Native Mammals
Placental Mammals (Eutheria)
No of species = 26
Pteropodidae
Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed flying fox
Molossidae
Austronomus australis White striped freetail bat
Mormopterus ridei Eastern freetail bat
Micronomus norfolkensis Tentative identification from call
Rhinolophidae
Rhinolophus megaphyllus Eastern horseshoe bat
Vespertilionidae
Chalinolobus gouldii Gould's wattled bat
Nyctophilus sp. a long-eared bat
Scotorepens orion SE forest bat
Vespadelus pumilus Eastern forest bat
Vespadelus troughtoni Eastern cave bat
Vespadelus vulturnus Little forest bat
Miniopteridae
Miniopterus australis. Little bentwing bat
Miniopterus schreibersii Eastern bentwing bat
Muridae
Rattus lutreolus Swamp rat
Rattus fuscipes Bush rat
Monotremes (Prototheria)
Ornithorhynchidae
Ornithorhynchus anatinus platypus
Tachyglossidae
Tachiglossus aculeatus echidna
Marsupials (Marsupialia)
Vombatidae
Vombatus ursinus wombat
Macropodidae
Macropus rufogriseus red-necked wallaby
Peramelidae
Perameles nasuta Long-nosed bandicoot
Dasyuridae
Antechinus stuartii Brown antechinus
Antechinus swainsonii Dusky antechinus
Phalangeridae
Trichosurus vulpecula brushtailed possum
Trichosurus caninus Short-eared possum
Pseudocheiridae
Pseudocheirus perigrinus ringtailed possum
Petauroidae
Petaurus breviceps sugar glider
Platypus illuminated by a beam of sunlight.
Visitors Alan and Margaret Goodall were looking for birds to photograph in the rainforest bordering Ourimbah Creek in mid July. Fortunately, Margaret's camera was already switched on when they spotted this platypus. Some of us wait for hours and we still don't see one!
Photo: Margaret Goodall
According to Wombania, their density on favourable sites ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 animals per hectare.
WOMBATS
The wombat lives beneath the ground, where he prefers to spend his days
Enjoying solitude profound within his labyrinthine maze.
The wombat grazes in the dark, as all nocturnal creatures do;
And leaves scat evidence to mark his nightly sorties through the dew.
Creature of mystery you remain, your social life devoid of fun.
Can we suggest that you would gain from some exposure to the sun?
Observe the wallabies and wrens, please share with us, don't be a loner.
We only want to be your friends, and learn about your quaint persona.
True, you were hunted in the past, and maybe on the "threatened" list;
Now attitudes are changing fast, so surely we can co-exist?
The wombat lives beneath the ground. Perhaps our paths will never cross.
At least we know he's safe and sound, though his reclusion is our loss.
Ian Playford