Animals

 Australia is the home to more than a million different species of animals and plants, many of which are not found anywhere else in the world. More than 200 species of animals unique to Australia are in danger. An animal is said to be extinct if it has not been seen for more than 50 years. Currently there are 54 native Australian animals that are extinct. One of these is the Tasmanian tiger, which became extinct in 1936. The Commonwealth Government has set up a system of identifying and helping save animals from extinction. This list of animals is classified as critically endangered, meaning there is an extremely high chance they will become extinct within the next ten years. Below is a list of of these critically endangered animals.

Grey nurse shark – There is now approximately only 250 breeding adults left in the waters due to extensive hunting. The major threat to these sharks is hunting and a low rate of reproduction. Female grey nurse sharks are not ready to breed until they are between four and six years old. When they reproduce, which happens every two years, they give birth to only two pups at a time. These sharks can live for between 20 and 25 years.  

For more information about grey nurse sharks https://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/students/focus/grey.htm

Speartooth shark – Just like the grey nurse shark, the speartooth shark has approximately 250 breeding adults remaining. Their major threats are netting, fishing and low reproduction rate. This shark reproduces every one to two years and gives birth to less than five pups each time.

To learn more about the speartooth shark go to https://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/species/sharks/glyphis/

Western swamp tortoise – There is currently more than 130 of these tortoises alive in wildlife reserves. The major threats include loss of habitat and the introduction of predators such as foxes, dogs, and feral cats. Most of the western swamp tortoise’s habitat has been cleared to make way for farming and housing. Female tortoises reach maturity for mating between 10 and 15 years and lay between three and five eggs. Captive breeding programs need to continue to ensure the survival of this species.

More information about the western swamp tortoise breeding program can be found at https://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/wildlife_facts_au_wst.html

Round Island petrel & herald petrel – Both birds have only 25 breeding birds surviving and their biggest threats are low population and the introduction of predators such as rats.

More information on these birds can be found at https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=66973

Yellow chat – There is currently 300 remaining of these birds. Their biggest threat has been the loss of habitat from grazing cattle, feral pigs and weeds.

For more information https://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/yellow-chat-management.html

Scrubtit – Only 20 breeding birds remain with loss of habitat being the biggest threat to their survival. Their habitat is threatened because of bushfires and forest clearing.

Click here to listen to the Scrubtit's chirp.

Spotted quail-thrush – There have been no sightings of this bird since 1984 there the population is unknown. Their biggest threat is loss of habitat due to clearing for housing and bushfires.

For more information about the spotted quail-thrush visit https://www.ccsa.asn.au/birds_for_bio/mlrbirds/mlrbirds.html

Bare-rumped sheathtail bat – The population of this bat is currently unknown as there has been no sighting since 1988. The bat’s habitat is being cleared for mining and settlement.

Find out more about this bat at https://www.amonline.net.au/bats/records/bat25.htm

Gilbert’s potoroo – The main threat to this animal is loss of habitat and predators such as foxes and feral cats. Also affecting numbers is disease and bushires. There is currently own less than 30 remaining.

For more information visiti https://www.wwf.org.au/News_and_information/Publications/index.php?offset=2&filter=species&type=fact_sheet

Lord Howe Island phasmid – There is only 10 of these stick insects in the wild and 18 on breeding programs. Their main threats are a small breeding population, loss of population, insect collectors and weeds.

More information about this stick insect can be found at https://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10881

Golden sun moth – There is more than 1 million males remaining. The loss of habitat for development is their main threat. Threats also include introduced grass and weeds, chemical fertilisers and bushfires.

To learn more about the golden sun moth visit https://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/58656/Golden_Sun_Moth.pdf

Boggomoss snail & Mitchell’s rainforest snail – There are fewer than 500 remaining of the Mitchell’s rainforest snail and only 1100 of the boggomoss snail. Both are threatened by loss of habitat for farms, towns, bushfires, introduction of weeds and grazing animals. More inforamtion about these snails can be located at https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/mitch_the_rainforest_snail.pdf and https://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/animals/boggomoss_snail.asp

Animals that are not critically endangered but still face a high risk of extinction within 20 years are considered endangered. There are currently 118 animals on the endangered list including the hairy-nose wombat and the loggerhead turtle. Animals that face a high risk of extinction within 100 years are considered vulnerable. There is currently 192 animals on this list, one of them being the humpback whale.

Information for this page gathered from:

Roc, M., & Hawke, K. (2006). Australia’s critically endangered animals. Port Melbourne: Heinemann Library.