Australian Made

Why are Australian animals so unique?

Geological Isolation : Except for a few temporary land bridges, we’ve been separated from the other continents for about 45 million years. This isolation allowed species to evolve independently without influence from animals elsewhere.

Ecological Niches : With its isolation, Australia developed a range of distinct ecological niches. For instance, our marsupials, like kangaroos and koalas, evolved with pouches and filled roles like those of placental mammals (those with advanced placentas) in other parts of the world.

Adaptation to the Environment : Our animals have adapted to their specific environments. For example, the kangaroo's powerful hind legs and hopping movement are energy-efficient ways to travel long distances in search of food in the often-arid landscape. In contrast, the wombat’s burrowing lifestyle is suited to the cooler, underground environments of Australia’s forests and grasslands.

Evolutionary Pressures : Our diverse climate and range of habitats created unique evolutionary pressures for millions of years. These conditions led to an array of hopping mammals, a primitive group of egg-laying mammals, an almost unevolved ancient crocodile, and endless bird variants found nowhere else.