Each year numerous people visit Australia just to see the wide variety of exotic animals. Indeed, these exotic animals found only in Australia are quite amazing. In fact, over 80 per cent of plants, mammals, frogs and reptiles are unique to Australia and are found nowhere else on earth. There are more than 4000 fish species, 828 bird species, 378 mammal species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, about 50 types of marine mammals and two crocodile species. Some of the more well-known and popular animals include koala, kangaroo, wombat, wallaby, platypus, dingo and echidna.

Although finding these exotic animals in the wild is rather challenging, you can generally find most of these rare and unique species in a zoo. However, the ideal place to see and experience these wild creatures is at a park that has interactive wildlife displays and presentations such as Black Snake Productions.

Australian Mammals

Australia does not have any large predatory animals. The largest carnivorous mammal is the dingo, which is a wild dog. Other carnivorous animals consist of a unique variety no larger than a house cat like the Tasmanian Devil, Numbat and Quoll.

Dingoes can be found throughout Australia except in Tasmania. The best places to see them in the wild are in the deserts of the south and northern territory, Kimberley and Queensland’s Fraser Island. Tasmanian Devils are only found in the wild in Tasmania. Numbats can sometimes be spotted in Western Australia. And the hard to be found endangered Quoll can sometimes be seen in Tasmania, the wet forests of southeastern Australia and a tiny area of northern Queensland. And a member of the bandicoot family called the bilby can be seen in Francois Peron National Park.

Australian Marsupials

There are over 140 species of marsupials in Australia like koalas, kangaroos, wombats and wallabies. As well, there are 55 diverse native species of wallabies and kangaroos that vary in size and weight from a half kilogram to 90 kilograms. The kangaroo population varies between 30 and 60 million and can be seen throughout rural Australia.
Wallabies are prevalent across Australia. They are mostly found in remote and rugged areas such as Kosciuszko and Namadgi National Parks, Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park and Flinders Ranges in the south.

The popular koala can be spotted along the temperate eastern coast. Favorite habitats are Port Stephens in New South Wales, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve near Canberra and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland. They can also be seen in the wild on Victoria’s Phillip Island and in the west in Yanchep National Park. Wombats are difficult to see in the wild but they can be found in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair in Tasmania, Blue Mountains National Park and, Wilsons Promontory in Victoria.
Other Unique Creatures

In addition, there are many other exotic animals found only in Australia. The egg-laying mammals or monotremes are the most unique like the river-dwelling platypus and the spiny ant-eater echidna found on Kangaroo Island.

And when it comes to birds, you can find 828 bird species. Remarkably, about half of the species can only be found in Australia. They range from small honeyeaters to the flightless emu. There are also many seabirds and water birds like black swans, kookaburras, penguins, cassowaries, currawongs and lyrebirds. As well, there are 55 species of parrots including parakeets, cockatoos, lorikeets, cockatiels, budgerigars and rosellas.

And when it comes to reptiles, Australia has some of the most exceptional. In fact, there are more species of venomous snakes than any other continent. Australia actually has 21 of the world’s 25 deadliest snakes. However, most are not poisonous. But there are both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles and numerous lizards such as the Bearded Dragon and Frilled Lizard.

And if you like fish, Australia’s marine environment supports about 4000 of the world’s 22000 types of fish. About 30 are of the 58 sea grass species. As well, let’s not forget that Australia has the world’s largest coral reef system called the Great Barrier Reef with approximately 1700 different species of coral.