Download Seasonal as well as regional distribution of the rainfall determines

Seasonal as well as regional distribution of the rainfall determines the natural vegetation in
Australia. Plants which only exist in Australia dominate the landscape. Mainly the family of
eucalyptus is very rich in species. In the interior of the continent, called the “outback”,
acaciae can be found.
Due to its isolated location many archetypes [prototypes of species] could survive on the
island continent. Besides a few higher mammalians there are mammalians which lay eggs.
Another group (of animals) which can only be found in Australia are the marsupials.
Kangaroos, which include 50 different species, are the most famous representatives of the
marsupials. The giant kangaroos are the biggest living marsupials. They are very fast runners
and can reach a speed of up to 88 km/h (= 55 mph).
Koalas are predominantly active at night. They eat leaves and bark of some special species of
eucalyptus. The symbol animal of the fifth continent is considered to be the model for our
teddy.
Dingos, wild dogs, were brought to Australia by immigrants from south east Asia more than
10000 years ago. High intelligence, tricks, wildness as well as the appetite to kill are
attributed to these animals. Most Australians, especially the farmers, consider the dingo as a
pest which has to be defeated.
Only in Tasmania some of these extremely rare animals could survive. The Tasmanian devil
is about 60 cm long and weighs 6 to 8 kg. At the moment there is no larger predator in the
family of the marsupials in the world.
The wombat is the only rodent among the marsupials. He looks a bit like our beaver. The
wombat has grey to dark, very resistant pelt and he is active at night.
The echidna, together with the platypus, builds up the group of mammalians which lay eggs.
These animals which can adapt to different living conditions very well are more or less
independent of the climate and vegetation zones. Because of this fact, they can be found in the
snow of the mountains in a height of 2500 m (= 8000 ft) as well as in the hot and dry deserts.
The platypus has many qualities of a water animal. They dive for one minute or more and
search small crabs, water insects and larvae within the mud using its bill. Furthermore, they
eat frogs and other small animals as well as they sometimes take plants.
The emu, which is one of the heraldic animals of Australia, is a walking bird which can be up
to 1.5 m (5 feet) tall and has a weight of up to 60 kg. It is still quite frequent in the outback.
The kookaburra belongs to the most famous species of Australian birds. His laughter, which
can be heard over very long distances, has even been used as a announcing sign by the
Australian broadcast. The kookaburra can also be found in areas without water because it
hunts its prey – different invertebrates and small vertebrates – on the mainland.
Special care must be taken because of some very toxic species of spiders, such as the so called
“funnel web spider” and the “Red Black Spider”.
During the Australian summer period there is high danger of toxic jellyfish on the beaches of
the tropical north. In many cases there are boxes with antitoxins, mostly vinegar to neutralise
the toxin of the tentacles.
Meanwhile the Australian authorities have recognized that the local fauna is in danger. For
this reason many protection areas and national parks have been declared, where species, such
as the rock kangaroo, koalas, flying marmots belonging to the marsupials and emus, can
regenerate, since their population is threatened in some areas.