Odyssey Tours & Safaris

Fauna

The unique geological forms of the Top End are also home to a unique array of animals, again, like the range of plants, possibly the most diverse in Australia. In Kakadu National Park, for example, over one third of Australia's bird species can be found, more than 50 different fish, over 120 reptiles, over 60 species of mammals, 300 species of ants and tens of thousands of other invertebrates.

As the geology changes so does the typical fauna of the region. In the sandstone escarpments notable species include the giant cave gecko, Pamela's gecko and the intriguing Oenpelli rock python. Intriguing, for being Australia's largest snake and only discovered by western biologists in the 1970s. Also found in caves and crevices of the sandstone country are the rare orange horseshoe and ghost bats.

In the open woodlands we find parrots, cockatoos, numerous honey eaters and raptors such as falcons, kites and hawks.

The rivers and floodplains of the Top End play host to one of the largest and ferocious reptiles found in the world - the estuarine crocodile. It co-habitats the waterways with our famous barramundi fish, mysteriously all of which are born as males!