Kakadu National Park
Many animals living in the stone country of Australia's Top End are found nowhere else in the world. Among the endemic animals that can readily be seen at Ubirr and Nourlangie are the chestnut-quilled rock pigeon and the black wallaroo (the male black wallaroo is dark brown to black while the female is grey). Among the endemic animals less often seen are the white-throated grass wren, the rock ringtail possum, the giant cave gecko, Leichhardt's grasshopper, and the Oenpelli python, which at up to 4 metres long it is one of Australia's longest snakes.
Leichhardt's Grasshopper |
Knobtailed Gecko |
Black Walaroo |
Freshwater crocodiles live across the top end of Australia in the upper reaches of the larger rivers and creeks. They nest in the late dry season (September and October) along sandy banks, where they lay their eggs in carefully dug holes and then cover them. During the breeding season they are more aggressive-they have attacked visitors in plunge pools such as the one at Maguk. Please make sure you read the crocodile warning signs in plunge pool and gorge areas and read other information carefully.
Other, more widespread stone country species are the peregrine falcon, the ghost bat, the short-eared rock wallaby (often seen at Ubirr) and Merten's water monitor.
