Latest Fauna of Australia Stories
April Flowers for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online A new study led by researchers at the University of Adelaide concludes that humans alone may have been responsible for the extinction of Australia's iconic native predator, the Tasmanian Tiger (thylacine). The study, published in a recent issue of the Journal of Animal Ecology, used a new population modeling approach to contradict the widespread belief that disease must have been a factor in the thylacine's extinction. The Tasmanian...
Brett Smith for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online A new study in the early online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) from geneticists at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany could lead to a rewriting of the cultural history of Australia. The researchers say that a recent genetic analysis shows evidence of a substantial flow of genes running between the Indian and Australian populations about 4,000 years ago. "Interestingly, this...
April Flowers for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online A research team, led by the Smithsonian Institution, has found evidence that the western long-beaked echidna, one of the world's five egg-laying mammal species thought to have become extinct thousands of years ago, survived far longer than previously thought. The findings of this study, published in a recent issue of Zookeys, suggest they may well still exist in parts of Australia today. The western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus...
Country Divine has announced the release of its newly designed website, which is aimed at bringing the benefits of emu oil to the public. New features and a new look help to educate and communicate with those interested to learn more about this oil that has been around for thousands of years. Nashville, TN (PRWEB) December 11, 2012 Country Divine has launched a redesigned website at Lbemuoil.com that incorporates multiple communal features to better introduce customers to the benefits of...
Studies conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell found that physically refined emu oil may offer more important health benefits. According to the studies, the process of physically refining increases the oil’s anti-inflammatory properties. Based on the findings from the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Frank Orthoefer PHD and Paul Binford developed Ultra Emu Oil® and Ultra Clear Emu Oil. These highly refined emu oils are now being used in cosmetic and...
Scientists warned on Wednesday that 45 rare species of wallaby, bandicoot and other Australian animals could become extinct within 20 years unless urgent action is taken to control introduced predators and other threats. A study found that dozens of mammals, birds, lizards and other vertebrates in the remote northwestern Kimberley region are at risk from hunting by feral cats and from destruction of their native habitat by wild donkeys, goats and fires. "We're in the midst of a massive...
Scientists in Australia have found that the female cane toad will expand her body if she feels a male 'isn't her type.'According to their study, AFP reports, this suggests frogs and toads may have more power over choosing their mates than we thought. More details on the study appear in the British journal Biology Letters.The mating process is actually quite interesting. The female toad will choose whichever male gives out the best call. Sounds simple enough.However, she must fight off...
By Kathy Marks Rare Australian animals perish after seven-year-old goes on killing spree STAFF AT a popular zoo in central Australia were in shock after a seven-year-old boy broke in overnight, bludgeoned a range of animals to death, and fed them to the resident crocodile, Terry. The boy also hurled a number of live creatures into the crocodile's enclosure, where they too, were consumed. The 30-minute killing spree was captured by security cameras, which showed the boy smiling during...
A recent study suggests that cane toads may avoid certain cooler and drier regions of Australia during their migration.Scientists staged a 2m sprint event in their own laboratory "Toad Olympics".Toads from the frontline of the invasion could only hop at 0.3 km per hour at 15C, but as fast as 2km per hour at 30C, Ecography journal reports.They concluded that areas like Melbourne that are cooler and drier may not witness the massive invasion of the cane toad.Originally introduced to...
SYDNEY -- Australian researchers say they have discovered a new repellent that can help with everything from rehabilitating old mine sites to reducing the amount of roadkill: dingo urine.Researchers at Curtin University have been startled by the effectiveness of urine from Australia's wild dogs in scaring off kangaroos which chew through areas of new-growth vegetation.The university's Michael Parsons said the discovery could have important applications in helping to reestablish plant life on...
Latest Fauna of Australia Reference Libraries
The Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii) is a true seal in the Phocidae family, and can only be found on pack ice in Antarctica. This species was formally described by James Clark Ross in 1841, during his British Antarctic Expedition. It is very uncommon to see in its range and rarely leaves the pack ice, with stray individuals occurring off southeast Australia or sub-Antarctic islands. The Ross seal can reach an average length between 5.5 and 6.9 feet, although some females can reach up to 8.2...
The Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus), is an ordinary passerine bird of the fairy-wren family Maluridae. This bird is also known as the Superb Blue-wren or informally as Blue wren. It can be found throughout southeastern Australia, and is territorial and not migratory. This particular species presents a great level of sexual dimorphism. The breeding feathers of the male are a vibrant blue on the forehead, ear conceals, tail and mantle, with black covering the face. The throat is sometimes...
The Red-winged Fairy-wren (Malurus elegans) is a passerine bird in the fairy-wren family Maluridae. The southwestern edge of Western Australia is the native land to this lazy bird. The males of this species express a strong intensity of sexual dimorphism; their feathers change to a beautiful pattern of breeding colors. The black upper back and throat contrasts the red shoulders with a silvery-blue head, pale lower side and grey-brown wings and tail. This coloration greatly differs from the...
The Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna) is a species of bird that is found in south-central and eastern Australia. It was first described by ornithologist George Shaw in 1790 in the vicinity of Port Jackson in what is now Sydney. Common names for this species are Red-eared Lorikeet, and Green Keet. The Green Leek and King Parrot have been incorrectly applied to this species in the past. This bird is 8.5 inches in length. It is mostly green with a red forehead, blue crown and unique...
The Great Barred Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus) is a species of ground-dwelling frog found in Australia. It inhabits rainforests, Antarctic beech forests or wet sclerophyll forests. This frog breeds in both streams and ponds and calls from the surrounding land. Though a ground-dwelling species, it is most often found near running water where, when threatened, can easily escape by jumping into the water and swimming away. The Great Barred Frog reaches a size of 3.15 inches, and has large,...
