Australian Endangered Animals
Definitions
When the numbers of a species, or kind, of animals become very low, they are facing a risk of becoming extinct.
Extinct means there are no more left, none have been found for over 50 years.
Critically Endangered indicates that the species is facing an extremely high risk of being extinct very soon.
Endangered means a species is in danger of becoming extinct.
Vulnerable means that the species is not yet classified as endangered, but numbers are continuing to drop.
Australia is one of 17 ‘megadiversity’ countries, which are countries with extremely high levels of biodiversity. Australia has more species (kinds) of mammals, birds and amphibians than nearly any other country, and more reptiles than any other country on earth.
Australia has approximately 2009 non fish vertebrate species (that is, animals with a backbone outside of the fish group). Approximately 1489 species are endemic, which means they are not found anywhere else on the planet: about 83% of our mammals are endemic, 45% of our birds, 89% of our reptiles and 93% of our frogs. Also, about 92% of our plants are endemic… plants of course are an important part of biodiversity, part of the habitat that animal species depend on.
Endangered and Vulnerable Australian Species
In just over 200 years of European settlement about 28 species of Australian mammals have become extinct, 20 of them found no where else in the world. In those 200 years, a total of about 126 plants and animals have vanished. Many more mammals and other animals are in danger of dying out. Australia has more endangered species than any other continent.
Mammals: In Australia there are approximately 312 mammal species, of which 25 are introduced and 19 are presumed extinct (they have not been seen for almost 50 years), which leaves about 268 native species still living, and of those, 210 are endemic. We have 33 endangered mammal species and 21 classified as vulnerable, which means 20% of our native species is threatened.
Birds: There are approximately 793 bird species in Australia, of which 32 are introduced and 21 presumed extinct, which leaves 740 native bird species still living . Of these, 357 are endemic. Australia is ranked 2nd in the world for the number of endemic birds. There are 35 endangered species and 63 classified as vulnerable. This means 13% of our native bird species is threatened.
Reptiles: There are 797 species of reptile, of which 2 are introduced and none are extinct, leaving Australia with 795 living native species. Approximately 708 reptiles are endemic – over a tenth of the world’s reptiles live only in Australia. The number is not fixed as we have more reptiles and more endemic reptiles than any other country, and not all have been listed at this stage. For example, a new species of snake was found in 1998. We have 12 endangered reptiles and 40 vulnerable species.
Amphibians: Australia has 208 species of amphibian, with 1 introduced (the cane toad), and none extinct, which leaves 207 native amphibians, all frogs. Around 193 species are endemic. We have 12 endangered species and 3 vulnerable.
Some reasons for Australian animals becoming endangered
Some Australian animals depend on a specific food or habitat, and if these disappear, the animals will not survive.
Many native animals are killed by introduced predators such as cats, dogs and foxes.
Other introduced animals such as cattle, rabbits and deer eat the food needed by native animals and this has also reduced the numbers.
Hoofed grazing animals such as cattle and sheep often crush the burrows of small native animals. Hoofed animals are introduced, not native to Australia, a country in which endemic animals are not hoofed.
Loss of habitat as land is mined or cleared for houses or farms, or forests logged for timber, is also another major cause of the reduction of native animal numbers.