AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS By: Sophie Gollan

By: Sophie Gollan

AUSTRALIANANIMALS

EndothermCommon name:

Red kangaroo

Scientific name: Macropus rufus

Red Kangaroo habitatRed kangaroo found throughout most of central Australia in wide, open plains including Australia’s deserts and open grasslands.

Temperature Adaptations• Seek shade in the

heat of the day• Lick their

forearms• Have an insulating layer of fur

EctothermCommon name: Eastern blue-tongue lizard

Scientific name: Tiliqua Scincoides

Blue-tongue habitatBlue-tongue lizard found in Eastern and Northern Australia.• Woodlands and shrub

land (have lots of cover including tall grasses, rocks and logs)

• Arid to semi-arid red sand plains

• Dunes• Sandy hills• Suburban gardens

Temperature Adaptations• Basking in the sun• Seeking shade• Shuttling between

places

References• 2012. The Australian Blue Tongue Lizard, Birgit Bradtke, 25/11/2012, http://

www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/blue-tongue-lizard.html• 2012. Eastern Bluetongue, Australia Reptile Park, 24/11/2012, http://

www.reptilepark.com.au/animalprofile.asp?id=76• Cogger, Dr. Harold G. and Dr. R. G. Zweifel. Reptiles and Amphibians. Weldon Owen Inc. 1992. pg. 146-152. • Kaplan, Melissa. Blue-Tongue Skinks. The Herp Index. <http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/bluetong.html> • Weis, Peter. The Care of Blue-tongued Skinks, Genus Tiliqua. The Herp Index. April 18, 2000. http://

www.herp.com/care/wr_bts.html• 2012. Kangaroo adaptation, BBC, 24/11/2012, http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Red_Kangaroo#p0037pn8• 2008. Red Kangaroo, The Animal Spot, 24/11/2012, http://www.theanimalspot.com/redkangaroo.htm