Australian Adaptations
Australian Animal Essay
Native species have flourished Australia mainly through easy to find diets and unique birthing methods. In earlier times, Australia was proven to be cut off from the rest of the world’s landmasses as a result many animals were able to flourish without competitors (Australian Fauna); many marsupials have a pouch and monotremes. Due to its isolation most placental animals were introduced such as the rabbit and the fox in fact the only native non-marsupials/monotremes are the house mouse and some species of bats and rats (New to Australia). Adaptations for the natives has been mostly through incubation, burrowing, and being herbivore/eating remains of other animals. While for the non-natives survival has been attributed to the lack of predators and competitors, inhale traits, and herbivores diet.
According to “Australian Fauna” by Deirdre Manning, native monotremes, which include echidnas and platypuses, have survived mainly by having a protective often aqueous area for laying their eggs in. The platypuses dig burrows near the banks of rivers in the eastern coast of Australia to lay their eggs in and dive deep into the water to hide from predators when their electroreceptor cell filled beak warns them of danger. Meanwhile, the echidnas lay their eggs in protective pouches which contain the puggles until they develop their own sharp spikes. The echidna’s spikes are a defense mechanism as they will curl into a ball until only their spikes poke out when they feel threatened. On the other hand, the marsupials which include Kangaroos, Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, and Koalas thrive mainly through their simple and accessible diets. Kangaroos travel in “mobs of 100” and their diet is relatively casual consisting of grasses, leaves, other plants, and water; their pouches nurse their young and hide from their dangers. Wombats eat mainly roots, bark, moss, grass, and other plants which are easily found in all of Australia, they also have reverse pouches that prevent dirt and other foreign objects from entering it when it burrows. Tasmanian Devils are scavengers that feed on the remains of other animals or sometimes eat small mammals. As a result, feeding off leftovers, being nocturnal, and intimidating with its powerful