The 35 Weirdest Australian Animals You’ve Never Heard Of

Australia is a continent that truly boasts some of the most unusual animals in the world.

Because it was isolated from the rest of the globe for so long, its lands gave rise to bizarre and unique creatures that you can't find anywhere else on the planet. Of course, we're all familiar with the nation's famous kangaroos, koalas and platypuses, but the odd animals don't stop there.

Think you know the country's weirdest critters? Keep scrolling to discover 35 bizarre Australian animals you've never heard of.

1. Northern Rosella

Rosellas are unique parrots with broad, flat tails that live only in Australia.  But even among them, the northern rosella is unusual. That's because while its cousins are vibrantly colored in bold reds, greens, yellows and blues, the northern rosella is predominantly white, with the exception being the black top of its head and the delicate blue and red coloration on the wings and tail.

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2. Bettong

If there's one type of unique animal that shows up again and again in Australia, it's marsupials—or mammals that are not born fully developed, and spend more time growing in a mother's pouch. Bettongs are one such marsupial that looks a bit like a mouse with a long, dark-tipped tail for balance, and kangaroo-like legs.

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3. Rainbow Bee Eater

Rainbow bee-eaters are unusual not just for their squat appearance, golden color and shimmery rainbow-colored wings, but for their diet. As the name suggests, they feed primarily on flying insects, including bees. In fact, they're immune to the poisonous stings of both bees and wasps, and can eat up to several hundred bees per day.

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4. Blue-Tongued Skink

Think the blue-tongued skink looks dangerous? That's exactly what it wants you to believe. These lizards use their long, blue-colored tongues to scare off enemies and threaten danger, when in actuality they're not poisonous or harmful. In fact, they're quite shy, and have been known to make great pets. They're so common in Australia that many people know them simply as "blueys."

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5. Quokka

The quokka has earned the nickname "the happiest animal in the world," and with a smile like the one seen in the image above, it's not difficult to see why. Quokkas are also marsupials, and are technically a kind of wallaby. Because of the unique shape of their face, it seems like they're in constant bliss, and sometimes when they're panting, they even wind up looking like they're laughing.

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6. Pink Turtle Frog

The pink turtle frog is so named because, despite being an amphibian, it does bear a striking resemblance to a turtle, minus its shell. It's characterized by its small head, which juts out of the body like a turtle's, and its short, muscular legs which are perfectly suited to digging. And, unlike most frogs, they dig forward instead of backward—just like a turtle.

 

7. Rakali

The rakali was previously known as a water-rat, but its name was changed to foster a more positive perception of this special and unique animal. Though at first glance they might look a bit like the North American beaver, rakalis actually have a long, rodent-like tail, in addition to their waterproof fur and unusual, partially webbed feet.

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8. Bandicoot

While many around the world are familiar with Australian bandicoots because of the Crash Bandicoot video game series, that franchise actually did a poor job at teaching anyone what bandicoots actually are. These omnivorous marsupials have rat-like bodies and somewhat long, pointed heads.

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9. Laughing Kookaburra

We all know the kookaburra song, but not everyone has actually seen these stocky birds in action. The unfamiliar might mistake their kooky call as a monkey's chatter, and it's easy to see how this species got its name. This sound is used to establish territory, and you're most likely to hear these laughter-like calls as the sun rises and sets.

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10. Flying Phalanger

The flying phalanger, also know as a wrist-winged glider, is a marsupial that dwells in trees and has loose skin folds that stretch from the wrists to the ankles, allowing them to glide between trees. Their forward-facing eyes indicate that they're not just herbivores, as they're also known to hunt insects.

 

11. Southern Cassowary

Of all the large, flightless birds in the world, the Southern Cassowary might be the strangest. They're recognizable by their rounded bodies covered with thin black feathers, bold blue heads, fin-like "helmet" and protruding red wattle. Be careful around these birds, as they're known for having a powerful kick and razor-sharp claws, which have proven to be deadly.

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12. Rufous Hare-Wallaby

The rufous hare-wallaby, also known as a mala, looks like a teeny, tiny version of a kangaroo, crossed with a bunny. These small animals are burrowers who make elaborate tunnel-like structures underneath special sturdy bushes called spinifexes, which provide them with protection from hot Australian summers.

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13. Honey Possum

It's clear from a single glance that this creature bears little relation to opossums found in North and South America. The honey possum, or noolbenger, is another Australian marsupial that plays a unique role within its environment. It's known as the honey possum specifically because it's a critical pollinator of plants. Using its long nose, it brings pollen from flower to flower as it feeds on nectar and pollen from certain flora.

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14. Tree Kangaroo

When you hear the word "kangaroo," this animal probably isn't the first thing you think of. Technically, there are many species of tree kangaroo, which are specially adapted to life in rainforest treetops. They tend to have long hind feet and curved tails that allow them to climb easily from branch to branch, where they feed on leaves and fruit.

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Also read about: The Cute But Rascally Animal You Are, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

 

15. Long-Nosed Potoroo

Though a less discerning viewer might confuse the long-nosed potoroo for a bandicoot, these unusual animals have a number of important differences from each other. While the bandicoot has more mouselike movement, the potoroo moves more like a kangaroo, with its little hands tucked up into its chest. It uses its long nose to sweep the air for food scents, and digs up bugs, fruits, roots and more with its digging claws.

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16. Lyrebird

Just one glance at the male lyrebird's gorgeous tail plumage, and you can see why this ground-dwelling Australian bird is so special—but its looks aren't the only thing that makes it stand out. Lyrebirds are also known for their ability to perfectly mimic many sounds, both natural and human-made. To impress the females, the males will put on an elaborate display of any sound they can come up with, from kookaburra calls to chainsaws, car alarms, camera shutters and even human voices.

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17. Hairy Nosed Wombat

While many people are aware of wombats, not everyone is aware of the fact that they're marsupials that resemble massive rodents. These plant-eaters use their strong front teeth and claws to build burrow systems underground, and unlike most marsupials, their pouches face downward so the babies don't get covered in soil when the mother digs. Oddly enough, their poop also comes out in cube shapes.

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18. Gang-Gang Cockatoo

While most parrots and cockatoos and known for their striking, one-of-a-kind plumage, you have to admit that the gang-gang cockatoo is something else. This bird is found only in cool, wet Australian forests, has grey scalloped feathers, and the males sport a captivating red head and crest. They also have a distinctive call that sounds like a creaky door opening and closing.

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19. Bilby

With its long, pointed nose and long, bunny-like ears, the bilby certainly has a distinctive look. This odd little marsupial lives primarily in deserts, and has sometimes been referred to as the "Australian Easter bunny." In fact, rabbits are invasive species in Australia, so as an alternative to chocolate Easter bunnies, some Australian chocolatiers make Easter bilbies instead.

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20. Tiger Quoll

Unlike many of the other critters on this list, the tiger quoll (also referred to as a tiger cat) is a fierce meat-eating marsupial. It's actually Australia's second-biggest carnivorous marsupial, living in rainforests and eating everything from bugs to small crustaceans, reptiles, birds, poultry and other small marsupials. They'll even snack on a dead kangaroo from time to time, if they can get their hands on one.

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21. Kowari

The kowari is also known by its more descriptive name, the bushy-tailed marsupial rat. They typically live in burrows, emerging to hunt their tiny prey. This much smaller carnivorous marsupial most often dines on insects and spiders, but will also eat small lizards, birds and rodents when it can.

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22. Thorny Devil

The thorny devil is a desert-dwelling lizard whose discoverers were probably being a little dramatic when they gave the species its name. Thanks to a body covered in thorny scales, as well as two large horns on its head, it has evoked thoughts of dragons or demons. Those spikes actually help to protect it from predators, as well as blend into their desert environments.

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23. Musky Rat-Kangaroo

Though the odd musky rat-kangaroo might at first bear a resemblance to bettongs and potoroos, genetically, they're not closely related at all. Unlike many other marsupials of their size, they tend to be active during the day, scavenging for fruits, fungus and bugs, and sleeping in specially made nests at night.

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24. Gouldian Finch

Unique finch species can be found almost anywhere in the world, but the Gouldian finch is special even among them. With these finches, both the males and females are marked with distinctive black, red, yellow and green coloration, but breeding has led to further gorgeous color mutations. There's a good reason these rainbow-colored birds have become beloved pets across the globe.

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25. Dugong

Dugongs are a unique type of manatee that lives in Australian waters and are unique in being the only strictly vegetarian marine mammals on earth. While they lack the dorsal fins possessed by whales and dolphins, they also have no hind legs, unlike seals and sea lions, making them an oddity that's somewhere in the middle. In fact, they're more closely related to elephants than they are to other marine mammals.

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26. Fitzroy River Turtle

The Fitzroy river turtle may have an unusual look, but that's not what makes this creature so bizarre. This unique reptile is also known as the "bottom-breathing turtle" because they can absorb oxygen from water through gills in their cloaca—meaning they literally breathe through their bottoms. It's the only surviving member of its genus, and is so named because it only exists in one river in the world.

 

27. Australian Snubfin Dolphin

You only have to take a quick glance at the Australian snubfin dolphin to notice how different it is in appearance to more common dolphins. Not only do they have a soft, rounded head, but their dorsal fin is also stubbier than that of other Australian dolphins. They typically hang out in small pods consisting of two to six members, and sightings of these dolphins are uncommon.

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28. Tawny Frogmouth

The tawny frogmouth may look like a very squat and grumpy owl, though these nocturnal birds are quite different. Their heads make up a large portion of their bodies and their eyes are at the sides of their faces, and rather than catching prey with strong claws, they prefer to scoop up food with their beaks. They also have excellent camouflage when they hide in trees. They're one of the most popular birds in all of Australia.

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29. Numbat

The numbat is yet another adorably strange marsupial to fall in love with. It has an almost chipmunk-like appearance with bright white stripes down its back, and unlike other marsupials, it's also active during the day. It has a long, sticky tongue, which it uses to slurp up around 20,000 termites a day. It's an endangered species that's highly valued and protected in Western Australia.

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30. Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo

Who says you need to be brightly colored to be utterly striking? The red-tailed black cockatoo is proof that you can catch eyes with shape and silhouette alone. The males of the species are particularly captivating, with soft yellow dots accentuating their black feathers, a large head crest and two patches of bold red on the tail.

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31. Tasmanian Devil

You probably know the Tasmanian devil from Looney Tunes cartoons, but the real deal is a different animal entirely. This critter, which usually grows to be the size of a small dog, is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world, and also has one of the planet's strongest bites. They'll eat pretty much any animals they can get their teeth on, and are known for their pig-like gait.

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32. Tasmanian Pademelon

The Tasmanian devil isn't the only unusual creature from Tasmania to grace this list. Pademelons are related to kangaroos and wallabies, but are smaller than either, and have tails that more closely resemble a rat's tail. This Tasmanian variant has bushier fur than its mainland relatives, and forages forests at night in search of edible herbs, grasses and flowers.

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33. Yoda Bat

Also known as tube-nosed fruit bats, Yoda bats are named for their distinctive and unusual appearance, somewhat resembling Yoda from the Star Wars films. Yoda bats come from the megabat family, meaning they're large and fruit-eating. While most megabats have simple features, the Yoda bat's face is distinctive, and has in the past been compared to the face of a frightened horse.

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34. Echidna

Where do we even start with the echidna when it comes to strangeness? For one, like platypuses, these creatures are monotremes. That means they're mammals, but lay eggs. Secondly, this animal also known as the spiny anteater is covered in course hair, as well as sharp spines, like porcupines and hedgehogs. Even their tongues have tiny sharp spines that help them grab their ant and termite prey.

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35. Mulgara

We wouldn't blame you for thinking the mulgara was just a bizarre kind of mouse, but it is much, much more than that. This carnivorous marsupial is related to Tasmanian devils and quolls, and though it's nocturnal, it will also occasionally come out during the day to "sunbathe." These bug-eating critters are also notable for rarely drinking water, getting all the hydration they need from their tiny prey.

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Obsessed with learning about new species? Click HERE to see our favorite unbelievably big animals you won't believe exist in real life.