Australia is well-known for its kangaroos and koalas, but delve a little deeper and you will find a whole host of unusual and interesting wildlife just waiting to be discovered on a tailor-made tour of Australia.
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Australia
Koalas
Found in: Urban areas such as Brisbane
As with koalas, Eucalyptus makes up a large proportion of the common brushtail's diet, although they also enjoy fruit and vegetables, and have even been known to eat small mammals. The possum is a nocturnal creature and spends most of the day asleep in the hollow of a tree, coming out at night to forage. The common brushtail is one of the largest species of possum and are usually the size of a common house cat.
Found in: Cradle Mountain and Kangaroo Island
Although wombats are endemic to Australia, most Australians have never seen one in the wild! Despite their tendancy to live alone they can be quite playful and are considered fairly clever animals. Their bulky bodies are surprisingly fast reaching up to 25 mph if required, and with four short but powerful limbs they are extremely talented diggers. The wombat is the world's largest burrowing animal and spends about three quarters of its time underground in a sleeping chamber.
Found in: Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park
The eastern grey kangaroo is one of the most easily spotted kangaroos in Australia as the are likely to be found in the bushland near to cities in the east and south of the country. The red kangaroo, whilst more common and better known by reputation (perhaps due to the great height that they can grow and the iconic image of them bounding across an outback landscape), is not spotted as often as the eastern grey due to them living in the more arid areas of the country. Endemic to Australia, the kangaroo is an instantly recognisable symbol of the country and can reach two metres in height.
Found in: Kangaroo Island
Koalas are another instantly recognisable Australian animal and their cute appearance has made them a firm favourite around the world. The koala's diet mainly consists of Eucalyptus, or gum leaves which provides up to 90% of their hydration - the koala will only drink if it is ill or there is not enough moisture in the leaves. The average koala weighs about 9kgs (20lbs) and like all marsupials their infants, or joeys, are carried around in a pouch for approximately the first six months of their life.
Although only the size of a small dog but with jaws as powerful as a crocodile, the Tasmanian devil can look and sound incredibly fierce. Characterised by its black fur, offensive odour and extremely loud screech, the devil is a Tasmanian icon. Despite its fearsome armoury it is today sadly under threat with the virulent, devil facial tumour disease reducing numbers so much that they may soon be listed as an endangered species.
Found in: The Blue Mountains
Often mistaken for kangaroos, the wallaby is of the same family but slightly smaller and with a more rounded body than its larger cousin. The are very common in Australia, particularly across the southern states, as well as New Zealand where they are, unfortunately, considered pests. The average life span of a wallaby is nine years and the biggest wallabies can reach almost six feet (1.8 metres). The wallaby's hind legs are very powerful and are used not only to jump but also for defence when they are threatened.