Australia: Wild Extremes

Traverse a river gorge, spotting rainbowfish and crocodiles as you go.

A Strange, Wondrous Land

This scaled replica of a river gorge in Australia's Northern Territory immerses guests in an experience like no other. Lorikeets swoop overhead, turtles paddle between sunken logs and archerfish hover near the water's surface, waiting to target their next meal. Artistic ochre-colored handprints on the cliffs remind guests of our ancestral and present connection to nature, as well as our responsibility to care for and protect the ecosystems we impact.

50,000

gallons of water

50+

species

40+

foot tall cliffs

Unique Inhabitants

Australia's isolation as a continental island has led to the evolution of many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Six different climatic zones span the country, and organisms have found niches everywhere from scorching deserts to humid rain forests. Only about 60% of Australia's lands have been explored by scientists, which means there are likely thousands of undescribed species. Every year, scientists identify and name an average of 650 new species across the continent. Australian ecosystems are vulnerable, though, as islands are more sensitive to climate change and biodiversity loss.

Featured Animals Discover What Lives Down Under

Learn more about the residents of Australia: Wild Extremes.

Irwin's Turtle (Elseya irwini)

This species was first discovered in the early 1990s by Steve Irwin, the late Crocodile Hunter, and his father, Bob Irwin.

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Mouth Almighty (Glossamia aprion)

Kimberley Snake-Necked Turtle (Macrochelodina walloyarrina)

Spiny-Tailed Monitor (Varanus acanthurus)

Exploring Australia: Wild Extremes requires patience and a good eye. Many of the reptiles prefer to be sedentary and refrain from moving from their chosen burrow or basking spot. While more active, the birds can easily hide on perches among the foliage of cliffside plants and trees. Even the fish can seek shelter behind rocks or under rocky outcroppings. Guests may be surprised by how much they can see when they take a step back and observe.

Hello, Little Blue

Those with keen eyes can spot these striking yabbies in many of the Australian freshwater exhibits. These freshwater crayfish aren't always blue, though—as they molt, they can range from black to blue to greenish-beige, depending on season and water quality.

Catching a Breath of Fresh Air

The Australian lungfish isn't the flashiest-looking fish, but this ancient species holds clues to how the ancestors of all land vertebrates started their evolutionary trek out of water. The lungfish's fins are thicker and paddle-shaped, almost as if they could bear a bit of weight, though the species does not leave the water. They also have a single lung-like organ that helps them get more oxygen.

The Australian lungfish is one of six living lungfish species, and the only lungfish remaining on the continent. Australia's fossil records show that the habitats preferred by the lungfish and related species covered much larger areas in the past. Shifts in climate and poor environmental conditions, though, led to their range shrinking. Today, the Australian lungfish can only be found in certain coastal rivers in southeastern Queensland.

Renewed Through Flame

Bushfires are natural disturbances that have shaped Australian habitats for millennia. Arid, hot weather, along with strong winds, dries out forests and grasslands and creates kindling; lightning often provides the spark. As the fires pass, soil absorbs nutrients from the ashes of scorched vegetation and soon new growth flourishes. Charred trees, like the example in this exhibit, provide great homes for birds returning to a previously burned area.

Scaly and Slithery

While the outback is an unforgiving environment for humans, reptiles thrive here. Over 850 reptile species dwell on the continent—far more than the 280 or so that call North America home. They find niches in dry, arid climes and aquatic habitats alike. This diversity of unique adaptations could be key to their survival, especially as stressors from climate change, invasive species and land development grow.