Wildlife of Australia and China

Study Notes

Giant Clam: The largest clam, averaging about four feet, can live over 100 years. Stories of clams eating humans are likely untrue.
Kangaroo: A unique Australian animal that hops on two legs. Early explorers described their unusual features (head like a deer, hops like a frog but stands upright).
Koala: Often mistaken for a bear, Koalas are herbivores (eat plants). Baby koalas, called joeys, live in their mother's pouch for several months.
Saltwater Crocodile: Also known as "salties", they can grow up to 28 feet. They primarily eat smaller animals, birds and fish, but can also eat larger prey like kangaroos.

Golden Monkey: These monkeys live high up in mountains in groups of up to 600 individuals. They defend territory using vocalizations.
Panda Bear: Fewer than 3,000 pandas left in the world. They eat bamboo almost exclusively and are sometimes referred to as "bear cats."
Yak: Tibetan animals (male and female are often simply referred as "yak").

Bengal Tiger: Fewer than 200 left in the wild. Average weight of 500 pounds. National animal of India.
Cow: Sacred in Hinduism; seen throughout India (often roaming freely in cities) and their dung is sometimes used as fuel.
Elephant: Indian elephants are the largest land animals in Asia and have been trained for work for over 4000 years. Ganesh, an important Indian god, takes the form of an elephant.
Bird of Paradise: Males have colorful feathers and perform mating dances.
Komodo Dragon: A type of large lizard. They bask in the sun during the day and dig holes to sleep at night. Young Komodo Dragons live in trees.
Orangutan: Monkey-like apes that live in the trees. They are found only in Indonesia and use tools. "orangutan" means "person of the forest" in the local language.
Sun Bear: The smallest bear species, lives in sunny areas and does not hibernate. They have a distinctive yellow spot on their chests.

Asiatic Cheetah: The fastest animal on Earth, but exist in low numbers, only found in Iran.
Iranian Horse: Prized worldwide. Ancient legends describe its creation from winds representing different aspects (strength, speed, intelligence).
Persian Ibex: Commonly known by the local term "pasang" or "rock-footed". Known for climbing trees for food. There are beliefs that parts of the ibex have medicinal use.