Species

A collection of animal species from around the world.

*Sources for information and photos (unless they are by me) can be found at the bottom of each species profile.

Bird, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen Bird, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen

Willie Wagtail

The willie wagtail is aggressively territorial. It's known to harass much larger birds (including eagles), venomous snakes, and humans that wander too close to its nest. Before an assault, it flares its white "eyebrows", making it look especially enraged.

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Reptile, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen Reptile, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen

Common Snake-necked Turtle

The common snake-necked turtle has a serpentine neck that can grow to more than half the length of its 28 cm (11 inch) long shell. It uses this neck to snatch prey underwater. When it strikes, it quickly lowers a bottom jawbone, creating a vacuum that sucks the prey into its mouth.

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Mammal, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen Mammal, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen

Brush-tailed Phascogale

The brush-tailed phascogale is a carnivorous, tree-climbing marsupial from Australia. It is able to erect the long, black hairs on the end portion of its tail — this 'bottle-brush' tail is used to draw a predator's attention away from its body.

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Bird, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen Bird, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen

Australian Raven

Australian ravens are opportunistic feeders, eating anything from carrion to biscuits and bread — they have been seen dipping pieces of these into water to soften them. They will bash snails against rocks to get at their insides. Sometimes they even steal golf balls, mistaking them for eggs.

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Bird, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen Bird, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

The sulphur-crested cockatoo communicates with extremely loud screeching calls. The cacophonous noise from a rowdy flock can be near-deafening. As these birds forage on the ground with their flock, there is usually a lookout who sits in the trees and gives an alarm cry if danger approaches.

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Mammal, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen Mammal, Australia Alexander Julius Jensen

Tasmanian Devil

The jaws of a Tasmanian devil can open to an 80-degree angle, able to deliver the strongest bite of any carnivorous mammal relative to body size. Nicknamed the "Australian hyena", the devil is a bone-crunching scavenger, gorging on dead bodies before they can fester and spread disease.

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