![]() ![]() ![]() This behaviour of coming out only at night when the temperature is cooler conserves precious water lost. As a result, many Australian animals, especially the marsupials, have adopted a nocturnal lifestyle to avoid the blistering daytime heat. Australia is arid with very little water, and the climate is hot. That is, they are only active when its dark. Most Australian animals are nocturnal and crepuscular. Sick animals can sometimes been seen in the afternoon. The main feeding activity tends to occur about two hours after they have come out of the den. Koalas with their large noses and elephants with their sensitive trunks, for example, can sniff out the most appropriate leaves to eat in the dark.Īustralian Nocturnal Animals Why are Most Australian Animals Nocturnal? Possums are nocturnal and come out of their dens about 30 minutes after sunset. Some animals have an acute sense of smell. An adult possum becomes 24 to 40 inches long and sports a tail that is 10 to 12 inches long. For this reason, its early life is spent inside its mothers pouch. Like other marsupials, the possum is born undeveloped. The bat emits a high-frequency sound that bounces off objects, and the animal's ears pick up the bounced signals to help it navigate through the dark. This mammal is not a rodent despite the rat-like appearance of its face and tail. Usually, opossums are still too frightened by morning to come down. Many bats use echolocation which acts like a radar. Opossums are occasionally found on fences or in trees after they have been chased by dogs. This allows them to detect danger at great distances in the dark. The kangaroo, bilby, and rabbit have an acute sense of hearing. Conversely, opossums are from the Americas. They do the majority of their hunting and foraging at night and have excellent night vision, although their night. In fact, possums are from Australia and are more closely related to kangaroos. Eyes (Sight)Īnimals such as owls, possums and cats have excellent low-light eyesight. They are both marsupials and nocturnal, but belong to different orders. Nocturnal animals have evolved special adaptations that help them survive in the dark. Nocturnal Animal Adaptations Special Characteristics of Animals of the Night In this way, they minimise competition between each other. For example, the hawk and owl hunt in similar environments and for similar prey, but one hunts during the day and the other hunts at night. Some animals have adopted night-time behaviour to minimise competition for food. However, it should be noted that many predators are nocturnal too, and use the darkness to hide themselves and ambush their prey. Many animals use the cover of darkness to evade predators. This behaviour of coming out at night when the temperature is cooler conserves precious water lost. Most of the land is dry, and the climate is hot. It is the driest inhabited continent on earth. Most nocturnal animals live in arid environments such as deserts. Why are Animals Nocturnal? Why Does Australia have so many Nocturnal Animals? Its Cooler at Night
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