New Guinea Fauna, Second Largest Island In The World
Located in northern Australia, the second largest island in the world is home to a wide variety of natural and wildlife. It is the second largest island in the world, second only to Greenland. In this article, we are going to talk about the fauna of New Guinea. Stay with us!
New Guinea fauna: what animals live on this island?
New Guinea is an island in Oceania, and is divided into two equal parts (Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea). The main ecosystem here is the jungle, the third largest in the world.
With hot, humid climatic conditions, an annual temperature above 28°C and two well-defined seasons (dry and rainy) the animals are in an almost totally wild state.
Some species we can find are:
-
Sugar Peanut
The sugarcane pod is a very small mammal with nocturnal habits and arboreal customs.
They love sweet or sugary foods. It measures about 18 centimeters in length to the base of the tail, which is longer than the body itself.
The sugar squirrel – the photo that opens this article – is similar to a flying squirrel. Its brown coat allows it to blend in with trees; it has a white belly, a white and black face, and big black eyes.
After a gestation of just over two weeks, females can give birth to two offspring.
-
Short-snouted Echidne
This monotreme mammal, which is part of the Guinea fauna, feeds on termites and ants, thanks to its elongated snout and very agile tongue.
Two of the most striking features of this animal is that, on the one hand, its body is covered with thorns and, on the other, it lays eggs, like birds and reptiles.
It can measure about 50 centimeters and weigh six kilos. Since you can’t see your neck, it looks like the body and head are fused together.
Its eyes are small, it has nails adapted for digging along with two retractable nails and spurs, which are not poisonous.
When he senses the danger, he curls up like a porcupine, and forms a shield with his spines.
-
Cassowary
It is the largest bird on the island – and is among the largest in the world – and comprises three native subspecies. The cassowary can be almost two meters tall and is very dangerous: they can fatally injure themselves with their sharp paws and claws.
They have dark plumage, except for the head, which is lighter, and the legs, which are pink.
In addition, the cassowary has a bony protrusion on the skull known as a “sack” and a caruncle on the chest, mostly red.
Females mate with multiple males; the parents take care of the incubation and, together with the mother, protect the babies.
-
Cururu frog
Within amphibians, this frog was introduced to the island (it is native to South America) and is currently considered one of the most harmful alien species in the world.
This is due, in part, to the fact that it is a prolific breeder and, moreover, that it feeds on living or dead matter.
The Cane Toad has large poisonous glands and, when ingested (tadpole or adult), it poisons most animals in the wild.
This large amphibian – measuring about 15 centimeters – has greenish-brown skin with wrinkles and large black eyes.
-
salt water crocodile
We couldn’t finish a list of New Guinea fauna without talking about this reptile; the largest in the world, which lives in wetlands, rivers, estuaries and nearby coastal areas across Southeast Asia.
The saltwater crocodile is very agile in the water: it can swim at around 43 km/h and advance five meters with a thrust of its tail.
It is the opportunistic carnivore with the most powerful bite in the animal kingdom, thanks to its jaw, which has 66 teeth.
