 
Just like the plants, the animals in Australia had time to evolve separately from the ones in the other parts of the world. They are quite primitive and many can be seen only on this continent.
There is an amazing variety of animals in Australia both on land and in the ocean. The native mammal can be separated into three groups – marsupials (almost half of them, including Kangaroo, Koala and Wombat; the name comes from “pouch” in Latin; a small number of them can be found only in America), monotremes (the only ones who lay eggs, including the Platypus and the Echidna) and placental mammals. Some of the bird species are the Emu and Kookaburra.
Bandicoot – a marsupial animal with pointed ears and tapering snouts. It usually lives a solitary life and is nocturnal.
Bilby – it is also a marsupial mammal and has longer ears than the bandicoot, silky fur and a long tail with a bushy end.
Dingo – it is thought that this native dog was brought here on rafts or boats by the aborigines. In contrast to the nowadays dog, the dingo doesn’t bark, has a different gait and its ears are always pointed upwards.
Echidna – this animal is covered in spines, eats ants and lays eggs – only one at a time. It also has a pouch in which the baby is carried after its hatching. The baby leaves the pouch when its spines grow and becomes independent after a year or so. When the echidna is in danger it rolls itself into a ball or rapidly digs a hole into the ground.
Kangaroo – this is the most famous of Australia’s animals. The largest kangaroo species is the Red kangaroo (only the males have that special colour). They eat only herbage or plants and most of them live on the ground where they move by huge jumps, using their tales for support. Kangaroos can travel with up to 65 km per hour and are usually well-tempered.
Koala – it usually is very calm animal which live on eucalypt trees and feed with their leaves. They are skillful at climbing but clumsy and slow on the ground. They look for food during the night and sleep most of the day. Koalas are with grey fur, leathery nose and rounded eyes. Their babies also grow in the pouch of their mother for about six months after which the mother carries them around on her back for a few more months.
Platypus – this animal has a duck-like beak, a body covered with fur, flat tail and webbed feet with claws. The male ones have a poisonous spur on each back leg, but no one has died from it. They feel at home in the water – dive and swim perfectly and can stay underwater for several minutes.
Wombat – it looks like beaver, has a tail and grey hair. It prefers living on grass, digging its burrow there. While they are still babies, wombats can be tamed and can become great pets.
 
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