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Orange-bellied Parrot

Neophema chrysogaster

Climbing birdsWild lifespan ranges from several years to the teens, but many individuals do not reach the upper limit due to migration hazards and predation; captive records are often longer.

The Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) is one of Australia’s most threatened birds and one of the few parrots that und···

Numbat

Myrmecobius fasciatus

MammalWild lifespan ranges from a few years to the teens; longevity is strongly affected by predation pressure and habitat stability, and captive individuals often live longer.

The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is an Australian endemic marsupial famous for being almost entirely termite-eating and unusuall···

Silver Teal

Spatula versicolor

WaterfowlWild lifespan is often several years, with some individuals living into the teens; survival depends on predation, weather and wetland stability.

The Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor), also known as the Versicolor Teal, is a small dabbling duck widespread in South America. It ···

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

SongbirdCommonly about 3–5 years in the wild, but individuals can live 10+ years under good conditions; captive records can be longer.

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is one of the most recognizable songbirds in North America. Adult males are brillian···

Rattlesnake

Crotalus: rattlesnakes (often including Sistrurus: pygmy rattlesnakes)

SquamataOften around 10–20 years in the wild; longer lifespans are documented in stable conditions and in captivity.

Rattlesnakes are among the most iconic venomous snakes of the Americas, best known for the distinctive rattle at the end of the ta···

Jewel Anemone

Corynactis viridis

CoelenterataPotentially long-lived; in stable reef habitats colonies can persist for years and expand through asexual reproduction.

The Jewel Anemone, commonly referred to as Corynactis viridis, is a small sea anemone famous for its bright colours and translucen···

Jelly Blubber

Catostylus mosaicus

CoelenterataOften close to a one-year cycle, alternating between a benthic polyp stage and a free-swimming medusa; abundance commonly shows strong seasonality.

The Australian Blubber Jellyfish (Catostylus mosaicus), sometimes casually called “jelly blubber,” is a common large scyphozoan ···

Irukandji Jellyfish

Carukia barnesi

CoelenterataUsually a relatively short life cycle, often completing a polyp-to-medusa generation in months to about a year, depending on local conditions.

Carukia barnesi is a tiny box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) widely discussed in connection with Irukandji syndrome, a potentially seve···

Green Anemone

Cnidopus verater

EchinodermataLong-lived, potentially surviving for decades; in stable tidepools some individuals may remain in the same spot for many years while growing.

The Giant Green Anemone (Cnidopus verater), often simply called the Green Anemone, is one of the most eye-catching animals in Nort···

Box Jellyfish

Chironex fleckeri

CoelenterataOften a short life cycle, with many species completing a polyp-to-medusa generation in months to about a year; timing varies by region and species.

Box jellyfish are members of the class Cubozoa, a group of cnidarians named for their cube-shaped bell. Box jellyfish is not a sin···

Bluebottle

Physalia utriculus

CoelenterataStrongly influenced by ocean conditions and drift pathways; colonies are often seasonal and may persist at sea for weeks to months across life-history stages.

The Bluebottle (Physalia utriculus), sometimes called the Indo-Pacific man o’ war, is one of the best-known marine stingers on Au···

Ball Python

Python regius

SquamataOften around 10–20 years in the wild; with good husbandry in captivity many live beyond 20 years, and some records exceed 30 years.

The Ball Python, also called the Royal Python (Python regius), is a non-venomous python native to West and Central Africa. It is b···

Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

SquamataCommonly around 10–15 years in the wild; in stable captive care some individuals can live 20 years or more.

The Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a common pit viper in parts of North America. It is best known for a coppery head tone ···

Corn Snake

Pantherophis guttatus

SquamataOften about 6–10 years in the wild; with stable temperatures, nutrition and veterinary care, captive individuals commonly reach 15–20 years or more.

The Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is one of the best-known snakes in North America. Slender, adaptable and generally non-dang···

Garter Snakes

Thamnophis

SquamataOften around 4–10 years in the wild, depending on predation and habitat; under stable captive care some can live well over a decade.

Garter snakes are among the most familiar and frequently encountered snakes in North America. The name usually refers to multiple ···

Anacondas

Eunectes: anacondas (e.g. Eunectes murinus, E. notaeus, E. deschauenseei, E. beniensis)

SquamataOften around 10–20 years in the wild, depending on habitat quality, disease and human pressure; in stable captive care some individuals can live longer.

Anacondas are iconic giant snakes of South America, placed in the boa family (Boidae) within the genus Eunectes. They are best kno···

Pit Vipers

Crotalinae: pit vipers (e.g. Trimeresurus spp., Bothrops spp., Crotalus spp.)

SquamataLifespan varies by species and habitat: often around 10–20 years in the wild; some large species and captive individuals can live longer.

Pit vipers are a major and widely known lineage within the viper family (Viperidae), commonly treated as the subfamily Crotalinae.···

Azure Kingfisher

Ceyx azureus

Climbing birdsWild lifespan is often reported around 6–10 years, though it varies; breeding success is closely linked to food supply, floods and nest safety.

The Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) is a small but spectacularly coloured kingfisher of northern and eastern Australia and the New···

Australian King-Parrot

Alisterus scapularis

Climbing birdsWild lifespan is often around 10–20 years, with considerable variation; in good captive care some individuals can exceed 20 years.

The Australian King‑Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) is one of the most familiar native parrots of Australia’s east coast forests. ···

Australasian Figbird

Sphecotheres vieilloti

SongbirdWild longevity is commonly around 7–15 years; in stable, food-rich urban green spaces some individuals may live longer.

The Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti) is a conspicuous canopy bird of northern and eastern Australia and parts of near···

Apostlebird

Struthidea cinerea

SongbirdWild lifespan is often reported in the range of roughly 5–12 years, sometimes longer; many birds can breed from about 2–3 years of age.

The Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) is an Australian endemic best known for its social life rather than bright colours. It common···

Adelie Penguin

Pygoscelis adeliae

WaterfowlIn the wild, reported lifespans commonly range from roughly 5 to 16 years; most individuals begin breeding at about 3–6 years of age.

The Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is one of the most iconic birds of Antarctica and one of the few penguin species that bree···

Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby

Petrogale xanthopus

MammalOften estimated at roughly 6–12 years in the wild; in good managed care it may reach around 15 years, occasionally longer.

The yellow‑footed rock‑wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) is one of Australia’s most distinctive marsupials, famous for bright yello···

Rakali (Australian Water-rat)

Hydromys chrysogaster

MammalAverage wild lifespan is often around 2–4 years; in well‑managed care it can live beyond 5 years.

The water‑rat, widely known in Australia by the Indigenous name “rakali,” is a distinctive semi‑aquatic rodent that looks more···

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