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The lynx is one of the most distinctive wild cats on Earth—recognized for its tufted ears, short tail, and powerful hunting style. Today, there are four living lynx species: the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), the bobcat or red lynx (Lynx rufus), and the Iberian lynx (
Orangutans are great apes—close relatives of humans—known for their long reddish-orange hair, extraordinarily long arms, and a lifestyle that’s far more solitary than most other apes. Today, orangutans survive only in the tropical forests of Indonesia and Malaysia, and all living species face ser
Praying mantises are predatory insects best known for their “praying” pose—actually their raptorial forelegs held ready to strike. They belong to the order Mantodea (not just the genus Mantis), and many of the species people talk about are in the family Mantidae or closely related mantis families
The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is one of Australia’s most iconic native marsupials, instantly recognisable by its long rabbit-like ears, slender snout and soft grey-blue coat. Built for life in arid and semi-arid landscapes, bilbies are expert diggers: they excavate complex burrow systems in
The ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) is an elusive deep-diving toothed whale in the beaked whale family (Ziphiidae). It spends much of its life far offshore in deep water, surfacing briefly and quietly, which is why confirmed sightings at sea are uncommon. Much of what we know abo
“Flying foxes” are large fruit bats, most famously the species in the genus Pteropus. They have a fox-like face with a longer snout and large eyes, which is why many people describe them as “foxes with wings.” Unlike many small insect-eating bats that rely heavily on echolocation, flying foxes t
The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) is one of Australia’s smallest marsupials and is widely regarded as the world’s smallest gliding mammal. About the size of a small mouse, it can spread a thin gliding membrane from wrist to ankle and sail between trees in the canopy. Its most distinctive
The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is a large oceanic dolphin with a sleek dark body, a blunt rounded head and no obvious beak. Its English name comes from a skull shape that resembles the orca (the “killer whale”), even though it belongs to the dolphin family (Delphinidae). In the wate
The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is one of Australia’s most familiar large kangaroos and a classic image of the continent’s wildlife: grey-brown fur, powerful hind legs, a long balancing tail and an energy-efficient hopping gait. It often lives in open grassland and woodland edges, f
The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) is a tiny nocturnal marsupial of south-eastern Australia, often no bigger than a human palm. It moves through shrubs and the forest understorey at night, feeding on nectar, pollen, soft fruits and small invertebrates. Because it visits flowers frequently
The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is one of Australia’s most familiar large kangaroos and a classic image of the continent’s wildlife: grey-brown fur, powerful hind legs, a long balancing tail and an energy-efficient hopping gait. It often lives in open grassland and woodland edges, f
The eastern chestnut mouse (Pseudomys gracilicaudatus) is a small native rodent from eastern Australia, named for its warm chestnut to brownish upper fur and its relatively slender, often long tail. It is mainly nocturnal, moving quickly through grasses, shrubs and leaf litter to forage. By eating s
The dingo is Australia’s iconic wild dog, known for its lean build, upright ears and typically sandy to reddish coat (though black, white and patterned animals also occur). Dingoes are highly adaptable predators and scavengers that occupy habitats ranging from arid inland landscapes to tropical nor
The common dolphin usually refers to the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis. It is famous for its speed, spectacular leaps and frequent bow-riding alongside boats. Across many temperate and subtropical seas, common dolphins are among the most frequently sighted dolphins, often forming la
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is one of Australia’s most familiar nocturnal marsupials and one of the species best adapted to living alongside people. By day it shelters in tree hollows, rock crevices, roof spaces or wall cavities; after dusk it emerges to feed and travel usin
The bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) is a native Australian rodent found mainly in the forests and dense shrublands of south-eastern Australia. Unlike commensal “house rats” that thrive around buildings and food storage, bush rats are primarily ground-dwelling animals of the leaf-litter and understorey
The brown rat—also widely known as the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)—is one of the most widespread and human-associated rodents on Earth. Originally native to parts of Eurasia, it spread globally through shipping, trade and urban expansion and now thrives in cities, ports, farms and food-storage
The brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii) is a small carnivorous marsupial from eastern Australia, belonging to the family Dasyuridae. Despite its tiny size, it is an energetic predator that feeds primarily on insects and other invertebrates and occasionally on small vertebrates. The species is fam