Fauna of Australia
49860
225702128
2008-07-14T23:56:00Z
Jwinius
141528
/* Amphibians and reptiles */ Corr: pythons -- Australia has no boas. I'm not sure that Australia is home to any typhlopids (blind snakes).
<!--Please use Australian spelling. Please use caps for a vertebrate species' common name (Musky Rat-kangaroo), and lowercase to refer to a common name for a group of species (kangaroo) or invertebrates and fish-->
[[Image:Kangur.rudy.drs.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The [[Red Kangaroo]] is the largest [[macropod]] and is one of Australia's heraldic animals, appearing with the [[Emu]] on the [[Coat of Arms of Australia]].]]
The '''fauna of Australia''' consists of a huge variety of unique [[animal]]s; some 83% of [[mammal]]s, 89% of [[reptile]]s, 90% of [[fish]] and [[insect]]s and 93% of [[amphibian]]s that inhabit the continent are [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Australia]].<ref name = "Williams">Williams, J. et al. 2001. ''Biodiversity, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001'' (Theme Report), CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. ISBN 0-643-06749-3 [http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/biodiversity/pubs/biodiversity.pdf .pdf]</ref> This high level of endemism can be attributed to the continent's long geographic isolation, [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] stability, and the effects of an unusual pattern of climate change on the soil and [[Flora of Australia|flora]] over geological time. A unique feature of Australia's fauna is the relative scarcity of native [[Placentalia|placental]] [[mammal]]s. Consequently the [[marsupial]]s—a group of mammals that raise their young in a [[Pouch (marsupial)|pouch]], including the [[macropod]]s, [[opossum]]s and [[Dasyuromorphia|dasyuromorphs]]—occupy many of the [[ecological niche]]s placental animals occupy elsewhere in the world. Australia is home to two of the five known extant species of [[monotreme]]s and has numerous [[venom (poison)|venomous]] species, which include the [[Platypus]], [[spider]]s, [[scorpion]]s, [[octopus]], [[jellyfish]], [[mollusc]]s, [[stonefish]], and [[stingray]]s. Uniquely, Australia has more venomous than non-venomous species of [[snake]]s.
The settlement of Australia by [[Indigenous Australians]] more than 40,000 years ago, and by Europeans from 1788, has significantly affected the fauna. Hunting, the introduction of non-native species, and land-management practices involving the modification or destruction of habitats have led to numerous [[extinction]]s. Some examples include the [[Paradise Parrot]], [[Pig-footed Bandicoot]] and the [[Broad-faced Potoroo]]. Unsustainable land use still threatens the survival of many species. To target threats to the survival of its fauna, Australia has passed wide-ranging federal and state legislation and established numerous [[protected areas of Australia|protected areas]].
==Origins==
{{main|Natural history of Australia}}
[[Image:Laurasia-Gondwana.png|right|thumb|250px|Evidence suggests that Australia was a part of the supercontinent [[Gondwana]](land).]]
Both [[geology of Australia|geologic]] and climatic events helped to make Australia's fauna unique. Australia was once part of the southern supercontinent [[Gondwana]], which also included [[South America]], [[Africa]], [[India]] and [[Antarctica]]. Gondwana began to break up 140 million years ago (MYA); 50 MYA Australia separated from Antarctica and was relatively isolated until the collision of the [[Indo-Australian Plate]] with Asia in the [[Miocene]] era 5.3 MYA. The establishment and [[evolution]] of the present-day fauna was apparently shaped by the unique climate and the geology of the continent. As Australia [[continental drift|drifted]], it was, to some extent, isolated from the effects of global climate change. The unique fauna that originated in Gondwana, such as the marsupials, survived and [[Adaptive radiation|adapted]] in Australia.
After the [[Miocene]], fauna of Asian origin were able to establish themselves in Australia. The [[Wallace Line]]—the hypothetical line separating the [[Zoogeography|zoogeographical]] regions of Asia and Australasia—marks the tectonic boundary between the [[Eurasian Plate|Eurasian]] and Indo-Australian plates. This continental boundary prevented the formation of land bridges and resulted in a distinct zoological distribution, with limited overlap, of most Asian and Australian fauna, with the exception of birds. Following the emergence of the circumpolar current in the mid-[[Oligocene]] era (some 15 MYA), the Australian climate became increasingly [[Desert|arid]], giving rise to a diverse group of arid-specialised organisms, just as the wet tropical and seasonally wet areas gave rise to their own uniquely adapted species.
==Mammals==
Australia has a rich mammalian fossil history, as well as a variety of extant mammalian species, dominated by the marsupials. The fossil record shows that [[monotremes]] have been present in Australia since the [[Early Cretaceous]] 145–99 MYA,<ref>
Archer, M. et al., 1985. First Mesozoic mammal from Australia-an early Cretaceous monotreme. ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' 318:363–366</ref> and that [[marsupial]]s and placental mammals date from the [[Eocene]] 56–34 MYA,<ref>
Godthelp, H. et al. 1992. Earliest known Australian Tertiary mammal fauna. ''Nature'', 356:514–516 </ref> when modern mammals first appeared in the fossil record. Although marsupials and placental mammals did coexist in Australia in the Eocene, only marsupials have survived to the present. The placental mammals made their reappearance in Australia in the Miocene, when Australia moved closer to [[Indonesia]], and [[bat]]s and [[rodent]]s started to appear reliably in the fossil record. The marsupials evolved to fill specific ecological niches, and in many cases they are physically similar to the placental mammals in [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]] that occupy similar niches, a phenomenon known as [[convergent evolution]].<ref>Townsend, C.R. et al. 2002. [http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/townsend/Chapters/EOEC02.pdf The Ecology of Evolution], in ''Essentials of Ecology'' 2nd edition. Blackwell Publishers ISBN 1-4051-0328-0</ref> For example, the top predator in Australia, the [[Thylacine|Tasmanian Tiger]], bore a striking resemblance to [[Canidae|canid]]s such as the [[Gray Wolf]]; [[Petauridae|gliding opossums]] and [[flying squirrel]]s have similar adaptations enabling their arboreal lifestyle; and the [[Numbat]] and [[anteaters]] are both digging insectivores.
===Monotremes and marsupials===
[[Monotreme]]s are mammals with a unique method of reproduction: they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Two of the five known living species of monotreme occur in Australia: the [[Platypus]] and the [[Short-beaked Echidna]]. The Platypus — a venomous, egg-laying, duck-billed, amphibious mammal — is one of the strangest creatures in the animal kingdom. When a Platypus pelt was first presented by [[Joseph Banks]] to English naturalists in the late 18th century, they were convinced it must be a cleverly created hoax. Another strange monotreme is the [[Short-beaked Echidna]]; covered in hairy spikes, with a tubular snout in the place of a mouth, it has a tongue that can move in and out of the snout about 100 times per minute to capture [[termite]]s.
[[Image:SpottedQuoll 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|220px|left|thumb|The [[Spotted Quoll]] is mainland Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial and an [[endangered species]].]]
Australia is also home to the world's largest and most diverse selection of [[marsupial]]s: mammals with a pouch in which they rear their young. The marsupial [[carnivore]]s — order [[Dasyuromorphia]] — are represented by two surviving families: the [[Dasyuridae]] with 51 members, and the Myrmecobiidae with the Numbat as its sole surviving member.
The Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger was the largest Dasyuromorphia and the last living specimen of the family Thylacinidae; however, the last known specimen died in captivity in 1936. The world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial is the [[Tasmanian Devil]]; it is the size of a small dog and can hunt, although it is mainly a scavenger. It became extinct on the mainland some 600 years ago and is now found only in [[Tasmania]]. There are four species of [[quoll]], or native cat, all of which are threatened species. The remainder of the Dasyuridae are referred to as 'marsupial mice'; most weigh less than 100 grams. There are two species of [[marsupial mole]] — order [[Notoryctemorphia]] — that inhabit the deserts of [[Western Australia]]. These rare, blind, earless carnivores spend most of their time underground; little is known about them.
The marsupial [[omnivore]]s include the [[bandicoot]]s and [[bilby|bilbies]], order [[Peramelemorphia]]. There are seven species in Australia, most of which are endangered. These small creatures share several characteristic physical features: a plump, arch-backed body with a long, delicately tapering snout, large upright ears, long thin legs, and a thin tail. The evolutionary origin of this group is unclear, but they share characteristics from both carnivorous and herbivorous marsupials.
[[Image:Koala climbing tree.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Koala]] does not normally need to drink because it can obtain all of the moisture it needs by eating leaves.]]
The marsupial [[herbivore]]s are classified in the order [[Diprotodontia]], and further into the suborders [[Vombatiformes]], [[Phalangeriformes]] and [[Macropodiformes]]. The Vombatiformes include the [[Koala]] and the three species of [[wombat]]. One of Australia's best-known marsupials, the Koala is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) species that feeds on the leaves of some 120 species of [[eucalyptus]]. Wombats, on the other hand, live on the ground and feed on [[Poaceae|grasses]], [[Cyperaceae|sedges]] and [[root]]s. Wombats use their rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws to dig extensive burrow systems; they are mainly [[crepuscular]] and [[nocturnal animal|nocturnal]]. Wombats are also well known for their backwards facing pouches.
The Phalangeriformes includes [[possum]]s and is a diverse group of arboreal marsupials, including six families and 26 species. They vary in size from the [[Pygmy possum]], weighing just 7 g, to the cat-sized [[Common Ringtail Possum|Common Ringtail]] and [[Common Brushtail Possum|Brushtail]] possums. The [[Sugar Glider|Sugar]] and [[Squirrel Glider]]s are common species of gliding possum, found in the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, while the [[Feathertail Glider]] is the smallest glider species. The gliding opossums have membranes, called "patagiums," that extend from the fifth finger of their forelimb back to the first toe of their hind foot. These membranes, when outstretched, allow them to glide between trees.
The Macropodiformes are divided into three families that are found in all Australian environments except [[alpine climate|alpine]] areas: the Hypsiprymnodontidae, with the [[Musky Rat-kangaroo]] as its only member; the [[Potoroidae]], with 10 species; and the [[Macropodidae]] which had 53 members in Australia, but some species are extinct. The Potoroidae include the bettongs, potaroos and rat-kangaroos, small species that make nests and carry plant material with their tails. The Macropodiae include [[kangaroo]]s, [[wallaby|wallabies]] and associated species; size varies widely within this family. Most macropods move in a [[biped]]al, energy-efficient hopping motion. They have powerfully muscled [[Tail (anatomy)|tail]]s and large hind legs with long narrow hind feet. The hind feet have a distinctive arrangement of four toes, while the short front legs have five separate digits. The Musky Rat-kangaroo is the smallest macropod and the only species that is not bipedal, while the male [[Red Kangaroo]] is the largest, reaching a height of about 2 m and weighing up to 85 kg.
===Placental mammals===
[[Image:Dingo2.jpg|220px|right|thumb|The [[Dingo]] was the first placental mammal introduced to Australia by humans.]]
Australia has indigenous placental mammals from two orders: the [[bat]]s, order Chiroptera, represented by six families, and the mice and rats, order [[Rodent]]ia, family [[Muridae]]. Bats and rodents are relatively recent arrivals to Australia. Bats probably arrived from Asia, and they are present in the fossil record only from as recently as 15 MYA. Although 7% of the world's bats species live in Australia, there are only two endemic [[genus|genera]] of bats. Rodents first arrived in Australia 5–10 MYA and underwent a wide radiation to produce the species collectively known as the "old endemic" rodents. The old endemics are represented by 14 extant genera. About a million years ago, the rat entered Australia from [[New Guinea]] and evolved into seven species of ''Rattus'', collectively called the "new endemics."
Since human settlement, many [[Placentalia|placental]] mammals have been introduced to Australia and are now [[feral]]. The first was the [[Dingo]]; fossil evidence suggests that people from the north brought the Dingo to Australia about 5,000 years ago.<ref>
Savolainen, P. et al. 2004. A detailed picture of the origin of the Australian dingo, obtained from the study of mitochondrial DNA. ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America''. 101:12387–12390 PMID 15299143</ref> When Europeans settled Australia they intentionally released many species into the wild, including the [[Red Fox]], [[Cape Hare|Brown Hare]], and the [[European Rabbit]]. Other domestic species have escaped and over time have produced wild populations including the [[cat]], [[Fallow Deer]], [[Red Deer]], [[Sambar Deer]], [[Rusa Deer]], [[Chital]], [[Hog Deer]], [[Domestic Horse]], [[Donkey]], [[Domestic pig|Pig]], [[Domestic goat|Domestic Goat]], [[Domestic buffalo|Water Buffalo]], and the [[Dromedary]]. Only three species of Australia's non-indigenous placental mammals were not deliberately introduced: the [[House Mouse]], [[Black Rat]] and the [[Brown Rat]].
[[Image:Dugong2.jpg|220px|left|thumb|The [[Dugong]] is an endangered species; the largest remaining population is found in Australian waters.]]
Forty-six marine mammals from the order [[Cetacea]] are found in Australian coastal waters, but since many of these species have a global distribution, some authors do not consider them Australian species. There are nine species of [[baleen whale]], including the enormous [[Humpback Whale]]. There are 37 species of toothed whale, which include all six genera of the family Ziphiidae ([[Beaked whale]]s), and 21 species of [[oceanic dolphin]], including the [[Australian Snubfin Dolphin]], a species first described in 2005. Some oceanic dolphins, such as the [[Orca]], can be found in all waters around the continent; others, such as the [[Irrawaddy Dolphin]], are confined to the warm northern waters. The [[Dugong]] (Order [[Sirenia]]) is an endangered marine species that inhabits the waters of northeastern and northwestern Australia, particularly the [[Torres Strait]]. It can grow up to 3 m long and weigh as much as 400 kg. The dugong is the only herbivorous marine mammal in Australia, feeding on [[sea grass]] in coastal areas. The destruction of sea grass beds is a threat to the survival of this species.
Ten species of seals and sea-lions (superfamily [[Pinniped]]ia) live off the southern Australian coast and in Sub-Antarctic Australian territories. <!--[http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/species/seals/]-->
==Birds==
[[Image:Emu showing feet.jpg|right|thumb|190px|The [[Emu]] is the second largest surviving species of bird. It is a heraldic bird, appearing on the [[Coat of Arms of Australia]].]]
{{main|Birds of Australia}}
Australia and its territories are home to over 800 species of [[bird]]; about 350 of these are endemic to the zoogeographic region that covers Australia, New Guinea and [[New Zealand]]. The fossil record of birds in Australia is patchy; however, there are records of the ancestors of contemporary species as early as the [[Oligocene|Late Oligocene]].<ref>
[[Australian Museum]]. 2001. [http://www.amonline.net.au/birds/research/figure1.htm Fossil history of birds: fossil history overview]</ref> Birds with a Gondwanan history include the flightless [[ratite]]s (the [[Emu]] and [[Southern Cassowary]]), [[Mound-builders|megapodes]] (the [[Malleefowl]] and [[Australian Brush-turkey]]), and a huge group of endemic [[Psittaciformes|parrot]]s, order Psittaciformes. Australian parrots comprise a sixth of the world’s parrots, including many [[cockatoo]]s and [[galah]]s. The [[Kookaburra]] is the largest species of the [[kingfisher]] family, known for its call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter.
The [[passerine]]s of Australia, also known as songbirds or perching birds, include [[wren]]s, [[Petroicidae|robin]]s, the [[Artamidae|magpie group]], [[Acanthiza|thornbill]]s, [[pardalote]]s, the huge [[honeyeater]] family, [[Climacteridae|treecreepers]], [[lyrebird]]s, [[Bird of paradise|birds of paradise]] and [[bowerbird]]s. The [[Satin Bowerbird]] is a fascinating bird that has attracted the interest of evolutionary psychologists: it has a complex courtship ritual in which the male creates a bower filled with blue, shiny items to woo mates.
[[Image:Gang-gang female MJC01.jpg|left|thumb|180px|A female [[Gang-gang Cockatoo]].]]
Relatively recent colonists from [[Eurasia]] are [[Hirundinidae|swallow]]s, [[lark]]s, [[thrush (bird)|thrush]]es, [[cisticola]]s, [[sunbird]]s, and some [[Bird of prey|raptors]], including the large [[Wedge-tailed Eagle]]. A number of bird species have been introduced by humans; some, like the [[European Goldfinch]] and [[Greenfinch]], coexist happily with Australian species, while others, such as the [[Common Starling]], [[Blackbird|Common Blackbird]], [[House Sparrow]] and [[Indian Mynah]], are destructive of some native bird species and thus destabilise the native ecosystem.
About 200 species of [[seabird]] live on the Australian coast, including many species of migratory seabird. Australia is at the southern end of the East Asian-Australasian flyway for migratory water birds, which extends from [[Russian Far East|Far-East Russia]] and [[Alaska]] through [[Southeast Asia]] to Australia and [[New Zealand]]. About two million birds travel this route to and from Australia each year. One very common large seabird is the [[Australian Pelican]], which can be found in most waterways in Australia. The [[Little Penguin]] is the only species of [[penguin]] that breeds on mainland Australia.
==Amphibians and reptiles==
{{main|Amphibians of Australia|Reptiles of Australia}}
[[Image:Pobblebonk02.jpg|210px|right|thumb|The [[Eastern Banjo Frog]] is a common frog species across eastern Australia.]]
Australia has four families of native frogs and one introduced [[toad]], the [[Bufo marinus|Cane Toad]]. In 1935 the Cane Toad was introduced to Australia in a failed attempt to control pests in [[sugarcane]] crops. It has since become a devastating pest, spreading across northern Australia. As well as competing with native insectivores for food, the Cane Toad produces a venom that is toxic to native fauna, as well as to man. The [[Myobatrachidae]], or southern frogs, are Australia's largest group of frogs, with 120 species from 21 genera. A notable member of this group is the colourful and endangered [[Corroboree frog|Corroboree Frog]]. The [[tree frog]]s, from family Hylidae, are common in high rainfall areas on the north and east coasts; there are 77 Australian species from three genera. The 18 species from two genera of the [[Microhylidae]] frogs are restricted to the rainforests; the smallest species, the [[Scanty Frog]], is from this family. There is a single species from the world's dominant frog group, family [[Ranidae]] — the [[Australian wood frog|Australian Wood Frog]] — which only occurs in the Queensland rainforests. As elsewhere, there has been a precipitous [[decline in frog populations|decline in Australia's frog populations]] in recent years. Although the full reasons for the decline are uncertain, it can be at least partly attributed to the fatal amphibian [[chytrid|fungal]] disease [[chytridiomycosis]].
[[Image:SaltwaterCrocodile('Maximo').jpg|left|thumb|210px|The [[Saltwater Crocodile]] is the largest species of crocodile in the world.]]
Australia has both [[Saltwater Crocodile|saltwater]] and [[Freshwater Crocodile|freshwater]] [[crocodile]]s. The Saltwater Crocodile, known colloquially as the "salty," is the largest living crocodile species; reaching over 7 m and weighing over 1,000 kg, they can and do kill people. They live on the coast and in the freshwater rivers and wetlands of northern Australia, and they are farmed for their meat and leather. Freshwater Crocodiles, found only in Northern Australia, are not considered dangerous to man.
The Australian coast is visited by six species of [[Cheloniidae|sea turtle]]: the [[Flatback Turtle|Flatback]], [[Green Sea Turtle|Green Sea]], [[Hawksbill Turtle|Hawksbill]], [[Olive Ridley]], [[Loggerhead Sea Turtle|Loggerhead]] and the [[Leatherback Sea Turtle]]s; all are protected in Australian waters. There are 29 species of Australian freshwater [[turtle]]s from eight genera of family [[Chelidae]]. The [[Pig-nosed Turtle]] is the only Australian member of that family. Australia and Antarctica are the only continents without any living species of land [[tortoise]].
[[Image:BlueTonguedLizard 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|right|thumb|210px|[[Blue-tongued lizard]]s are the largest species of [[skink]].]]
Australia is the only continent where venomous snakes outnumber their non-venomous cousins. Australian snakes belong to seven families. Of these, the most venomous species, including the [[Fierce Snake]], [[Eastern brown snake|Eastern Brown Snake]], [[Taipan]] and [[Tiger snake|Eastern Tiger Snake]] are from the family [[Elapidae]]. Of the 200 species of elapid, 86 are found only in Australia. Thirty-three [[sea snake]]s from family Hydrophiidae inhabit Australia's northern waters; many are extremely venomous. Two species of sea snake from the [[Acrochordidae]] also occur in Australian waters. Australia has only 11 species from the world's most significant snake family [[Colubridae]]; none are endemic, and they are considered to be relatively recent arrivals from Asia. There are 15 [[Pythonidae|python]] species and 31 species of insectivorous [[Typhlopidae|blind snake]].
[[Image:Perentie Lizard Perth Zoo SMC Spet 2005.jpg|180px|left|thumb|There are 26 species of [[goanna]] in Australia.]]
There are more lizards in Australia than anywhere else in the world, with representatives of five families. There are 114 species in 18 genera of [[gecko]] found throughout the Australian continent. The [[Pygopodidae]] is a family of limbless lizards endemic to the Australian region; of the 34 species from eight genera, only one species does not occur in Australia. The [[Agamidae]] or Dragon lizards are represented by 66 species in 13 genera, including the [[Thorny Devil]], [[Bearded Dragon]] and [[Frill-necked Lizard]]. There are 26 species of [[monitor lizard]], family Varanidae, in Australia, where they are commonly known as [[goanna]]s. The largest Australian monitor is the [[Perentie]], which can reach up to 2 m in length. There are 389 species of [[skink]] from 38 genera, comprising about 50% of the total Australian lizard fauna; this group includes the [[blue-tongued lizard]]s.
==Fish==
{{main|Fish in Australia}}
[[Image:Maccullochella_peelii_peelii.jpg|Right|thumb|260px|The [[Murray cod]] is Australia's largest wholly freshwater fish.]]
More than 4,400 species of fish inhabit Australia's waterways;<ref>[[Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation|CSIRO]]. 2004. [http://www.marine.csiro.au/caab/namelist.htm Standard Names of Australian Fish]</ref> of these, 90% are endemic. However, because of the relative scarcity of freshwater waterways, Australia has only 170 species of freshwater fish. Two families of freshwater fish have ancient origins: the [[arowana]] or "bony tongues," and the [[Queensland lungfish]]. The Queensland lungfish is the most primitive of the [[lungfish]], having evolved before Australia separated from Gondwana. One of the smallest freshwater fish, peculiar to the southwest of [[Western Australia]], is the [[salamanderfish]], which can survive desiccation in the dry season by burrowing into mud. Other families with a potentially Gondwanan origin include the [[Retropinnidae]], [[Galaxiidae]], [[Aplochitonidae]] and [[Temperate perch|Percichthyidae]]. Apart from the ancient freshwater species, 70% of Australia's freshwater fish have affinities with tropical Indo-Pacific marine species that have adapted to freshwater.<ref>Williams, W.D. and Allen, G.R. 1987. Origins and adaptations of the fauna of inland waters. In D.W. Walton Ed. ''Fauna of Australia'', Volume 1A. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.</ref> Nevertheless, fossil evidence indicates that many of these freshwater species are still ancient in origin. These species include freshwater [[lamprey]]s, [[Clupeidae|herrings]], [[Eeltail catfish|catfish]], [[Melanotaeniidae|rainbowfish]], and some 50 species of [[Eleotridae|gudgeon]], including the [[Sleepy Cod]]. Native freshwater game fish include the [[Barramundi]], [[Murray Cod]], and [[Golden Perch]]. Two species of endangered [[River shark|freshwater shark]] are found in the [[Northern Territory]].
Several exotic freshwater fish species, including [[Brown trout|brown]], [[Brook trout|brook]] and [[rainbow trout]], [[Atlantic Salmon|Atlantic]] and [[Chinook salmon]], [[redfin perch]], [[common carp|carp]] and [[mosquitofish]], have been introduced to Australian waterways.<ref>Wager, R. and Jackson, P. 1993. ''[http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/action/fish/index.html The Action Plan for Australian Freshwater Fishes]'', Queensland Department of Primary Industries Fisheries Division ISBN 0-642-16818-0 </ref> The mosquitofish is a particularly aggressive species known for harassing and nipping the fins of other fish. It has been linked to declines and localised extinctions of several small native fish species. The introduced trout species have had serious negative impacts on a number of [[Upland and lowland (freshwater ecology)|upland]] native fish species including [[trout cod]], [[Macquarie perch]] and ''[[Mountain galaxias|galaxias]]'' species as well as other upland fauna such as the [[Spotted Tree Frog]]. The carp is strongly implicated in the dramatic loss in waterweed, decline of small native fish species and permanently elevated levels of turbidity in the [[Murray-Darling Basin]] of southwest Australia.
[[Image:Phyllopteryx taeniolatus1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The [[weedy sea dragon]], a fish related to [[Syngnathidae|pipefish and seahorses]], is found in the waters around southern Australia.]]
Most of Australia's fish species are marine. Groups of interest include the [[moray eel]]s and [[Holocentridae|squirrelfish]], as well as the [[pipefish]] and [[seahorses]], whose males incubate their partner's eggs in a specialised pouch. There are 80 species of [[grouper]] in Australian waters, including one of the world's biggest [[Osteichthyes|bony fish]], the [[Giant Grouper]], which can grow as large as 2.7 m and weigh up to 400 kg. The [[Carangidae|trevally]], a group of 50 species of silver schooling fish, and the [[snapper]]s are popular species for commercial fishing. The [[Great Barrier Reef]] supports a huge variety of small- and medium-sized reef fish, including the [[damselfish]], [[butterflyfish]], [[Marine angelfish|angelfish]], [[Goby|gobies]], [[Apogonidae|cardinalfish]], [[wrasse]]es, [[triggerfish]] and [[Acanthuridae|surgeonfish]]. There are several venomous fish, among them several species of [[stonefish]] and [[pufferfish]] and the [[red lionfish]], all of which have toxins that can kill humans. There are 11 venomous species of [[stingray]], the largest of which is the [[smooth stingray]]. The [[barracuda]]s are one of the reef's largest species. However, large reef fish should not be eaten for fear of [[ciguatera]] poisoning.
[[Image:Wobbegong.jpg|right|thumb|180px|The [[spotted wobbegong]] is the largest wobbegong shark, reaching a length of 3.2 m.]]
[[Shark]]s inhabit all the coastal waters and estuarine habitats of Australia’s coast. There are 166 species, including 30 species of [[requiem shark]], 32 of [[catshark]], six of [[Wobbegong|wobbegong shark]], and 40 of [[Squalidae|dogfish shark]]. There are three species from the family [[Bullhead shark|Heterodontidae]]: the [[Port Jackson shark]], the [[zebra bullhead shark]] and the [[crested bullhead shark]]. In 2004, there were 12 unprovoked shark attacks in Australia, of which two were fatal.<ref>
International Shark Attack File. 2005. [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/statsw.htm SAF Statistics for the Worldwide Locations with the Highest Shark Attack Activity Since 1990], Florida Museum of Natural History</ref> Only 3 species of shark pose a significant threat to humans: the [[bull shark]], the [[tiger shark]] and the [[great white shark]]. Some popular beaches in [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]] are protected by [[shark net]]ting, a method that has reduced the population of both dangerous and harmless shark species through accidental entanglement. The overfishing of sharks has also significantly reduced shark numbers in Australian waters, and several species are now endangered. A [[megamouth shark]] was found on a [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] beach in 1988; very little is known about this species, but this discovery may indicate the presence of the species in Australian coastal waters.
==Invertebrates==
{|border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; border: 1px #aaa solid;font-size:80%; border-collapse: collapse;float: right;"
|- bgcolor="#ffc0cb"
!Taxonomic group
!width="70"|Estimated number of species described
!width="70"|Estimated total number of species in Australia
|-lecher mes couille
|[[Porifera]]
|1,416
|~3,500
|-
|[[Cnidaria]]
|1,270
|~1,760
|-
|[[Platyhelminthes]]
|1,506
|~10,800
|-
|[[Acanthocephala]]
|57
|~160
|-
|[[Roundworm|Nematoda]]
|2,060
|30,000
|-
|[[Mollusk|Mollusca]]
|9,336
|~12,250
|-
|[[Annelid]]a
|2,125
|~4,230
|-
|[[Velvet worm|Onychophora]]
|56
|~56
|-
|[[Crustacean|Crustacea]]
|6,426
|~9,500
|-
|[[Arachnida]]
|5,666
|~27,960
|-
|[[Insect]]a
|58,532
|~83,860
|-
|[[Echinoderm]]ata
|1,206
|~1,400
|-
|Other invertebrates
|2,929
|~7,230
|-
|colspan="3"| <small>Modified from: Williams et al. 2001.<ref name = "Williams">Williams, J. et al. 2001. ''Biodiversity, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001'' (Theme Report), CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. ISBN 0-643-06749-3 [http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/biodiversity/pubs/biodiversity.pdf .pdf]</ref><small>
|}
Of the estimated 200,000 animal species in Australia, about 96% are invertebrates. While the full extent of invertebrate diversity is uncertain, 90% of [[insect]]s and [[Mollusk|molluscs]] are considered endemic.<ref name = "Williams">Williams, J. et al. 2001. ''Biodiversity, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001'' (Theme Report), CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. ISBN 0-643-06749-3 [http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/biodiversity/pubs/biodiversity.pdf .pdf]</ref> Invertebrates occupy many ecological niches and are important in all ecosystems as decomposers, pollinators, and food sources. The largest group of invertebrates is the insects, comprising 75% of Australia's known species of animals. The most diverse insect orders are the [[Beetle|Coleoptera]], with 28,200 species of [[beetle]]s and [[weevil]]s, the [[Lepidoptera]] with 20,816 species including [[butterfly|butterflies]] and [[moth]]s, and 12,781 species of [[Hymenoptera]], including the [[ant]]s, [[bee]]s and [[wasp]]s. Order [[Diptera]], which includes the [[fly|flies]] and [[mosquito]]es, comprises 7,786 species, Order [[Hemiptera]], including bugs, aphids and hoppers, comprises 5,650 species; and there are 2,827 species of order [[Orthoptera]], including [[grasshopper]]s, [[cricket (insect)|cricket]]s and [[katydid]]s.<ref>
CSIRO. [http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects_allies.html Insects and their allies]</ref> Introduced species that pose a significant threat to native species include the [[german wasp|European wasp]], the [[red imported fire ant|red fire ant]], the [[yellow crazy ant]] and feral [[Western honeybee|honeybees]] which compete with native bees.
[[Image:Green ants.jpg|left|thumb|200px|There are 1,275 described species and subspecies of ant from Australia.<ref>Shattuck, S. and Barnett, N. 2001. [http://www.ento.csiro.au/science/ants/ants_in_australia.htm Australian Ants Online], CSIRO Entomology</ref> These green ants (''[[Oecophylla smaragdina]]'') are found in tropical Australia and build nests in leaves.]]
Australia has a wide variety of [[arachnids]], including 135 species of [[spider]] that are familiar enough to have common names. There are numerous highly venomous species, including the notorious [[Sydney funnel-web spider|Sydney funnel-web]] and [[redback spider]]s, whose bites can be deadly. There are thousands of species of mites and ticks from order [[Acarina]]. Australia also has eight species of [[pseudoscorpion]] and nine [[scorpion]] species.
In the [[Annelida]] (sub)class [[Oligochaeta]] there are many families of aquatic worms, and for native terrestrial [[worm]]s: the [[Enchytraeidae]] (pot worms) and the "true" earthworms in families Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae and [[Megascolecidae]]. The latter includes the world's largest earthworm, the [[giant Gippsland earthworm]], found only in [[Gippsland]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. On average they reach 80 cm in length, but specimens up to 3.7 m in length have been found.
[[Image:Wolf spider&egg sac02.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[wolf spider]], ''Lycosa godeffroyi'', is common in many areas of Australia. In this family of spiders, the female carries her egg-sac.]]
The large family [[Parastacidae]] includes 124 species of Australian freshwater crayfish. These include the world's smallest crayfish, the [[swamp crayfish]], which does not exceed 30 mm in length, and the world's largest crayfish, the [[Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish]], measuring up to 76 cm long and weighing 4.5 kg. The crayfish genus ''[[Cherax]]'' includes the [[common yabby]], in addition to the farmed species [[marron]] and [[Australian red claw crayfish|Queensland red claw]]. Species from the genus ''[[Engaeus]]'', commonly known as the land crayfish, are also found in Australia. ''Engaeus'' species are not entirely aquatic, because they spend most of their lives living in burrows. Australia has seven species of freshwater crab from the genus ''[[Austrothelphusa]]''. These crabs live burrowed into the banks of waterways and can plug their burrows, surviving through several years of drought. The extremely primitive freshwater [[Anaspididae|mountain shrimp]], found only in Tasmania, are a unique group, resembling species found in the fossil record from 200 MYA.
[[Image:Common clownfish.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A [[Heteractis magnifica|magnificent sea anemone]] on the [[Great Barrier Reef]], with an [[Ocellaris clownfish]].]]
A huge variety of marine invertebrates are found in Australian waters, with the [[Great Barrier Reef]] an important source of this diversity. Families include the [[Porifera]] or sea sponges, the [[Cnidaria]] (includes the [[jellyfish]], [[coral]]s and [[sea anemone]]s, [[Ctenophore|comb jellies]]), the [[Echinoderm]]ata (includes the [[sea urchin]]s, [[starfish]], [[brittle star]]s, [[sea cucumber]]s, the [[Brachiopod|lamp shell]]s) and the Mollusca (includes [[snail]]s, [[slug]]s, [[limpet]]s, [[squid]], [[octopus]], [[Cockle (bivalve)|cockle]]s, [[oyster]]s, [[clam]]s, and [[chiton]]s). Venomous invertebrates include the [[Chironex fleckeri|box jellyfish]], the [[blue-ringed octopus]], and ten species of [[cone snail]], which can cause respiratory failure and death in humans. The [[crown-of-thorns starfish]] usually inhabits the Reef at low densities. However, under conditions that are not yet well understood, they can reproduce to reach an unsustainable population density when coral is devoured at a rate faster than it can regenerate. This presents a serious reef management issue. Other problematic marine invertebrates include the native species [[purple sea-urchin]] and the [[white urchin]], which have been able to take over marine habitats and form urchin barrens due to the over harvesting of their natural predators which include [[abalone]] and [[Jasus edwardsii|rock lobster]]. Introduced invertebrate pests include the [[Asian mussel]], [[New Zealand green-lipped mussel]], [[black-striped mussel]] and the [[Northern Pacific seastar]], all of which displace native shellfish.
There are many unique marine crustaceans in Australian waters. The best-known class, to which all the edible species of crustacean belong, is [[Malacostraca]]. The warm waters of northern Australia are home to many species of [[Decapoda|decapod]] crustaceans, including [[crab]]s, [[Anomura|false crabs]], [[hermit crab]]s, [[Spiny lobster|lobster]]s, [[Thalassinidea|shrimps]], and [[prawn]]s. The [[Peracarida|Peracarid]]s, including the [[Amphipoda|amphipod]]s and [[Isopoda|isopods]], are more diverse in the colder waters of southern Australia. Less-well-known marine groups include the classes [[Remipedia]], [[Cephalocarida]], [[Branchiopoda]], [[Maxillopoda]] (which includes the [[barnacle]]s, [[copepod]]s and [[Branchiura|fish lice]]), and the [[Ostracod]]a. Notable species include the [[Tasmanian giant crab]], the second largest crab species in the world, found in deep water, and weighing up to 13 kg, and the Australian [[spiny lobster]]s, such as the [[Western rock lobster]], which are distinct from other [[lobster]] species as they do not have claws.
==Invasive species==
[[Image:Bufo marinus from Australia.JPG|thumb|175px|right|The poisonous '''cane toad''']]
{{main|Invasive species in Australia}}
Introduction of exotic fauna in Australia by design, accident and natural processes has led to a considerable number of [[Invasive species|invasive]], [[feral]] and [[pest (organism)|pest]] species which have flourished and now impact the environment adversely. Introduced organisms affect the environment in a number of ways. [[Rabbit]]s render land economically useless. [[Red Fox]]es affect local [[Endemism|endemic]] fauna by [[predation]] while the [[cane toad]] poisons the predators by being eaten. The invasive species include birds ([[Common Mynah|Indian Mynah]]) and fish ([[common carp]]), insects ([[red imported fire ant]]) and [[mollusc]]s ([[Asian mussel]]). The problem is compounded by invasive exotic [[flora]] as well as introduced diseases, fungi and parasites.
Costly, laborious and time-consuming efforts at control of these species has met with little success and this continues to be a major problem area in the conservation of Australia's biodiversity.
==Human impact and conservation==
{{main|Conservation in Australia}}
For at least 40,000 years, Australia's fauna played an integral role in the traditional lifestyles of [[Indigenous Australians]], who exploited many species as a source of food and skins. Vertebrates commonly harvested included macropods, opossums, seals, fish and the [[Short-tailed Shearwater]], most commonly known as the Muttonbird. Invertebrates used as food included insects like the [[Bogong moth]] and larvae collectively called [[witchetty grub]]s and molluscs. The use of [[fire-stick farming]], in which large swathes of bushland were burnt to facilitate hunting, modified both flora and fauna — and are thought to have contributed to the extinction of large herbivores with a specialised diet, such as the flightless birds from the genus ''[[Genyornis]]''.<ref>Miller, G. H. 2005. Ecosystem Collapse in Pleistocene Australia and a Human Role in Megafaunal Extinction. ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'', 309:287–290 PMID 16002615</ref> The role of hunting and landscape modification by aboriginal people in the extinction of the [[Australian megafauna]] is debated.<ref name = "Thompson">Thomson, J.M. et al. 1987. Human Exploitation of and Introductions to the Australian Fauna. In D.W. Walton Ed. ''Fauna of Australia'', Volume 1A. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.</ref>
[[Image:Grey Nurse Shark at Fish Rock Cave, NSW.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[grey nurse shark]] is critically endangered on the Australian east coast.]]
The impact of Aborigines on native species populations is widely considered to be less significant than that of the European settlers,<ref name = "Thompson">Thomson, J.M. et al. 1987. Human Exploitation of and Introductions to the Australian Fauna. In D.W. Walton Ed. ''Fauna of Australia'', Volume 1A. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.</ref> whose impact on the landscape has been on a relatively large scale. Since European settlement, direct exploitation of native fauna, habitat destruction and the introduction of exotic predators and competitive herbivores has led to the extinction of some 27 mammal, 23 bird and 4 frog species. Much of Australia's fauna is protected by legislation; a notable exception is kangaroos, which are prolific and are regularly culled. The federal ''[[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999]]'' was created to meet Australia's obligations as a signatory to the 1992 [[Convention on Biological Diversity]]. This act protects all native fauna and provides for the identification and protection of [[threatened species]]. In each state and territory, there is statutory listing of threatened species. At present, 380 animal species are classified as either endangered or threatened under the EPBC Act, and other species are protected under state and territory legislation.<ref>[[Department of the Environment and Heritage (Australia)|Department of the Environment and Heritage]]. [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna]</ref> More broadly, a complete cataloguing of all the species within Australia has been undertaken, a key step in the conservation of Australian fauna and biodiversity. In 1973, the federal government established the [[Australian Biological Resources Study]] (ABRS), which coordinates research in the taxonomy, identification, classification and distribution of flora and fauna. The ABRS maintains free online databases cataloguing much of the described Australian flora and fauna.
Australia is a member of the [[International Whaling Commission]] and is strongly opposed to commercial whaling—all Cetacean species are protected in Australian waters. Australia is also a signatory to the [[Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna|CITES]] agreement and prohibits the export of endangered species. [[Protected areas of Australia|Protected areas]] have been created in every state and territory to protect and preserve the country's unique ecosystems. These protected areas include national parks and other reserves, as well as 64 wetlands registered under the [[Ramsar Convention]] and 16 [[World Heritage Site]]s. As of 2002, 10.8% (774,619.51 km²) of the total land area of Australia is within protected areas.<ref>Department of the Environment and Heritage. 2002. [http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/capad/2002/national/nat-type02.html Summary of Terrestrial Protected Areas in Australia by Type]</ref> Protected marine zones have been created in many areas to preserve marine biodiversity; as of 2002, these areas cover about 7% (646,000 km²) of Australia's marine jurisdiction.<ref>Department of the Environment and Heritage. 2002. [http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mpa/nrsmpa/index.html#status About the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA)]</ref> The [[Great Barrier Reef]] is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority under specific federal and state legislation. Some of Australia's fisheries are already overexploited,<ref>Newton, G and Boshier, J, eds. 2001. ''Coasts and Oceans Theme Report, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001'' (Theme Report), CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. ISBN 0-643-06749-3 [http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/coasts/pubs/coasts.pdf .pdf]</ref> and quotas have been set for the sustainable harvest of many marine species.
The ''State of the Environment Report, 2001'', prepared by independent researchers for the federal government, concluded that the condition of the environment and environmental management in Australia had worsened since the previous report in 1996. Of particular relevance to wildlife conservation, the report indicated that many processes—such as [[Salinity in Australia|salinity]], changing hydrological conditions, land clearing, fragmentation of ecosystems, poor management of the coastal environment, and [[Invasive species in Australia|invasive species]]—pose major problems for protecting Australia's biodiversity.<ref>Australian State of the Environment Committee. 2001. ''Australia State of the Environment 2001'', Independent Report to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage. CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage ISBN 0-643-06745-0 [http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/pubs/part01.pdf .pdf]</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of Australian mammals]]
** [[List of Australian monotremes and marsupials]]
** [[List of Australian bats]]
** [[List of Australian rodents]]
** [[List of placental mammals introduced to Australia]]
** [[List of Australian marine mammals]]
* [[List of Australian birds]] and the [[List of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds]]
* [[List of common Australian spiders]]
* [[Threatened fauna of Australia]]
* Extinct Australian fauna
** [[extinct Australian animals|Recently extinct Australian animals]]: from 1788 to present;
** [[Australian megafauna]]: from first human colonisation to 1788
* [[Invasive species in Australia]]
** [[List of placental mammals introduced to Australia]]
** [[List of introduced fish in Australia]].
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
===References===
<div class="references-small">
* Berra, T. M. 1998. ''A Natural History of Australia''. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-093155-9
* McKay, G.M. et al. 1989. [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/fauna-of-australia/pubs/volume1b/36-ind.pdf Biogeography and Phylogeny of Eutheria]. In ''Fauna of Australia'' (D. W. Walton and B. J. Richardson, eds.). Mammalia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 1B:1–1227.
* Strahan, R. ed. 1983. ''The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals''. Angus & Robertson ISBN 0-207-14454-0
* Walton, D. W. Ed. 1987. ''Fauna of Australia'', Volume 1A. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. ISBN 0-644-06055-7
* Wells, A. Ed. 2005. [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/index.html Australian Faunal Directory], Department of Environment and Heritage
</div>
==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Fauna_of_Australia.ogg|2006-10-23}}
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/ Australian Biological Resources Study]
* [http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/ Australian Insect Common names]
* [http://www.austmus.gov.au/ Australian Museum], Australia's natural history museum
* [http://www.mov.vic.gov.au/crust/page1.html Crustacean Gallery- Marine crustacean from southeastern Australia]
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/fauna-of-australia/list.html#mammalia ''Fauna of Australia''], full contents of Mammalia and some of Amphibia & Reptilia available in .pdf format
* [http://www.amonline.net.au/fossil_sites/index.htm Fossil Sites of Australia]
* [http://www.avru.org/ University of Melbourne Australian Venom Research Unit], descriptions and images of many venomous species
{{featured article}}
{{Oceania topic|Fauna of}}
[[Category:Fauna of Australia| ]]
{{Link FA|de}}
{{Link FA|es}}
{{Link FA|fr}}
{{Link FA|he}}
[[ca:Fauna d'Austràlia]]
[[de:Fauna Australiens]]
[[es:Fauna australiana]]
[[fr:Faune de l'Australie]]
[[he:החי של אוסטרליה]]
[[la:Fauna Australiana]]
[[lb:Flora a Fauna vun Australien]]
[[lt:Australijos gyvūnija]]
[[nl:Fauna van Australië]]
[[pl:Fauna Australii]]
[[pt:Fauna da Austrália]]
[[fi:Australian eläimistö]]
[[zh-yue:澳洲動物]]
[[zh:澳洲動物相]]