharp, hollow, horny spur on the inside of both
hind legs is always loaded. His venom gland shoots a powerful and painful
toxin. This spur is a nifty defense against those determined to eat him.
Platypus eat by moonlight, and tasty aquatic insect larvae, freshwater shrimps and worms, are always
on their menu. No need for knives and forks! Just a duck-like snout that dabs
after goodies in the mud at the bottom of the water. AND
they have a unique family history - real classy! They
are Monotremes, because they lay eggs instead of giving birth, yet feed their kits milk that seeps into the fur on their tummies. Check out this site for fun Platypus Facts -- PLUS a Video.
NUTTY NOTES: A platypus is what you get when the throw leftovers together. A really unique creature!
*KOOKABURRAS - Are they really laughing
at jokes?
Kookaburras are a noisy bunch of feathers that like to roost in the Aussie
bush. The Kookaburra's raucous laughing call wakes many Aussies who live near
the bush country. If you want someone to sing sweetly in your choir, DON"T
ask a kookaburra! This bird's chorus of crazy laughter will ruin any tune.
They
do people one good turn, though. Kookaburras think snakes are delicious, and
mice are a real treat - UGH! Perhaps I shouldn't mention that they also drool
over baby birds, and steal them whenever they can. Can you imagine living in a
termite mound? NO? Well, kookaburras will settle for a termite mound if a
hollow tree trunk is not for sale! Mum ad Dad Kooka look after the babies
together - real family values, mate. And even feed them when they are teenagers,
and leave the nest. Hear the kookaburra laugh and read more fun details here . . . . Plus a sound Video
ABORIGINAL LEGEND! . . .
. . .The Australian aborigines have a legend about the Kookaburra. When the sun
rose for the first time, the God Bayame, ordered Kookaburra
to utter its
loud, almost human laughter in order to
wake up mankind. He didn't want them to miss the wonderful sunrise. Aborigines also believed that
any child who
insults a kookaburra will grow
an extra slanting tooth.
NUTTY NOTES: Kookaburras see the whole world
as one big laughing matter.
** ECHIDNA: A very prickly customer!
The Echidna (also known as the Spiny Anteater) makes the platypus look like a
party animal! It thinks being a primitive species of egg-laying mammal is an
excuse to be a hermit. On top of this, it has the monotreme title, like the
platypus. This, "Please don't knock, I refuse to answer," critter, has
tough spines covering the top of its body. YIKES! I'll bet he's not on too
many menus!
The echidna is lonely for a l-o-n-g time - he can live for over 50
years. When attacked, the echidna quickly burrows into the ground or curls up in a ball. Mama E lays a single egg in the pouch on her belly. The egg has a
leathery shell, and junior pops out in 10 days. Baby echidna is born blind and hairless. The milk for junior comes from a gland in mum's pouch.
Hey, seems pouch milk-bars are popular with Aussie animals! Would you believe a baby echidna is called a "PUGGLE?" It's no
surprise, that in a few weeks, when baby develops those nasty sharp spines, Mum
kicks him out of her pouch. Echidnas scarf up ants, termites, insects and
worms, with their fantastically long and sticky tongue. For extra fun
facts click here.
**NUTTY
NOTES: Echidnas are just
footballs that grew spikes!
*EMU - This dad is a house
husband!
What's the use of being a bird if you can't fly? Well, you'll have to ask an
emu for that question. Emus are shaped like a giant feathered egg on legs - way tall, thin legs. Their long neck weaves about, as the eyes in their small
head squint at you. The African ostrich and the South American rhea are their
kissing cousins.
Not flying can't matter too much, because they have survived
in Australia for 80 million years. Emus like it HOT - deserts, forests, and on
the plains. At 5 to 6 feet tall, they weigh up to 150 lb. No wonder they can't
fly! Emus are super short distance racers -up to 60 kilometers an hour, with a
stride of about 9 feet. WHEW! Talk about HUMONGOUS. Emus guzzle a lot of water,
drinking 2 to 4 gallons daily. Who knew they were fun creatures, enjoying water
play or a mud bath? And watch those muscular legs! One kick and you are over
the moon! More fun emu facts
** NUTTY
NOTES: Emu dads are househusbands - he raises the kids. Mum's super liberated, and she's outa there as soon as she lays her eggs.
** WILD AUSSIE BIRDS: No record company offers them a
singing contract.
Assorted Australian parrots, cockatoos and other wild birds are
truly awesome. You need dark glasses so their colors won't dazzle you. If you
took some of these wild Aussie parrots to McDonald's, they would eat from the
garden menu: sweet nectar, fluffy pollen, and a side dish of fresh, live insects
- Visit
this site to see vivid pictures of every species. FEATHERS
RULE, mate! Click Here for bucket
loads of tidbits about your Aussie feathered friends.
TRUE
STORY.
My mum used to live in a rooming house where
the landlady had a sulfur crested cockatoo. This bird knew a lot of words and
sentences and mimicked everyone very well. Each day, his owner hung him
outside on the verandah in his cage. Sometimes she would call my mum,
"Mrs. Lynch, are you there?" Mum would come out of her room, and they
would chat a while. It wasn't long before that cockatoo could say those words
in exactly the same voice as her owner. Soon, poor Mum couldn't tell whether it
was the bird or its owner who was calling her. After that, the feathered mimic
had to stay indoors for a while, to give Mum a rest.
** NUTTY NOTES: Aussie
parrots are nothing but chickens with fabulous feathers!
** MARSUPIAL MOUSE - A real meanie!
Marsupial mice are feisty, so don't go poking them. If you do,
they'll tell you off with much hissing, nasty chattering, and lots of tail
thrashing. These blokes come in shades of gray, brown and speckled. It's a
wonder they don't trip over their tails, because they are as long as their
bodies. They like to eat at restaurants that serve meat, meat, and more meat!
Home is in a burrow in the hottest place they can find. You can keep your
air-conditioning!
This mousey is very territorial. He marks his home territory
with secretions from a scent gland, and leaves droppings and urine in certain
places. POO! What a smelly, messy home he must have. Mama Mouse carries up to
six young on her teats for about eight weeks. She suckles them in a nest for a
further eight weeks. These juniors ride on their mother's side or back. Whew!
I'll bet her backaches.
These mice are seriously weird. They
don't drink water! All the moisture they need comes from the flesh
and blood of the juicy small bugs, lizards, and other creepies they eat. YUCK!
For more gross mousey doings. . . . . click here.
** NUTTY NOTES: Marsupial mice are just
tiny kangaroos without the springs in their legs!
**FRILLNECK
LIZARD - An ancient surprise package!
How would you like to be
named Chlamydosaurus? Well, that's the Latin name the Australian Frillneck
Lizard is stuck with it. Frilly spends 95% of his time hanging vertically on tree
trunks. No, that's not weird, it's how he catches breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Caterpillars, massed swarms of bees, wasps and winged termites - YUM! They all
end up in his tummy. He also likes to keep an eye on his territory, and any
rival frillnecks that try to sneak some of his goodies. The big frilly only
climbs out of his tree to eat. On the ground he often stands upright - just to
keep an eye on things. They bask on tree trunks in the early morning and hide
in the shade of the canopy in the heat of the day.
Frillnecks
never need glasses. WHY? Because their eyesight
is so good. When they spot food they like, the frilled lizard runs and grabs
it, then hurries back to his tree. the best hunting time for them is after a
bushfire. WHY? The fire has cleared away the undergrowth and edible goodies are
easier to spot - makes sense, right.
Frillies have the art of
the bluff down cold. If threatened, they open their mouth wide and erect their
frill. Frilly hopes the bright orange and red scales on the underside of the
frill will scare you to death! To add to the bluff, he'll hiss, and jump
around. But don't worry, he soon turns chicken and runs on his hind legs to
the nearest tree and hides. Reproduction: A female
frillneck lizard lays a clutch of 8 to 14 eggs. - whew! More Details: http://australian-animals.net/liz.htm
**NUTTY NOTES: Frillneck
Lizards are small dinosaurs that forgot they were supposed to be extinct.
** MAGPIE
- Just a frustrated
pop star!
Magpies have a
beautiful "Warbling Carol"(caroling) that is heard across
Australia in the bush, on farms and in Urban backyards. They call for partners,
and also to warn other birds this is their territory The notes become shorter
when distressed, and a young magpie's "begging for food" call is most
insistent. Found right across Australia. They require open ground to feed, some
trees to roost in. This describes a lot of Australias agriculture and bush
landscapes. Australian
Magpies have adapted well to the increase of man's Urban cities, and
they can be found in urban parks and gardens.
**NUTTY NOTES: Magpies never heard a song they
didn't like - especially those they create themselves.
**KINGFISHER - Great fishermen.
The Azure Kingfisher is found following
Australia's coastline from the top of the Northern Territory all the way down
the East coast, and including Tasmania. This Kingfisher frequents rivers and
streams, billabongs, lagoons, etc, with overhanging low branches.
FEEDING :
In typical kingfisher fashion, the Azure scans
the water from a low perch and dives quickly, causing a splash, and then darts
back to its perch. The prey will be turned around in its long beak and
swallowed head first. They prefer small crustaceans such as crabs and yabbies,
but do eat fish as well. More Details:
** NUTTY
NOTES: Kingfishers never need bait to catch
** TASMANIAN DEVIL - Temper! Temper!
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a
carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. Found wild only on the
Australian island state of Tasmania. The size of a small dog, it became the
largest carnivorous marsupial in the world, following the extinction of the
thylacine in 1936. It is characterized by its stocky and muscular build, black
fur, pungent odor, extremely loud and disturbing screech, keen sense of smell,
and ferocity when feeding. It hunts prey and scavenges carrion, as well as
eating household waste from your garbage can - YIKES! Although it is usually
solitary, it sometimes eats with other devils, and it defecates in a communal
location. Despite its rotund appearance, the devil is capable of surprising
speed and endurance. More Detals.
** NUTTY
NOTES: Dial 911 if a Tasmanian Devil family
moves into your street. RUN!
** WEDGE-TAILED
EAGLE - Watch
out!
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and southern New Guinea. The Wedge-tailed Eagle
has long wings (wingspan 2.3 m), a characteristic long, wedge-shaped tail, and
legs that are feathered all the way to the base of the toes. The bill is pale
pink to cream, the eye brown to dark brown, and the feet off-white. Young
Wedge-tailed Eagles are mid-brown in colour with reddish-brown heads and wings.
They become progressively blacker for at least the first ten years of their lives.
They eat both live prey and carrion. Their diet reflects the available prey,
but the most important live items are rabbits and hares.
Wedge-tailed Eagles may hunt singly, in pairs,
or in larger groups. Working together, a group of eagles can attack and kill
animals as large as adult kangaroos. This explains the scientific name of the
Wedge-tailed Eagle, which means 'bold eagle'. Under ideal conditions, an eagle
can lift about 50% of its body weight. Often, eagles may cache food items on a
branch near the nest area. More Details
** NUTTY NOTES: You
can serve them anything if they come to dinner - dead, alive, or really smelly!
** WOMBAT - A bit of a mystery critter.
If you don't know what a wombat is, then you've
come to the right place. I can offer you the works on wombat behavior, Diet,
Physical Characteristics, and Life Cycle, as well as pictures and a list of
links:
Wombats are large burrowing mammals found only
in Australia. Being rather timid (wimpy) and primarily nocturnal, they're
difficult to observe in their natural habitat and haven't been well studied.
They weren't even noticed by European settlers for ten years. Information is
somewhat scarce, and what there is, is often contradictory. Facts were gathered
from a number of sources, so differing viewpoints are included where
appropriate.
** NUTTY
NOTES: Wombats are NOT bats without wings- they are muscular, and
confirmed ground dwellers.
** BILBY - or Rabbit Eared Wombat (flappy ears!)
The Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is on the
endangered list, the Lesser Bilby (Macrotis leucura) is believed to be extinct.The Greater Bilby, usually referred to as the
Bilby, is the largest of the bandicoots, measuring up to 55cm in length (body
only) with a tail up to 29cm long. Adult males weigh up to 2.5 kg and females
about half that.
Bilbies are sometimes called Rabbit-Eared
Bandicoots.
They are marsupials. Their pouch opens backwards so that when they dig in the
dirt their pouch won't get filled with the dirt. The word Bilby comes from the
Yuwaalaraay, one of many Aboriginal languages.
Refer to the Bilby Fact Sheet at the bottom of this page for links and more
information:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/bilbies/Bilby_Files.htm
Fun BILBY TRIVIA:
A Bilby, in the form of a soft toy, has been to
the highest point in on earth! In May 1997, Tashi Tenzing, the grandson of
Tenzing Norgay, climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. The following is an extract
from "Tenzing and the Sherpas of Everest" written by Tashi, and his
wife Judy, who live in Sydney. "A Bilby, in the form of a soft
toy, has been to the highest point in on earth! In May 1997, Tashi Tenzing, the
grandson of Tenzing Norgay, climbed to the summit of Mount Everest."
http://members.optusnet.com.au/bilbies/About_Bilbies.htm
** NUTTY
NOTES: A Bilby is just to
be like Dumbo! But too fat to fly.
** SUGAR GLIDER - Very cool critter!
The sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a small, omnivorous, arboreal, and nocturnal gliding possum from the marsupial family. The common name refers to its preference for sugary foods, such as nectar and tree sap, and its ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel. They both look similar in appearance and habits, although not closely related. The scientific name, Petaurus breviceps, translates from Latin as "short-headed rope-dancer", a reference to their canopy acrobatics.
Sugar gliders are characterized by their gliding membrane, known as the patagium. This extends from their forelegs to hind legs. Gliding serves as an efficient means of locating food and evading predators. They are covered in soft, pale grey to brown fur-lighter on their underside. The sugar glider is endemic to mainland Australia and New Guinea and its surrounding islands. More Glider Facts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-glider
** NUTTY NOTES: Surprises enemies by "gliding" to safety at the last moment!
** CARPET SNAKE or CARPET PYTHON - A smooth dude.
Carpet pythons feed after dark. They primarily
eat mice, rats and birds, although smaller pythons prefer to eat lizards.
Often encountered in suburban areas, you couldn't find a better rat catcher.
Like most pythons, the carpet python has heat-sensitive pits on their upper and
lower lips, which help them detect the body heat of their prey.
Carpet pythons can be found in habitats ranging
from the tropical rainforest of north-east Australia, to arid and coastal
regions. The species is currently divided into six distinct subspecies.
This beautiful non-venomous python's body has
patterns that are blotchy yellow and black. The carpet python may grow to
reach lengths of up to 3.5 meters. It spends most of the day coiled up in a
tree or rafter, or basking in an open area. For
information about breeding etc, click this
link. https://www.australiazoo.com.au/our-animals/reptiles/boas-and-pythons/carpet-pythons
** NUTTY
NOTES: A Carpet Snake just wants to give you a BIG SQUEEZE!
**********
A Request:
I would love to hear from you if you
liked this page or read my books.
I promise to
reply to any e-mails
your child sends me -
Margot
Finke
