Australia has two large barrier reef systems, one of which is located along the northwest Australian coastline, which is inaccessible and rarely visited. The other, the Great Barrier Reef, extends from east of Cape York Peninsula in ne. QLD, south to Gladstone in c. QLD. Parts of this massive reef system are very accessible and therefore are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. In a very few localities within this large system the coral sands have become concentrated to form small sparsely vegetated sandy cays, or islands. These remote cays are incredibly important for seabird colonies,...

Red Kangaroo is the largest land mammal in Australia, and the world’s largest marsupial. Marsupials are an order of mammals that are at their greatest diversity in the Australasian region—some 70 percent of the species are found there, and most Australian mammals are within this order. Red Kangaroo stands around 1.5 m/5 ft tall, and males are larger than females. Although often reddish brown, it can also be gray, and so the pelage color is not always useful for identification. It is best identified from other large kangaroos by its boldly marked muzzle, characterized by striking black-and-white horizontal markings...

Emu is the national bird of Australia. Australia’s answer to the Ostrich, it is also a massive flightless bird in shape rather like that African species. It is a fast bird, running at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). It is one of only two large flightless land birds in the country, along with the rainforest-dwelling cassowary. Emu is the second largest living bird on Earth, outsized only by the Ostrich. It stands over 2 m/6.5 ft tall, with a stride of over 2.7 m/9 ft, and weighs up to 45 kg/99 lb. Emu is widespread in woodland...

Also known as Desert Tree Frog. The coloration of this rotund frog varies from cream to reddish brown above, finely flecked with black, and exhibits a broad dark band running along the side from the tip of the snout to the hind limbs. It is smooth in texture and possesses the broad toe pads typical of tree frogs. It occurs across the north of Australia (c. WA east to n. NSW), where it is found both coastally and inland, and often takes shelter under buildings and stones.

Peron’s, Roth’s, and Tyler’s are closely related and share a similar structure and...

A large-headed freshwater turtle (unrelated to snapping turtles of the Americas) with distinctive bumps known astuberclesalong the head and neck. The carapace is often significantly wider at the rear than at the front. Generally herbivorous, this species occurs in rivers across the tropical north of Australia, where they sometimes bask on logs above the water, often revealing their presence only when they are disturbed, and a loud splash is heard as they flee.

Within a group of eight long-necked turtles, from which it differs in the striking coloration of the underside of the shell: the segments are outlined...