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There are few travel experiences that can match the visceral thrill of observing a wild animal in its natural habitat.
We’ve always been awestruck by the wondrous array of unique animals that can be found roaming our beautiful planet. But Australia has been blessed with more than its fair share.
From awesome Australian road trips to epic ecotourism activities in the Australian National Parks, there’s no shortage of adventure to be found in the land down under.
The continent’s quirky personality is mirrored in the many unique species of Australian animals that call this place home.
From adorable Kangaroos and Quokkas to the wonderfully strange Echidna and Platypus, there’s an abundance of fascinating creatures to be found.
Much of the wildlife in Australia is cute and cuddly, but some species are seriously unusual. So here’s a look at what we consider 20 of the most charming and weird animals in Australia.
READ MORE: 70 Weird Animals Around the World
CUTE AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS GUIDE
- Kangaroo
- Koala
- Potoroo
- Quokka
- Rainbow Lorikeet
- Spotted Quoll
- Sugar Glider
- Tree Kangaroo
- Wallaby
- Wombat
KANGAROO
Scientific Name: Macropus
Habitat: Forests, plains, savannahs, and woodlands of Australia and surrounding islands
Size: 85-150 pounds
Diet: Grasses, flowers, leaves, ferns, moss, and insects
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
More Cool Facts: Kangaroos are among the most popular species on the Australian wildlife list, and it’s not hard to see why. These amazing animals can jump up to an impressive 35 miles per hour. They’re also proficient swimmers, and will dive into water to avoid predators or even to drown attackers.
READ MORE: Volunteering at a Kangaroo Sanctuary in Australia
KOALA
Scientific Name: Phascolarctos cinereus
Habitat: Eucalyptus forests and low inland woodlands of southeastern and eastern Australia
Size: 9-20 pounds
Diet: Eucalyptus leaves
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
More Cool Facts: Koalas are another one of the most popular animals in Australia. They mostly consume eucalyptus leaves, which are tough to eat and poisonous. Luckily, their cerum (a digestive organ) breaks down the leaves, leaving the cute Koalas unharmed.
READ MORE: Top 5 Things to Do in Australia (For Nature Lovers)
POTOROO
Scientific Name: Potorous
Habitat: Sheltered in understory vegetation on Tasmania and southeastern Australia
Size: Approximately 3 pounds
Diet: Underground fungi, fruit, flowers, seeds, insects
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
More Cool Facts: The long-nosed Potoroo is a strangely attractive Australian rodent. As one of the continent’s nocturnal animals, they are rarely seen in the wild. This small Kangaroo-like animal is solitary, but not territorial, and typically lives around 5 to 6 years.
READ MORE: The Top 10 Australian National Parks
QUOKKA
Scientific Name: Setonix brachyurus
Habitat: Shrubland areas around swamps near Perth and in western Australia
Size: 6-7 pounds
Diet: Leaves, stem, bark, grass
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
More Cool Facts: The notoriously friendly Quokka is one of the most adorable animals of Australia, made famous by countless tourist selfies. They are known as “the happiest animal on the planet,” and it’s not difficult to understand why when you see their seemingly smiling faces. Although they resemble large rodents, they are actually small Australian marsupials.
READ MORE: 10 Epic Australian Road Trips
RAINBOW LORIKEET
Scientific Name: Trichoglossus moluccanus
Habitat: Lowland forests and woodland areas in and around Sydney and Melbourne
Size: 2-6 pounds
Diet: Pollen and nectar from local flowers, insects, fruits
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: The Rainbow Lorikeet is one of our favorite species on the Australian native birds list. They’re among the most common birds in Australia and are easily distinguishable by their vibrant array of colors. They like to congregate in trees and can be quite noisy. At night they prefer to stay in well-lit places in order to stay one step ahead of predators.
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SPOTTED QUOLL
Scientific Name: Dasyurus maculatus
Habitat: Forests of southeastern Australia
Size: 7-8 pounds
Diet: Vegetation, rats, possums, insects, reptiles, and other small prey
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
More Cool Facts: The Spotted Quoll is one of the more fascinating species of Australian wildlife. Locals sometimes consider them crazy due to their bizarre social interactions, as they will often cough, hiss, and scream in piercing tones. But when they’re not interacting with each other, they are mostly silent.
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SUGAR GLIDER
Scientific Name: Petaurus breviceps
Habitat: Forested areas of dense vegetation all across Australia
Size: 2.8 to 5.6 ounces
Diet: Fruits, vegetables, bird eggs, lizards, other small prey
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: True to their name, Sugar Gliders adore consuming sugar and gliding from tree to tree. These arboreal animals spend most of their lives in the trees, and rarely come down to the ground. But sadly, they can actually die from loneliness! If they’re deprived of adequate social interaction, they become so sad that they will literally stop eating and perish.
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TREE-KANGAROO
Scientific Name: Dendrolagus
Habitat: Rainforests and lowlands of northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia
Size: 19-32 pounds
Diet: Leaves, fruit, bark, eggs, young birds, flowers, sap
Conservation Status: Endangered
More Cool Facts: The oddly endearing Tree-Kangaroos are an increasingly endangered marsupial species. There are actually 14 species of Tree-Kangaroo, with Bennett’s and Lumholtz’s the two found in Queensland, Australia. A loss of habitat and increased hunting has made it harder for them to survive in recent years.
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WALLABY
Scientific Name: Macropodidae
Habitat: Open grasslands, plains, and dense forests, widespread across Australia
Size: 4-53 pounds
Diet: Mostly grass, leaves, fruits, and other plants
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: The Wallaby is a native Australian animal related to the Kangaroo, though considerably smaller in size. There are 11 species of brush wallabies, six species of rock wallabies, three species of scrub wallabies, and two species of hare-wallabies. They all look very similar to the Kangaroo, and use their tails for balance in a similar manner.
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WOMBAT
Scientific Name: Vombatidae
Habitat: Forests and shrub land of southeastern Australia
Size: 44-77 pounds
Diet: Vegetation; roots, grasses, shrubs, trees
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: Wombats have short legs and compact bodies perfect for digging holes. These Australian land animals have a wide range of personalities– some are social and some prefer to be left alone. Although they’re fairly short and stout, Wombats can run up to a whopping 25 miles per hour!
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WEIRD AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS GUIDE
- Bandicoot
- Bilby
- Cassowary
- Echidna
- Emu
- Kookaburra
- Numbat
- Platypus
- Tasmanian Devil
- Thorny Devil
BANDICOOT
Scientific Name: Peramelemorphia
Habitat: Forests, grasslands, thickets, and swamps of Australia and New Guinea
Size: 0.4- 3.5 pounds
Diet: Mainly insects, fruits, nuts, seeds, eggs
Conservation Status: Endangered
More Cool Facts: This endemic species of Australia is content on the ground, and is not typically found in trees. These bizarre marsupials stay hidden during the day due to their small size, which makes them susceptible to being preyed upon by larger animals.
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BILBY
Scientific Name: Macrotis
Habitat: Rocky soil, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands in semi-arid regions of Australia
Size: 1.7- 5.5 pounds
Diet: Insects, spiders, seeds, fruit, fungi
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
More Cool Facts: The tiny Bilby has been called the Easter bunny of Australia. These Australian grasslands animals are highly effective diggers, so predators have a tough time catching them. Amazingly, they get all the hydration they need from their food, and do not drink water.
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CASSOWARY
Scientific Name: Casuarius
Habitat: Rainforests and swamps of far north Queensland
Size: 40-167 pounds
Diet: Fruits, plants, small animals
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: These striking Australian birds, while beautiful, can be really threatening if provoked. The Cassowary’s clawed toes can strike and cause severe injuries, including internal bleeding. They have been coined “the world’s most dangerous bird,” and are certainly classified among the most deadly animals in Australia.
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ECHINDA
Scientific Name: Tachyglossidae
Habitat: Deserts, rainforest and mountains of New Guinea and mainland Australia
Size: 5-20 pounds
Diet: Termites, ants, larvae, worms
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: The Echinda is truly one of the strangest animals alive today. These unusual creatures lay eggs, have a variety of spine colors, and have no teeth (but make up for it with 6-inch tongues). All in all, it’s the perfect poster child for weird Australian animals!
READ MORE: 30 Amazing Galapagos Islands Animals
EMU
Scientific Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland of mainland Australia
Size: 40-132 pounds
Diet: Plants, fruits, seeds, insects, seeds, grasses
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: Emus are among the biggest animals in Australia. It’s also the second largest bird in the world, right behind the Ostrich. Although flightless, these bizarre birds can run up to 30 miles per hour, and boast powerful kicks that can be harmful to predators.
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KOOKABURRA
Scientific Name: Dacelo
Habitat: Forest and wetlands of eastern Australia
Size: 6.9-16.4 ounces
Diet: Mice, insects, snakes, small reptiles, worms, frogs
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: These cool Australian birds are known for their distinctve call which sounds like laughter. They also have very large bills, which make it simple for them to swoop down from the trees and snatch up their prey.
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NUMBAT
Scientific Name: Myrmecobius fasciatus
Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and deserts of western Australia
Size: 9.9-19 ounces
Diet: Termites
Conservation Status: Endangered
More Cool Facts: The Numbat eats termites exclusively, using its 4-inch tongue. These Australian creatures are solitary and territorial, traveling far and wide to satisfy their diet. Like other Australian desert animals, they don’t need water. They get enough moisture from the termites they consume.
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PLATYPUS
Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Habitat: Inland wetlands of eastern Australia
Size: 1-6 pounds
Diet: Worms, insect larvae, freshwater fish, small vertebrates
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
More Cool Facts: The duck-billed Platypus is one of the most well-known animals indigenous to Australia. They lay eggs, have no teeth or stomach, and are one of the few venomous mammals in the world. While they’re not among Australia’s deadliest animals, their venom can cause severe pain to humans, as well as uncomfortable swelling.
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TASMANIAN DEVIL
Scientific Name: Sarcophilus harrisii
Habitat: Forest, grassland, coastal scrublands
Size: 6-13 pounds
Diet: Snakes, insects, birds, fish
Conservation Status: Endangered
More Cool Facts: The Tasmanian Devil is on the endangered Australian animals list. You can judge their health by the size of their tail, where they store fat, and they can eat up to 40% of their body weight per day! They don’t look as threatening as other scary animals in Australia, but have an incredibly powerful bite that allows them to easily crush bones.
READ MORE: Tasmanian Devil Conservation on Maria Island, Australia
THORNY DEVIL
Scientific Name: Moloch horridus
Habitat: Shrubland and deserts of central Australia
Size: 2.5-3.4 ounces
Diet: Ants
Conservation Status: Least Concern
More Cool Facts: Thorny Devils are the ultimate masters of disguise. They have a “false head” on the back of their necks to trick predators, as well as the ability to change colors in order to blend into their environment. Despite their prickly appearance, they are actually not among the many venomous animals in Australia. –by Julia Hensley
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