Mammals

Australia is home
to a rich and unique mammal fauna of about 380
species. They range in size from gigantic whales,
to kangaroos and related macropods, tiny rodents
and insectivorous bats. Some species are widespread
throughout the continent, while others are
restricted to small areas. Regrettably, a number
have become extinct in recent times following
European settlement.
Marsupials are
mammals which raise their young in a pouch. During
the continent's 30 million year period of isolation
they thrived and diversified. Predators evolved.
Even a Marsupial Lion flourished for millions of
years. Another marsupial predator, the Thylacine
(Tasmanian Tiger) was ruthlessly driven to
extinction in the 19th and early 20th
centuries.
With ice ages
lowering sea levels, new mammals were able to enter
the continent. At the same time, human invasions
occurred. Later came the Dingo, an Asian wild dog
which proved to be a new and efficient predator
which probably replaced the Marsupial Lion and the
mainland Thylacine.
Australia's
diverse mammal-marsupial fauna
includes
- the monotremes
~ Platypus and Short-beaked Echidna, egg-laying
mammals
- Koala, the popularised bear-like marsupial living in eucalypt trees
- about 50
species of macropods ~ kangaroos, wallabies and
the like
- the
Tree-Kangaroos ~ Bennett's and Lumholtz's,
living mostly in the canopy of tropical
rainforest
- possums, e.g.
Greater Glider, which glide up to 100 metres
between trees
- Marsupial Mole,
a tiny rodent which hops on its back legs like a
kangaroo
- Greater
Stick-nest Rat, a tiny rodent which builds a
nest of sticks up to two metres wide and one
metre high
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A
Field Guide to the Mammals of
Australia
by Peter Menkhorst and Frank
Knight (2nd Edition 2009)
Field
guide layout with all species illustrated,
identification keys for difficult species,
distribution maps. Details on behaviour,
habitat, food, status. Frank Knight
illustrated The Graham Pizzey &
Frank Knight Field Guide to the Birds of
Australia. 277 pp, 104 colour
plates. 158 x 235 mm (6.5 x 9.25
inches)
Cost: Single
copy $39 plus airmail
postage/packing ($30 to UK, Europe, South Africa; $25 to USA, Canada;
$21.00 to Pacific and Indian oceans areas and Japan; $17 to New Zealand; $12
within Australia.
Sea
mail postage/packing $17.50
to UK, Europe, South
Africa, USA, Canada.
No sea mail option is
available to Pacific and
Indian oceans areas,
Japan or New
Zealand.
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$39
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