![]() Learn more about shellfish reefs.We may both speak English, but sometimes they seem worlds apart. ![]() One shellfish reef type - created by the Angasi Oyster - is reduced to just one functioning reef system - at Georges Bay, St Helens in Tasmania.Ĭommercially, there are few producers farming them now, so they’re still rare to find in markets. Decades of commercial dredging, pollution and overfishing decimated these vital reef habitats, once home to hundreds of marine species. Now less than 10% remain, making them an endangered marine ecosystem. Both are recognised by oyster connoisseurs as some of the best in the world.Īustralia’s shellfish reefs, made from billions of native oysters and mussels, thrived in Australia’s bays and estuaries. They’re a large ‘flat’ oyster related to the Belon Oyster from France. You may be familiar with the taste of the Sydney Rock Oyster and Pacific Oyster, but have had Australia’s lesser known native, the Angasi Oyster Ostrea angasi)? Also known as the Australian Flat Oyster, it’s endemic to southern Australia, ranging from Western Australia to southeast New South Wales and around Tasmania. Suitable parts of the Riverina area of southern News South Wales, Gayini , a property The Nature Conservancy has helped to protect, are one of the only places left supporting these birds. Sadly, their natural habitat has been largely destroyed or degraded by clearing, overgrazing by livestock and by introduced grasses. If the grass cover becomes too thick, or too thin, Plains-wanderers leave the area. And it’s not just losing habitat that’s a problem - it’s the type of habitat that remains. The loss of native grasslands is a major threat to their survival. They're quite particular about where they live. Plains-wanderers are entirely dependent on native grasslands for their survival. That makes it as unique as the Numbat, Platypus or the extinct Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). In fact, the Plains-wanderer is so unusual, it is not just the only species in its genus, but also the only species in its entire family. In biological terms, it’s closest to (though still distant from) the seedsnipes of South America. Looking for all the world like a quail (at least to the untrained eye) this critically endangered species is in fact a strange shorebird. The Plains-wanderer ( Pedionomus torquatus) is one of Australia’s rarest, least known and most threatened birds. Its life cycle is complex and fascinating, encompassing a wide variety of habitats – floodplains, billabongs, creeks, rivers, estuaries and marine waters. The Largetooth Sawfish is one of the planet’s largest fish, growing to over 6.5m in length! It is a “euryhaline” species - capable of moving freely across a range of salinities from pure freshwater to the oceans. Our work with these Traditional Owners to create the Walalakoo Healthy Country Plan is helping to safeguard the habitat and flows of the Fitzroy River for these extraordinary fish. They’re collectively known as Biyal-biyal by the Nyikina and Mangala people in the Kimberley. The Fitzroy River is home to three species of sawfish – the critically endangered Largetooth Sawfish ( Pristis pristis), Green Sawfish ( Pristis zijsron) and the endangered Dwarf Sawfish ( Pristis clavate). Among the sharks and rays, sawfish are some of the most threatened. You’ve heard of Swordfish, but what about a Sawfish? Sharks and rays are some of the world’s most threatened animals, with a quarter of all species at risk of extinction. ![]() The males breed only once in their lifetime then die soon after mating season. The majority of the species are found on the eastern coast of Australia along the Great Dividing Range.ĭuring mating season, most antechinus species have a reproduction strategy known as semelparity or "big-bang" reproduction. There are about 15 recognised species of Antechinus. The Antechinus definitely has a pointy nose and bristly fur like a hedgehog, but it is not a placental mammal like the hedgehog. And according to dictionaries 'ekhinos' means sea urchin or hedgehog. Most references of 'ant, anti or ante' in Greek and Latin mean 'against' or 'opposed to'. It is derived from the Greek words 'anti' + 'ekhinos'. The scientific name Antechinus (pronounced ant These species may have weird names, but like any other species on earth, they also play a crucial role in keeping our natural environment health and whole.Īnte-what? The antechinus are a group of Australian marsupials that looks like a mouse and move like a mouse, and indeed was originally known as the ‘marsupial mouse’. Even if you’re a dedicated animal enthusiast, there are many lesser known species that don’t get as much attention as cuddly koalas and charismatic quokkas. There are millions of animal species on earth.
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