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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!
Flora
The
exact extent of this diversity is as yet unknown.
As a result of continual botanical surveys the
number of known plant species is still increasing.
As with the fauna of the Top End, the flora is
dependent on the area's geology.
The
flora associated with the sandstone escarpments
is particularly diverse, with many species endemic
to their respective areas. However, the greater
part of theTop End is savannah, dominated by open
eucalypt forests and grassy understoreys. The
coastal areas and tidal estuaries are home to
a rich and diverse community of mangroves.
As
we move inland along the water courses we find
enormous floodplain areas ringed by Melaleuca
or paperbark trees. Then, as we approach the escarpment
country, we find stands of ancient monsoonal rainforest
- home to huge Allosyncarpia trees.
A
botanist could spend a lifetime here and barely
scratch the surface. Aboriginal Australians have
lived here in excess of 40,000 years and survived
on the abundant "bush tucker" and the amazing
healing qualities of local bush medicine.
Geology
The
Escarpment country of Kakadu and Nitmiluk National
Parks spans some 2.5 billion years of the earths
4.5 billion year history.
Two
and a half million years of depositing of sediments,
volcanic eruptions, intrusions of molten magma,
mountain building by folding and faulting interspersed
with the invasion and retreat of seas.
These
spectacular landforms with their protective caves
and gorges and wetlands, and complex networks
of billabongs and swamps were the perfect environment
for the first inhabitants of Australia.
Aboriginal
humans were provided with an abundance of food
and protection from the elements, not to mention
the perfect "canvas" to paint in detail their
history and mythology.
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