Mammals of Tasmania
The tiny new-born young of a typical
marsupial - in this case a Tasmanian devil
Tasmania has many unique mammals found nowhere else in the world. Some, like the Tasmanian devil and Tasmanian tiger are well-known. Others, such as the eastern quoll, pademelon and bettong are less well-known, but equally fascinating.
Like most of Australia's mammals, the Tasmanian mammal fauna comprises many marsupials, or pouched mammals. Marsupials are remarkable for their method of reproduction, such as the production of very tiny young which complete their development in a pouch.
Tasmania has many species which have become, or are on the verge of extinction on mainland Australia. The lack of introduced predators and the relatively large amount of intact habitat on the island, make Tasmania a final refuge - a last chance - for many species. However, the potential establishment of European foxes in Tasmania has raised grave concerns about the continued existence of these species.
There are 33 native terrestrial and 41 marine mammals which are known to occur in Tasmania. Choose the species or mammal family you wish to see from the full species list below:
ORDER MONOTREMATA (Echidnas and Platypus)
Family Ornithorhychidae (Platypus)
Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Family Tachyglossidae (Echidnas)
Short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus
ORDER POLYPROTODONTA (Carnivorous Marsupials and Bandicoots)
Family Dasyuridae (Carnivorous Marsupials)
Family Dasyuridae (Carnivorous Marsupials)
Family Thylacinidae (Thylacine)
Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) Thylacinus cynocephalus
Family Peramelidae (Bandicoots)
Family Peramelidae (Bandicoots)
ORDER DIPROTODONTA (Possums, Kangaroos and Wombats)
Superfamily Macropodoidea (Macropods)
Superfamily Macropodoidea (Macropods)
Family Petauridae
Possums
Family Phalangeridae
Possums
Family Burramyidae
Possums
Family Vombatidae (Wombats)
ORDER CHIROPTERA (Bats)
ORDER CHIROPTERA (Bats)
Family Vespertilionidae
ORDER RODENTIA (Rats and Mice)
ORDER RODENTIA (Rats and mice)
Family Muridae
ORDER PINNIPEDIA (Seals)
ORDER PINNIPEDIA (Seals)
Family Otariidae (Eared Seals)
Family Phocidae (True Seals)
ORDER CETACEA (Whales and Dolphins)
ORDER CETACEA (Whales and dolphins)
Family Delphinidae (Dolphins)
- Longfin pilot whale Globicephala melaena
- Killer whale Orcinus orca
- False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens
- Common dolphin Delphinus delphis
- Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Family Physeteridae (Sperm Whales)
Sperm whale Physeter catodon
Family Balaenidae (Right Whales)
- Southern right whale Eubalena australis
- Pygmy right whale Caperea marginata
- Humpback Megaptera novaeangliae