The Peculiar Fauna of

Oceania

Alexa Feliz (B04)

Mr. Gontier – Geography
05/04/2020
 Kangaroo
Kangaroos are large marsupials that are found
only in Australia. They are identified by their
muscular tails, strong back legs, large feet,
short fur and long, pointed ears. Like all
marsupials, a sub-type of mammal, females
have pouches that contain mammary glands,
where their young live until they are old
enough to emerge.
Kangaroos are in the Macropodidae family,
which also includes tree-kangaroos, wallabies,
wallaroos, quokkas and pademelons. The four
species in the genus Macropus: the antilopine
kangaroo, the red kangaroo, the western gray
kangaroo and the eastern gray kangaroo, are
referred as the "great kangaroos" because
these species are much larger than other
kangaroos. 
THORNY
DEVIL
The thorny devil (Moloch horridus) is also known as
the thorny dragon or the mountain devil. It’s a small
(up to 8 inches in length), spiky lizard native to
Australia. They live in the arid scrubland and desert
of the interior of the continent. Thorny devils are the
only species in the genus Moloch, and they can live
between six and 20 years.
 Interesting Facts:
 Thorny devils are named after a human
sacrifice god.
 They specialize in eating ants.
 They can puff themselves up to appear bigger.
 They can change color.
 Thorny devils have a “false head” on their
shoulders
Chevron Skink
The Chevron Skink is one of New
Zealand’s rarest and longest lizards. It
belongs to the genus Oligosoma
members of which are found in New
Zealand. Their scientific name is
Oligosoma Homalonotum (means
smooth backed). Its common name
comes from the very distinctive V shape
markings on the back of the Chevron
Skink.
It was first described in 1906 but after
having its wrong location, the species
were not located again until 70myears
later, when it was found on Great Barrier
Island.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 Kiwi bird
Kiwi are endangered little birds that
are native to New Zealand, and act as
the unofficial symbol for the country.
The bird is unique because it can not
fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong
legs and no tail. Most kiwi are
nocturnal birds and are omnivores.
They belong to the family Apterygidae
(genus Apteryx) and their scientific
name is Apteryx.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
 The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus Harrisii) is a
carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae.
Ii is now found on the island state of Tasmania.
The size of a small dog, it became the largest
carnivorous marsupial in the world. It is
characterized by its stocky and muscular build,
black fur, pungent odor, extremely loud and
disturbing screech, keen sense of smell, and
ferocity when feeding. The Tasmanian devil's
large head and neck allow it to generate among
the strongest bites per unit body mass of any
Tasmanian Devil extant predatory land mammal. Although it is
usually solitary, it sometimes eats with other
devils and defecates in a communal location.
 Lyrebird

A lyrebird is a ground-dwelling Australian

birds that compose the genus Menura, and the
family Menuridae. They are most notable for
their ability to mimic natural and artificial
sounds from their environment, and the
striking beauty of the male bird's huge tail
when it is fanned out in courtship display.
Lyrebirds have unique plumes of neutral-
coloured tailfeathers and are among
Australia's best-known native birds. The
lyrebirds are large passerine birds, amongst
the largest in the order. They are ground
living birds with strong legs and feet and
short rounded wings. They are generally poor
fliers.
 Wombat
Wombats are short-legged, muscular
quadrupedal marsupials that are native to
Australia. They are about 1 m (40 in) in
length with small, stubby tails and weigh
between 20 and 35 kg (44 and 77 lb). There
are three extant species and they are all
members of the family Vombatidae. They are
adaptable and habitat tolerant, and are found
in forested, mountainous, and heathland
areas of southern and eastern Australia,
including Tasmania, as well as an isolated
patch of about 300 ha (740 acres) in Epping
Forest National Park in central Queensland.
Wombats are herbivores; their diets consist
mostly of grasses, sedges, herbs, bark, and
roots. Also, they arrange these feces to mark
territories and attract mates.
Fiji Ground Frog
Cornufer vitianus, commonly known as Fiji
ground frog or Viti wrinkled ground frog, is a
species of frog in the family
Ceratobatrachidae. It is endemic to Fiji. The
Fiji ground frog is found on four larger islands
(Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Ovalau, and Gau) and a
small island, Viwa, (0.6 ha) off the eastern
coast of the main island (Viti Levu) of the Fiji
archipelago. It’s a largish frog, it can grow up
to 100 g and to body lengths (SUL) of
110 mm. The frog is a nocturnal ground
dweller, however, individuals have been
encountered on low branches and leaves of
riparian forest vegetation. It is thought to be a
sit and wait predator, waiting for nocturnal
insects to venture nearby.
 Cassowaries
Cassowaries, genus Casuarius, are ratites (flightless birds
without a keel on their sternum bone) that are native to the
tropical forests of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and
Indonesia), East Nusa Tenggara, the Maluku Islands, and
northeastern Australia. Cassowaries feed mainly on fruit,
although all species are truly omnivorous and will take a range of
other plant food, including shoots and grass seeds, in addition to
fungi, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. They are very wary of
humans, but if provoked they are capable of inflicting serious
injuries, including fatal, to both dogs and people. It has often
been labeled "the world's most dangerous bird".
All cassowaries are shy birds that are found in the deep forest.
Cassowaries have three-toed feet with sharp claws. The second
toe, the inner one in the medial position, sports a dagger-like
claw that may be 125 mm (5 in) long. This claw is particularly
fearsome since cassowaries sometimes kick humans and other
animals with their powerful legs. They have feathers that consist
of a shaft and loose barbules. They do not have rectrices (tail
feathers) or a preen gland. Also, Cassowaries are solitary birds
except during courtship, egg-laying, and sometimes around
ample food supplies.
The first documented human death caused by a
cassowary was on April 6, 1926. In Australia, 16-
year-old Phillip McClean and his brother, age 13,
came across a cassowary on their property and
decided to try and kill it by striking it with clubs.
The bird kicked the younger boy, who fell and ran
away as his older brother struck the bird. The older
McClean then tripped and fell to the ground.
While he was on the ground, the cassowary kicked
him in the neck, opening a 1.25 cm (0.5 in) wound
that may have severed his jugular vein. The boy
died of his injuries shortly thereafter.

ATTACKS