Critter Science
The Science of Animals
The numbat, aka the banded anteater is a unique Australian marsupial endemic to Western Australia and now back in Southern Australia. They use their long sticky tongues to catch insects like termites, their favorite food! Once numerous
The goanna, also known as a monitor lizard, is a close relative of the Komodo dragon and one of the largest lizards in the world due to length and weight. There are 25 species of goanna that are found in the Northern and Eastern parts of the Australian continent. They are typically
The Australian fur seal is a pinniped that lives in Australia, among other places, along the coastlines, on beaches, and rocky coves. Fur seals have large eyes, a pointed face with whiskers, and sharp teeth. The Australian Fur Seal is an agile swimmer and
The southern blue-ringed octopus is one of three highly venomous species of blue-ringed octopuses. It is most commonly found in tidal pools along the southern coast of Australia. Naturally, like many things in Australia, it is capable of killing
The laughing kookaburra is the largest of the kingfishers. They are also the loudest! They have a loud call that sounds much like a laugh and they release this call right around twilight. There are 4 different recognized species of kookaburra
The kangaroo possesses powerful hind legs, a long strong tail, and small front legs/arms. Kangaroos belong to the family called Macropus, literally translating to “big foot.” A newborn joey can’t suckle or swallow, so the kangaroo mom uses her
Looking like something straight out of Jurassic Park, we have the frill necked lizard. They are quick ambush predators that have a really cool defense mechanism… a large fan-like frill that they extend to make themselves seem larger and more fierce
The koala is the first symbol of Australia that people think of. They are adorable, soft, furry, and cute. However, they can have a bit of a nasty streak too, if not brought up around humans. Wild koalas should never be approached as they can become frightened and very
