One of the continents of the earth is Oceania, which is the smallest of all, of an insular type, distributed in the Pacific Ocean and made up of several sovereign states, among which we can mention Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and other archipelagos.
Oceania stands out for its endemic animals, since more than 80% of each of the groups of species are native to these islands. We invite you to continue reading this article on our site and learn more about animals of Oceania.
Common Kiwi
The common kiwi (Apteryx australis) is a bird that represents the national symbol of New Zealand, where it is endemic. There are several species of the group known as kiwis, one of them the common kiwi, small in size, reaching about 55 cm, with a long and thin beak, characterized by lay a relatively large egg relative to the size of the bird.
Grows in a variety of habitat types, ranging from coastal sand dunes to forests, scrublands, and grasslands. It is an omnivorous bird, consuming invertebrates, fruits and leaves. It is currently in the category of vulnerable,due to the impact they have had due to introduced predators, which have significantly reduced the population.
Kakapo
The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is a peculiar endemic bird of New Zealand, which belongs to the group of parrots with the notoriety of being the only one of its group that is not capable of flying, in addition to be the heaviest of all. It has nocturnal habits, its diet is based on leaves, stems, roots, fruits, nectar and seeds.
Kakapo grows in a wide variety of vegetation types on most islands in the region. It is critically endangered due to predators, mainly introduced ones such as stoats and black rats.
Common Tuatara
The common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) is a sauropsid that, although similar in appearance to an iguana, is not closely related. The tuatara is an endemic animal of New Zealand, with unique characteristics, such as the fact that it has had practically no modifications since the Mesozoic. In addition, it is quite long-lived and tolerates low temperatures, unlike most reptiles.
Occurs on islands fringed with cliffs, but can also be found in various types of forests, low vegetation, and pastures. It is currently considered least concern, although in the past the introduction of rats affected the population. Habitat disturbance and illegal trade tend to affect the species.
Red-backed Spider
The red-backed spider (Latrodectus hasselti) is native to Australia and New Zealand,mainly inhabiting urban areas with the peculiarity to be poisonous, capable of inoculating a neurotoxin that, despite the adverse effects on the affected person, is not lethal.
It is a fairly small spider, the males range between 3 and 4 mm, while the females can reach10 millimeters It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on insects, although it can catch larger animals such as rodents, reptiles and even small birds in its nets.
Tasmanian devil
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) belongs to the order of marsupial mammals endemic to Australia, it is considered the carnivorous marsupial that has the largest sizecurrently. It has a robust body, with an appearance similar to a dog, weighing on average about 8 kg It feeds ferociously on animals it hunts, but it also consumes carrion.
This animal has an unpleasant odor, generally solitary, can run at high speeds, climb trees and is a good swimmer. It develops specifically on the island of Tasmania, in practically all available habitats in the region, with the exception of the highest areas. The species is in the category of danger of extinction,mainly because it suffers from a disease known as the devil's facial tumor (DFTD), in addition to the frequency of running over and direct hunting.
Platypus
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is one of the current species of monotremes, which corresponds to the few mammals that lay eggs, and is also the only one of its kind. The platypus is another typical animal of Oceania, specifically Australia. It is a very peculiar animal, since it is poisonous, semi-aquatic, with a beak similar to a duck, a beaver's tail and legs similar to those of an otter, so it is a combination that has defied biology.
It can be found in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, developing in bodies of water such as streams or shallow lakes. It spends much of its time in the water to feed or in burrows it builds on the ground. It is almost threatened,due to the alteration of water bodies by droughts or anthropic modifications.
Koala
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a marsupial endemic to Australia, found in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales. It is the only member of the Phascolarctidae family, being an animal that is easily identified by its attractive appearance, characterized by lacking a tail, with a large head and nose,of fur-covered rounded ears.
Its diet is folivorous, with arboreal habits. It is located in forests and lands that are dominated by eucalyptus, a species from which it fundamentally bases its diet, although it could include others. The koala is in vulnerable status,due to habitat alteration that makes it susceptible to predators and disease.
Australian Fur Seal
The Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) is a species of the group known as seals, which are mammals that, although highly adapted to swimming, unlike seals, move with agility on land. This subspecies is native to Australia, being located specifically between Tasmania and Victoria.
The males are considerably larger than the females, reaching a weight of up to about 360 kg, which makes them the largest sea lions The Australian fur seal feeds mainly in benthic areas, consuming a large number of fish and cephalopods.
Taipan snake or ferocious snake
The taipan snake or ferocious snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is considered the most poisonous snake in the world,its venom surpassing the toxicity of the cobra or rattlesnake, since in a single bite there is enough venom to kill many people. It is endemic to South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Despite its lethality it is not aggressive, it is located on dark soils with the presence of cracks, product of the overflow of bodies of water. It feeds mainly on rodents, birds and lizards. Although considered to be of least concern, food availability may be a factor affecting the species.
Salamanderfish
The salamander fish (Lepidogalaxias salamandroides) is a species of freshwater fish, without migratory habits and endemic to Australia. Its size does not usually exceed 8 cm in length and it has a peculiar characteristic, its anal fin has been modified to achieve internal fertilization.
Generally found in shallow bodies of water, which have been acidified by the presence of tannins, which also stain the water. The salamander fish is in danger of extinction,due to changes caused by climate change in rainfall patterns, which affect the bodies of water where it lives. In addition, fires and other alterations to ecosystems influence the population trend of the species.
Other Animals of Oceania
Here is a list of other animals from Oceania:
- The South Island takahe shrimp (Porphyrio hochstetteri)
- The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
- Flying Fox (Pteropus capistratus)
- Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)
- Tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
- The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
- The sea dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)
- The blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)
- The cockatoo (Nymphicus hollandicus)
- The flatback turtle (Natator depressus)
