Tag: Australia
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The Spotted Handfish of Tasmania, Australia that ‘walks’ underwater
The spotted handfish, endemic to Tasmania’s River Derwent in Australia, is a fantastic aquatic creature known for one human-like trait. The fish ‘walks’ on its pectoral fins that resemble short arms with hands. Its unique locomotion and stunning variety of body spots give it a captivating, unmatched performance in the marine world. The 5-inch-long spotted…
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The Australian Pink Robin: A uniquely plumaged bird
The Australian Pink Robin is a charming and distinctive little bird native to southeastern Australia. The male and female of the species are easily identifiable by their bright pink plumage. The four-inch birds’ feathers contrast beautifully with their dark wings and tail. The Australian Pink Robin, known for its lively and energetic behavior, is a…
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The smiling Quokka of Western Australia
The quokka is a marsupial from the smaller islands (Rottnest and Bald Island) off the coast of Western Australia. The animal looks like a baby kangaroo — they even have pouches — and appear to be smiling at all times. After all, they possess a natural and cheerful grin and teddy bear eyes. There’s even…
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How Australia’s Lake Hillier gets its pink color
Lake Hillier located off the south coast of Western Australia (Middle Island) is an iconic lake known for its vivid pink color. Scientists postulate that the lake’s solid bubblegum color results from the intermixing of Halobacteria and a salt-tolerant algae species called Dunaliella Salina. When mixed with salt-tolerant microalgae, the bacteria produce red pigments that…
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Explore the incredible crater of Australia’s Gosses Bluff
Gosses Bluff is an eroded crater remnant in central Australia formed from an asteroid or comet collision during the earliest Cretaceous period, 142 million years ago. The 3-mile wide crater was originally believed to be 12 miles in diameter before natural erosion took its course. The aboriginal Western Arrernte were the first to recognize the…