Kangaroo

Kangaroos are mammals and belong to a group called marsupials. This

means that the mother carries her young in a pouch.
Kangaroos have large, strong legs with big feet. This makes them great
jumpers!
They also have a long tail (to keep them balanced) and a small head.

Kangaroos live in groups called mobs.

They are herbivores. This means that they eat

plants, leaves and different grasses.
 Kangaroo
A baby kangaroo is known as a joey.

The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial

in the world.

Did You Know?

Kangaroos cannot move backwards.
 Echidna
The echidna can be found all over Australia and is the most common Australian mammal.

The echidna looks a bit like a hedgehog with a long, thin snout. It has very sharp spines (along its back

and sides) as well as a long tongue, which they flick out to catch insects with.

When an echidna is scared, it curls up into a spiky ball, to protect

itself from predators.

 Echidna

An echidna eats minibeasts, such

as worms and ants. They use

their sharp claws to break open

rotting logs to

collect tiny bugs.

Did You Know?

Echidnas have no teeth.

Photos courtesy of rymill and Steven Falk (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution
 Emu
The emu is the largest bird in Australia and the second largest bird in the world!

Emus have long necks, sharp beaks and small ears.

They have two sets of eyelids. One set is for blinking and the other is to keep the dust out.

They have three toes on each foot.

One toe on each foot has a long claw- this is

used for fighting.

 Emu
Emus like to eat grains, flowers, berries, insects and

anything else they can find.

Emus can live in flocks or pairs.

Did You Know?

Emus cannot fly.
 Wombat
Wombats are only found in the wild in Australia. They are mammals and marsupials.

Wombats have short legs, a small head, wide feet and strong claws.

They are great at digging!

They live in underground dens called

burrows. The burrows are made from roots

of fallen trees, soil, leaves and rocks.

 Wombat
Wombats can be sandy coloured, brown, black or grey.

Wombats are nocturnal, which means they are awake at

night and asleep during the day.

They go out at night time to feed on grass

and roots.

Did You Know?

A wombat’s pouch is backwards.
 Possum
Possums are marsupials.

Most possums live in hollow tree trunks, but some build nests known as dreys in bushes or trees.

Possums are also nocturnal.

Possums are mainly herbivores. However, they

have been known to eat insects and bird eggs.

They eat eucalyptus and other leaves. They also

love flowers and fruit.

 Possum

Most possums live alone, except when

they have a young family. The ringtail

possums tend to live in family groups

of three or more.

Did You Know?

Possums love eating nectar.
 Koala
Koalas are found in the wild in Australia. Although they are often called ‘koala bears’, they are not

bears. They are actually marsupials, like wombats, possums and kangaroos.

A baby koala is called a joey.

Joeys live in their mother’s pouch for

about six months.

 Koala
Koalas are good at climbing trees. They use the

sharp claws on their front paws to hold on to the

branches and to grip their food.

They are herbivores and their favourite tasty

treats are eucalyptus leaves.

Did You Know?

Koalas can sleep for up to 18 hours a day.
 Platypus
Platypuses are mammals that lives on land and in the water. They are only found in eastern Australia

and Tasmania, in small rivers and streams.

They have a bill (or beak), a tail, fur and webbed feet.

Although they are mammals, platypuses lay eggs

instead of having babies.

Platypuses are nocturnal. They close their eyes and

ears when they dive underwater and dig up the river

beds with their bills to find worms, insects and

shrimp.

Photo courtesy of dnatheist (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution
 Platypus
The platypus is an excellent swimmer. It can stay under water

for around 30 seconds before coming up for air.

Did You Know?

They are hunted by snakes, water rats, hawks, owls, eagles and sometimes

crocodiles.

Photos courtesy of TheEggplant (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution
 Tasmanian Devil
The Wild Tasmanian devil can only be found in the wild in Tasmania. The Tasmanian devil is a

marsupial.

Tasmanian devils are mostly black, but often have

white markings on their chest. Tasmanian devils

are carnivores, which means they only eat meat.

They eat lizards, frogs, insects and any animal

meat they can find.

 Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian devils are good at spotting things that are

moving, but if things are still they probably won’t see it as

clearly.

Did You Know?

Tasmanian Devils store fat in their tail and use this when they can’t

find food.

Photos courtesy of scottliddle (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution