Native Outback Wildlife Uluru
The vast desert area of Central Australia might appear like a barren land — incredibly isolated with a ruthless climate. But look closer at the ochre sands and discover it is home to some unique critters. Next time you set off to Alice Springs, Uluru, and beyond, keep an eye out for these amazing animals!
Discover unique wildlife at Uluru
Discover the beauty of Uluru on a 3-day tour, during which you will see the stunning scenery and cultural significance of this iconic landmark.
Central Australia is a large, arid region located in the center of the continent. The Red Center is characterized by dusty red desert landscapes, unique rock formations, and various wildlife adapted to the harsh environment. Summer temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and rainfall is scarce, making it a challenging environment for those unaccustomed to such conditions.
This remote region features the township of Alice Springs, the MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, and iconic attractions such as the monoliths of World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
The great sandstone monolith – the majestic Uluru, is one of the best must-see places to explore in Australia.
Thorny Devil
This beautiful lizard is one of the icons of the Outback. The Thorny Devil, a member of the Dragon Lizard family, is a small reptile measuring 20 cm in size. They can live up to 20 years and are known for their spiky skin. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are one of the least aggressive lizards in Australia and have a shy and gentle nature. These creatures are typically hard to spot but can occasionally be seen sunning themselves by the roadside to regulate their body temperature. Watch for their erect tail and remain vigilant on any hikes. Due to habitat loss, encountering one is considered a memorable experience.
Goanna
Goanns, also known as monitor lizards, can be found throughout Australia, particularly in the Outback. Goannas, often seen basking in the sun, were named by early European settlers for their resemblance to iguanas. They can grow over 2 meters long and feed on snakes, insects, and birds. Goannas are known for digging holes, so they are often found near areas with holes in the ground.
Desert Dingo
Dingos have been present in parts of Australia for 3,500 years, adapting to desert life. These wild dogs are known for their sandy golden color and are similar in size to a medium dog, weighing around 30 kilograms. However, they are different from dogs in that they do not bark, instead of howling like wolves. Dingoes mostly hunt at night, so pack all your food into the car if you are camping.
Wedge-tailed eagle
This astonishing bird of prey used to be considered a pest in Australia! Swooping down at incredible speeds, they would use their intense paws to grab lambs and other young farm animals. However, it is now known that their preferred diet is rabbits!
If you had a chance to see a wedge-tailed eagle, you’d likely not see another for a while because they are particularly territorial creatures.
Bilby
The Bilby is considered Australia’s version of the Easter Bunny. These tiny creatures, with long pinkish ears and silky grey hair, have lived in the area for 15 million years and co-existed with the Aboriginal community for over 60 thousand years.
Emu
Emus are one of Australia’s more unusual creatures. They are one of the most giant birds, at 190 cm and weighing 55 kg. The animals have fuzzy brown feathers covering their vast bodies, with a bald neck and a striking blue head. They have powerful legs that allow them to reach speeds of 50 kph with a running stride of 3 meters. These animals are prominently featured in local Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, with many appearing on the ancient rock near Uluru.
Australian feral camel
That’s right, you read that correctly, Australian feral camel. Those who discover that Australia is thought to have the largest feral camel population often wonder. These animals were first introduced here in the 1840s and have run wild.
It is easy to find some time camels at camel ranches through the Outback, but don’t be surprised if you see some camels running across the horizon!
Red kangaroos
The red kangaroo looks a bit different from other kangaroo species. They have silky, reddish-white fur on their belly and limbs. They’re Australia’s most giant marsupial and land mammal – males can grow up to 2.4 meters tall and weigh 85 kilograms, while females are a bit smaller, weighing 35 kilograms. This kind of kangaroo is also a traditional food source for the Anangu, while their leg tendons were used to bind wooden spears.
Centralian tree frog
These small creatures enjoy dark, warm environments, so while walking, especially pay attention to rocky cracks and crevices. You have a good chance of spotting a Centralian tree frog (and other desert frogs) in the summer after decent rainfall – or in the days leading up to it- as they can know when heavy rains are coming.
Frilled-neck lizard
Frilled-neck lizards look precisely how you think they might. Growing up to 90cm in length, a whopping two-thirds of their bodies are tails. Surrounding their necks is a largely gathered frill. They sit flush with their body most of the time, but when presented with a threat, they use their yellow gaping mouths and bright-colored frills to scare away potential predators.
Most of the time, they scutter across the ground. However, to avoid danger, they sometimes use their mighty back legs to dash up trees.
