Wild and Weird.Check out more amazing Aussie critters COMMON SPOTTED CUSCUS The Common Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) is a cuscus (also known as a phalanger) is a marsupial animal that lives in the Cape York Peninsula region of Australia and New Guinea. Turf: Cape York Peninsula Cape York Peninsula, 280 mi (451 km) long, N Queensland, Australia, between the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Coral Sea. It is largely tropical jungle and sparsely populated. The Northern Peninsula Aboriginal Reserve is there. Weipa (1991 pop. 2,510) is the largest town. , Queensland Length: 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 ft) (tail takes up half the length) Weight: 1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb) Life span: 3 to 11 years Diet: Fruit, leaves, and flowers in the wild. Wacky Fact: The marsupial marsupial (märs  `pēəl), member of the order Marsupialia, or pouched mammals. cuscus cuscus: see phalanger. spends so much time sitting, even while eating and sleeping, that fur on the backside is sometimes worn into a bald spot. SHORT-BILLED ECHIDNA echidna, in zoology echidna (ĭkĭd`nə) or spiny anteater, primitive animal of the order Monotremata, the egg-laying mammals. Turf: All of mainland Australia and Tasmania Height: 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in.) Weight: 2 to 7 kg (4 to 15 lb) Life span: 10 years (one in a Philadelphia zoo lived till almost 50!) Diet: Ants, termites, beetles Wacky Fact: The small monotreme monotreme (mŏn`ətrēm'), name for members of the primitive mammalian order Monotremata, found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. , when threatened, can dig a hole in soft soil with all fours at the same time while remaining completely horizontal! Once hidden and curled into a spiky ball, it's very difficult to dislodge. EASTERN GREY KANGAROO The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. Although a big Eastern Grey male typically weighs around 66 kg (145 lb.) and stands almost 2 m (6 ft. Turf: Eastern Australia and Tasmania Length: 1 to 2.5 m (3.2 to 8.2 ft) Weight: 25 to 60 kg (55 to 132 lb) Life span: Up to 20 years Diet: They're herbivores, or plant eaters. Wacky tact: They travel only in mobs, or groups up to 50. The strongest male--"old man" or "boomer"--takes charge, keeping younger males in line by biting, kicking, or boxing. FRILLED LIZARD Turf: Northern Australia Length: 46 to 95 cm (18 to 37 in.) Weight: 400 to 879 g (14 to 31 oz) Life span: 8 to 10 years Diet: Cicadas, spiders, ants, and an occasional small mammal Wacky Fact: The official reptile of Australia is arboreal (lives in trees)--and only comes down to eat. It fans open its bright orange collar to scare off predators or attract mates. The collar is folds of scaly skin supported by cartilage (connective tissue), and only unfolds if the lizard's mouth is open. |
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