Other Marsupials, Monotremes & Macropods of the 12 Apostles Coast

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Where & When: 

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is common in both Port Campbell National Park and the Bay of Islands Coastal Park. Kangaroos are crepuscular feeders this means that they are more likely to be active and feeding at dusk and dawn.

The Gellibrand River Estuary is a great spot for viewing kangaroos. Call in at Princetown and look over the river from the viewing platform in town to view their antics.

Kangaroos and even wallabies are frequent visitors to the sandy shores of the Gellibrand River Estuary. You can often spot evidence of their pre-dawn drinks in the footprints they leave in the sand near the river mouth.

Facts: 

• The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is the second largest and heaviest living marsupial and native land mammal in Australia.
• An adult male will commonly weigh around 50 to 66 kg whereas females commonly weigh around 17 to 40 kg.
• The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is predominantly a grazer, eating a wide variety of grasses and prefers open grassland with areas of bush for daytime shelter.
• Its habitat includes coastal areas, woodlands, sub-tropical forests, mountain forests, and inland scrubs.
• Kangaroos can reach speeds of 60kmh and jump up to 3m high
• The female kangaroo has a ring of muscle around the entrance to the pouch that allows them to swim without water entering their pouch.
• Kangaroos cannot move their legs independently on land but when in the water swim by moving their legs independently.

To report injured wildlife call  03 8400 7300.

Platypus

Did you know that when they first discovered the Platypus they believed that the animal was a fake? With the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver and the foot of an otter!

Ringtail Possum

Habitat:

Ringtail Possums live in tree hollows or build a nest in rainforests, eucalypt forests and areas that have dense foliage near a water source. They can be heard and frond all along the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland, even in your own backyard or ceiling!

Facts:

• A female possum is called a “Jill,” a male one is called a “Jack,” while young ones are called “Joeys”. A group of these creatures is called a passel.
• The Ringtail Possum is the size of a small cat.
• They live up to 8 years.
• They get their name from their prehensile tail. When they’re not using it to hang on to things they keep it curled up like  a ring.

Potoroo

Did you know that the Potoroo is the size of a rabbit and it hops like a kangaroo?

Common Brushtail Possum

The Common Brushtail possums are the most abundant, widely distributed and frequently encountered of all Australian marsupials. It has a bushy tail and pointy ears.

Habitat:

Common Brushtail Possums live in tree hollows or build a nest in rainforests, eucalypt forests and areas that have dense foliage near a water source. They can be heard and frond all along the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland, even in your own backyard or ceiling!

Facts:

• Their tail is prehensile.
• The Common Brushtail Possum has a naked patch on the underside of its tail that helps it grip branches.
• The Common Brushtail Possum hisses.
• They have an average life span between 6-7 years.
• Common predators include cars and dogs in urban areas, and dingoes, snakes and foxes.

Swamp Antechinus

Habitat:

Swamp Antechinus live in areas of woodland, wet heath and coastal grassland areas. They are small carnivorous marsupials and eat spiders, cockroaches and other insects.

Facts:

• They are known to build their nests inside armchairs, handbags, clothes drawers and old box-like television sets.
• Males live for exactly eleven-and-a-half months before dying.
• All males die roughly 2 weeks after mating due to stress induced immune system breakdown.
• The female develops a shallow, pouch-like fold in the mammary area during the breading season.
• They measure up to 25cm, from its nose to the tip of its tail.