Animals of the Gondwana Rainforests (Australia)

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (World Heritage Area) protect ancient, cool subtropical and temperate rainforests. Their fauna includes many relictual lineages dating to the Gondwanan supercontinent:

Mammals

• Koala, Kangaroo, Wallaby species
• Numbat (banded anteater)
• Tasmanian Devil (now mainly Tasmania, formerly mainland)
• Wombat, Platypus, Echidna
• Potoroos, Bettongs, Bandicoots

Birds

• Kookaburra, Lyrebird (superb mimicry)
• Bowerbirds (Satin, Regent)
• Cassowary (flightless, seed disperser)
• Emu (adjacent woodlands)
• Albert's Lyrebird (restricted range)
• Rufous Scrub-bird, Paradise Riflebird

Reptiles

• Saltwater Crocodile (coastal estuaries)
• Goannas (Lace Monitor, Heath Monitor)
• Blue-tongued Skink, Land Mullet
• Pythons (Carpet, Amethystine), Copperhead, Tiger Snake

Amphibians

• Cane Toad (invasive)
• Green Tree Frog, Green-eyed Tree Frog
• Fleay's Barred Frog (endangered)
• Southern Corroboree Frog (critically endangered, alpine)

Invertebrates

• Rich butterfly, beetle, spider, land snail, earthworm, leech faunas
• Ancient lineages: velvet worms (Onychophora), giant dragonflies

These forests are a living museum of Gondwanan biota.