The weird animals from Down-Under thread

Post 'em here!


Spotted Cuscus

for my liking. :evilgrin:

...australia seems to have innumerable venomous creatures than anyplace else on earth. strange. how'd that happen?
and lots of 'em can kill.
I'd love to visit but still i think i'd prefer the frozen tundra. cold winters keep a lot of disagreeable creatures out.

One of only about three known venomous mammal species (and its venom can kill a dog).

The monotremes are just generally bizarre anyway, but the platypus is the oddest of the lot.

I met some Australians who have them in their garden.
As dangerous and aggressive as those spiders are, the folks I met on vacation in Turkey tell me that there are ways to avoid them...and with common sense you should not have any problems... but if one bites you, try to catch it to take to the hospital so the medics will know how to treat you.

I also recently learned about the box jelly fish, or sea wasp. Another critter you want to avoid at all costs.

So... who'se for Ayer's Rock ?

I spent some time in Darwin, which is right up the top end of Australia.

They have nice beaches there but if you want to go swimming, you literally take your own life into your own hands.
The Box Jellyfish are everywhere there.

I remember I was driving past the beach there one day when I saw these guys with pantyhose all over them.
I was unsure whether I should approach them to ask what the fuck they were doing, as it was probably the very first time I had ever seen men wearing pantyhose at a beach.
But I was curious, so did so anyway.

Turns out that if one wants to go swimming there, it's better to cover oneself in pantyhose as the jellyfish stingers won't go through it.

Bizarre, huh?
But that's Australia.

The males have a poisonous spur on the inside of each hind ankle.


It's apparently quite painful for humans and is toxic enough to kill a dog.

And they look so harmless!

Tasmanian Devils

(the real ones, not the cartoon character)

Suppertime

:evilgrin:

...from my home state of Western Australia, the Bilby.
I reckon their hearing would be pretty damn good, what do you think?

tail like a beagle, and a nose like an echidna!

He's great!

They actually were very close to extinction. But thankfully, their numbers have increased in recent years, thanks to the efforts of some wonderful people.

Also, there has been a push in Western Australia in recent times to rename the Easter Bunny, the Easter Bilby, in recognition of these wonderful little characters.
I've munched on my fair share of chocolate Bilby's.
I especially enjoy the ears. :)

Sadly, in the 220 years or so that white europeans have been in Australia, a couple of hundred indigenous species have become extinct.
And white Australian's always have thought and many continue to think that the aborigines are dumb and stupid.

Well, they at least knew how to look after the land and it's creatures.

Love it! :D

How could anyone not admire the creators of the didgiridoo? :shrug:

In a pet shop, good thing there were bars between us. He sure didn't like something I said.

The Wombat and some Kookaburra's

:loveya: for posting those CUTIES, Teddy!! Know anything about their
personalities? :hi:

Wombats are cuddly and smelly and love to dig tunnels.
They are generally placid but will become ferocious if threatened.
In fact, they will use their butts to crush intruders up against the walls or roof of their burrows.

Kookabuuras I'm not too sure about.
All I know is that everytime I went out into the bush (woods) in Australia, the bastards would laugh at me!
They found me very funny for some reason.
Bastards!!! ;)

I've gotta go to Australia sometime. . .

And the Kookaburra!! I just listened to it, and sheesh, how cool would that be to hear in real life! ?!

And of course they found you funny, Teddy--
just as all of us do. ;-)

No, keep going.

No stop.

No, keep going. <blushing>

:D

:evilgrin:

This one's a baby

Looks like Winston Churchill!

That little echidna is much better looking and cuter than Winnie Churchill! ;)

The Weedy Seadragon:


And the Leafy Seadragon:

I haven't been to see them yet, but me and the kid are going for the behind-the-scenes tour on Saturday (I've been on several BTS tours, but this will be the first for the kid). Perhaps we'll see them then.

Seems like a nice place to spend a long weekend. Not too far from DC, great museums, a world-class orchestra, and now you say they have a zoo with cool critters like these! Must check it out sometime!

In his natural habitat.

What's the Aussie equivalent of O'Doul's?

I thought it was a joke novelty item they sold at the grocery store.

They are extremely rare.

Practically extinct actually. :)

Know anything about them?

"Mammals of Australia" by Ronald Strahn. 756 pages of very enjoyable animal weirdness-with pictures!

these guys are just too cool

Thanks for the pic, Dropkick.

The "frill" helps regulate their body temperature. Too cool!

Great pic! :yourock:

Or thinks he is...

gladiators do not wear flowered hats.

Quick, inflate the auto-pilot!