The Complete List of Mammals of Australasia

Australasia — spanning mainland Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and nearby islands — hosts an unusual mix of mammals shaped by long isolation, island biogeography and diverse habitats from deserts to coastal waters. That history explains why monotremes, marsupials, bats and marine mammals all appear on the same regional lists.

There are 30 Mammals of Australasia, ranging from the Australian sea lion to the Woylie (brush-tailed bettong). For each species the list includes Scientific name, Distribution and IUCN status to aid identification and conservation context — you’ll find below.

Which of these species are most at risk?

IUCN listings vary across the 30 species: some are Least Concern while others appear as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. Check the IUCN status column in the table below for current risk categories and consult national recovery plans for species-specific protection measures.

What does “Distribution” cover in this list?

Distribution summarizes each species’ native range and major regions (island occurrences and broad country-level presence); introduced, vagrant or extirpated populations are noted where relevant, and the Scientific name lets you cross-check detailed range maps.

Mammals of Australasia

Images and Descriptions

Platypus

Semiaquatic egg-laying mammal found in freshwater rivers and streams of eastern Australia and Tasmania. Feeds on invertebrates, uses electroreception, faces habitat loss, climate impacts and water quality threats; culturally iconic but vulnerable in some catchments.

Short-beaked echidna

Spiny insect-eating monotreme roaming forests, scrub and alpine areas across Australia and New Guinea. Probes for ants and termites with a sticky tongue, solitary and adaptable; population stable overall though local declines occur from habitat change and road mortality.

Koala

Tree-dwelling folivore found in eucalyptus forests of eastern and southern Australia. Eats mainly eucalyptus leaves, sleeps long hours, threatened by habitat loss, disease and climate events; conservation focus includes habitat restoration and disease management to support vulnerable populations.

Common brushtail possum

Adaptable nocturnal marsupial common in woodlands, urban areas and forests across Australia. Omnivorous browser eating leaves, fruit and flowers; introduced to New Zealand where it is invasive. Generally common but local threats include habitat loss and predation.

Sugar glider

Small nocturnal gliding possum inhabiting forests and woodlands in Australia and New Guinea. Eats nectar, sap, insects and small vertebrates; glides between trees using a membrane. Often common but vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and pet trade pressures in parts of its range.

Eastern grey kangaroo

Large grazing marsupial of woodlands and open grasslands in eastern Australia. Feeds on grasses and herbs, forms mobs for social structure and predator defense; abundant in many areas but locally affected by land conversion and hunting.

Red kangaroo

Iconic large macropod of Australia’s arid interior, grazing open plains and shrublands. Feeds on sparse grasses and shrubs, highly adapted to heat and drought with powerful hind legs; widespread and common across suitable habitats.

Swamp wallaby

Stocky browsing wallaby found in dense vegetation and forest edges in eastern Australia. Eats leaves, shoots and fruit, solitary and territorial; tolerates varied habitats and remains common despite local habitat changes.

Quokka

Small, rotund wallaby confined mainly to Rottnest Island and limited mainland pockets in SW Australia. Friendly, crepuscular herbivore browsing shrubs and grasses; vulnerable due to habitat loss, introduced predators and limited range.

Tasmanian devil

Carnivorous marsupial scavenger and predator endemic to Tasmania. Feeds on carrion and small prey; threatened by contagious facial tumor disease and roadkill. Conservation programs include captive breeding and disease research to prevent extinction.

Northern quoll

Small carnivorous marsupial inhabiting savanna woodlands and rocky areas of northern Australia. Nocturnal predator of insects, small mammals and birds; populations hit hard by invasive cane toads and habitat loss, with active recovery programs.

Spotted-tailed quoll

Largest native carnivorous marsupial on mainland Australia, living in forests and woodlands. Hunts mammals, birds and reptiles; requires large territories and is threatened by habitat fragmentation, persecution and competition with introduced species.

Greater bilby

Nocturnal burrowing marsupial with long ears and soft fur, adapted to arid inland Australia. Eats insects, seeds and bulbs, digging extensive warrens; threatened historically by introduced predators and habitat loss, with ongoing reintroductions and recovery efforts.

Southern brown bandicoot

Small omnivorous marsupial of scrub, woodland and heath across southern Australia and Tasmania. Forages for insects, fungi and seeds; declined in many areas due to habitat clearing and predation but persists in fragmented habitats and reserves.

Long-nosed potoroo

Shy, ground-dwelling marsupial of moist forests and coastal heath in southeastern Australia. Uses a keen sense of smell to dig for fungi, tubers and invertebrates; declines from habitat loss and introduced predators have made it rare.

Grey-headed flying fox

Large fruit-eating bat frequenting coastal forests and urban camps in southeast Australia. Pollinator and seed disperser feeding on fruit and nectar; vulnerable from roost loss, heatwaves and habitat clearing despite forming large colonies.

Spectacled flying fox

Nocturnal frugivore and pollinator of tropical forests in northeastern Australia and nearby islands. Forms colonies, eats fruit and nectar; threatened by cyclones, habitat loss and culling in agricultural areas, with conservation measures underway.

Little red flying fox

Smallish fruit bat that forms massive seasonal colonies across northern and eastern Australia. Feeds on nectar and fruit, important pollinator; populations fluctuate naturally and face local pressures from habitat change and urban conflict.

New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat

Ground-foraging endemic bat of New Zealand, unique for terrestrial activity and omnivorous diet of insects, fruit and nectar. Lives in native forests and is vulnerable to introduced predators and habitat loss; targeted by island conservation efforts.

New Zealand long-tailed bat

Endemic nocturnal insectivorous bat inhabiting forests and roosting in tree cavities in New Zealand. Population declines from introduced predators and habitat loss have left it endangered; conservation focuses on predator control and habitat protection.

Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroo

Arboreal marsupial of New Guinea montane and hill forests, feeding on leaves, fruit and flowers. Slow-moving and rare, threatened by hunting and habitat fragmentation; distinctive among kangaroos for tree-dwelling habits and striking coloration.

Australian sea lion

Endemic pinniped found on remote beaches and islands off southern and western Australia. Breeds on isolated colonies, feeds on fish and squid; population recovery is slow due to historical sealing, bycatch and disturbance.

New Zealand sea lion

Large, breeding-focused pinniped found mainly on New Zealand and subantarctic islands. Feeds on fish and squid; endangered due to historical hunting, fisheries interactions and disease, with ongoing management and protection measures.

New Zealand fur seal

Coastal pinniped common on rocky shores of New Zealand and southern Australia. Feeds on fish and cephalopods, forms noisy breeding colonies; populations have recovered from historical exploitation and are now widespread and stable.

Blue whale

World’s largest animal found seasonally in Australasian waters, feeding on krill during long migrations. Endangered from historical whaling; populations are recovering slowly, and the species remains threatened by ship strikes and noise pollution.

Humpback whale

Large baleen whale migrating along Australasian coasts to breed in warm waters and feed in polar upwellings. Known for acrobatic breaches and songs; once heavily hunted, now recovering under protection but still faces entanglement and vessel risks.

Sperm whale

Deep-diving toothed whale inhabiting offshore Australasian waters, feeding mainly on squid. Noted for large head and social structure; vulnerable due to past whaling, ship strikes, entanglement and ocean noise impacts.

Bottlenose dolphin

Common and adaptable dolphin found in coastal and estuarine waters around Australasia. Eats fish and squid, highly social and long-lived; some local populations face pollution, fisheries bycatch and habitat degradation.

Orca

Apex marine predator occurring in Australasian waters in varied populations and ecotypes. Feeds on fish, marine mammals or squid depending on population; globally data deficient due to complex population structures and regional threats like prey decline.

Woylie (brush-tailed bettong)

Small nocturnal digging marsupial once widespread in southern Australia, now surviving in small reintroduced and remnant populations. Eats fungi, tubers and roots, important for soil health; declined severely from predators and habitat loss, recovery programs ongoing.

Mammals in Other Continents