Australia is best known for it's marsupials - mammals whose young are born poorly formed and work their way into the mothers pouch (called a marsupium) and continue their growth there. Also in the Australian area are the three living species of monotreme - the only egg laying mammals, the platypus, and two species of spiny anteater (or echidna).

Australia is also the center of diversity for both eucalyptus - a group of plants, and cockatoos - parrots familiar to most people.

Many species in Australia are similar to some in South America, as the two continents were connected to each other, through Antarctica, long after they had separated from the other continents.

The habitats of Australia range from tropical rainforest to some of the driest deserts in the world.

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Original content copyright 1995-2007 Robert B. Hole, Jr. All Rights Reserved