Flora and fauna of Australia

Australia’s smooth, warm climate, ecological diversity across the continent and long isolation have all contributed to a continent where evolutionary processes have been less turbulent than on other continents. Because of this and https://telegram-store.com/catalog/product-category/channels/business, some remarkable plants and animals have survived that long ago became extinct on other continents. Of the 12,000 species of vegetation, more than 9,000 are endemic, found nowhere else in the world. Because the continent’s climate is mostly arid, plants here are dry, with the most famous ones being the eucalyptus and the bottle tree. The tropical forests of the north are rich in umbrella acacias, huge eucalyptus (up to a hundred meters high!), bamboo, various types of ficus and palms. The eastern subtropical evergreen forests amaze with huge twenty-meter tall ferns and woody horsetail.

In the vastness of Australia live unique animals, they not only do not exist anywhere else in the world, they simply can not survive elsewhere, because they eat plants that grow only here. Almost 90% of the continent’s animal life is endemic. Of the 235 mammal species, half are marsupials. On the continent, the platypus and echidna, “living fossils”, have survived to this day. Australia is the only continent with no ungulates or monkeys. There are two surviving representatives of predators: the Tasmanian devil, a carnivorous marsupial, and the dingo dog. One of Australia’s symbols, the Tasmanian devil used to live all over the mainland, but man and the dingo drove it to Tasmania.

The birdlife of Australia is extremely rich, with 720 species of birds, of which almost half are endemics. Emu ostriches, cockatoos, cassowaries, black swans, honeycreepers, birds of paradise and lyrebirds are the recognized symbols of the continent.

There are no predators here, but there are quite a few other dangerous wildlife – there are 65 species of poisonous snakes in Australia. If you see a sign telling you not to swim, don’t disregard the warning – there are deadly jellyfish and sharks in the coastal waters. Some of the most poisonous animals on the planet are blue-ringed octopuses.

The advent of man did not affect the flora and fauna in the best way, many of their unique representatives were irrevocably destroyed. But now, thanks to the government’s efforts, the situation is changing dramatically – compliance with the laws on environmental protection is strictly monitored. Many nature parks and nature reserves have been created. Some species of animals and plants, which were on the verge of extinction, could be restored. National parks gave impetus to the development of tourism. Many protected areas have fascinating hiking trails that allow you to experience the planet’s past and watch Australia’s wildlife with your own eyes.

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