There wasn't a single "first" animal, but rather waves of life arriving: the earliest animal fossils in Australia are of the soft-bodied Dickinsonia (around 558 million years ago); the first mammals, like platypus relatives, appeared with dinosaurs; the first named fossil mammal was Diprotodon (a giant marsupial) in 1838; and the first animal introduced by humans was likely the Dingo, arriving thousands of years ago with ancient seafarers.
Diprotodon was the first fossil mammal named from Australia (Owen 1838) and one of the most well known of the megafauna. It was widespread across Australia when the first indigenous people arrived, co-existing with them for thousands of years before becoming extinct about 25,000 years ago.
More than 80% of our plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique to Australia and are found nowhere else in the world. Some of our Australian animals are very well known like kangaroos, dingos, wallabies and wombats and of course the koala, platypus and echidna.
What animals are native to Australia?
7 ANIMALS ONLY FOUND IN AUSTRALIA
First recorded in 1840 by the collector John Gilbert, from whom it takes its scientific name, Gilbert's Potoroo was once thought to be extinct. Today, it holds the critical distinction of being the world's rarest marsupial and Australia's rarest mammal.
Australia is full of weird facts, including having more kangaroos than people, the world's longest golf course (850+ miles!), pink lakes, a "Dingo Fence" longer than the Great Wall of China, and unique wildlife like the venomous male platypus and egg-laying mammals (platypus & echidna). Kangaroos and emus can't walk backward, symbolizing progress, while the continent hosts the oldest rainforest (Daintree) and is the only one without active volcanoes.
Australia's largest terrestrial predator is the Dingo, a native canine that acts as an apex predator, managing herbivore populations and benefiting ecosystem health, though the marine saltwater crocodile is the continent's largest overall reptile predator, while the extinct Thylacoleo carnifex (marsupial lion) was Australia's largest-ever mammalian predator.
Perfectly adapted to their environment, today's crocodiles differ very little from their ancient relatives. Two species of crocodile are found in the waters of northern Western Australia: Australian Johnston's freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), endemic to Australia.
Arguably the most famous Aussie animal of all, the kangaroo can be spotted just about anywhere across the country, but how can we go past a location named after these iconic creatures?
Scientists unearth Australian T rex. Australian scientists say they have discovered the first evidence that an ancestor of the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex once roamed across Australia.
The Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), a small porpoise from the Gulf of California, is widely considered the world's rarest animal, with only around 10 individuals left, pushed to extinction by illegal gillnet fishing for other species like the totoaba. Other contenders for rarest include the Northern White Rhino (only two females remain) and the elusive Saola (Asian Unicorn), though population numbers for many extremely rare animals are uncertain.
Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. The Australian government estimates that 42.8 million kangaroos lived within the commercial harvest areas of Australia in 2019, down from 53.2 million in 2013.
These iconic animals—Kangaroos, Wombats, Koalas, Freshwater Crocodiles, and the elusive Platypus—are not only symbols of Australia's diverse ecosystems but also embody the incredible adaptability and resilience of the continent's fauna.
Aboriginal people arrived in the Willandra some 50,000 years ago. It is always possible that earlier evidence for the First Australians in that landscape will be found in the future. The Zygomaturus specimen shows that people and megafauna co-existed for at least 17,000 years.
Stromatolites are considered 'living fossils', part of the Earth's evolutionary history, and the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool are among the oldest and largest on earth.
In the estuaries and lagoons of the Northern Territory, freshwater and saltwater crocodile are hunted for their hides by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous hunters. This film shows Aboriginal people using age-old hunting techniques to land crocs either for food or for skins.
Because of its ability to swim long distances at sea, individual saltwater crocodiles appeared occasionally in areas far away from their general range, up to Fiji. Saltwater crocodiles generally spend the tropical wet season in freshwater swamps and rivers, moving downstream to estuaries in the dry season.
Yes, some people have survived crocodile death rolls, though it's extremely rare, with famous survivors including Australian philosopher Val Plumwood (who survived multiple rolls) and others who fought back by targeting the eyes or nose or by rolling with the croc. Survival often involves immense luck, fighting spirit, and exploiting the crocodile's vulnerability in its powerful but short-burst attacks, but most people don't survive even one.
The kangaroo, Australia's most dangerous animal
Fortunately, the chance that you will come into contact with one of the above animals is small. When driving at night in very remote areas, a kangaroo may appear in front of your car from out of the bush.
Dingoes are not a breed of dog. While they may have been domesticated at some point (uncertain) in Asia and were brought to Australia, they are no longer considered domestic.
Understanding Australia's Megafauna
Australia was once home to a diverse range of large animals, known as megafauna. These included giant marsupials, enormous reptiles, and massive flightless birds. Some notable examples were: Procoptodon goliah: A giant kangaroo.
Australia's rarest natural phenomena
Australians say hello informally with "G'day," "Hi," "Hey," or "How ya goin'?" (meaning "How are you doing?"). "Mate" is a common term of address for friends or even strangers, used with "G'day" or as a standalone greeting. While "G'day" is classic, more common modern greetings in cities are "Hey, how's it going?" or just "Hi," often not expecting a detailed answer.
Yowie is a mythical/cryptid hominid purported to live in the Australian wilderness. The creature stems from both European/Aboriginal mythology. Described as "long, narrow" humanlike creatures, the Yowies were said to be territorial and primitive in nature.