19 Wild Animals in Queensland [Wildlife in Queensland]

Native Animals from Queensland

Queensland is the second-largest state in Australia and the third-most populous one. It is located in the northeastern part of the country, has a population of more than 5.2 million, is a multicultural state with almost a third of immigrants, and its economy is dominated by mining, international education, agriculture, transportation, banking, and insurance. It is bordered by the other Australian states of South Australia, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory, and its capital and largest city is Brisbane, which counts more than 2,560,000 inhabitants, and is Australia’s third-most populated city.

An interesting part of this region that I wanted to tackle is its wildlife. In light of that, I have listed the best of it, and I hope you will love learning what animals live in Queensland.

Here’s the Queensland animals list.

1. Common ostrich

• Name: Common ostrich
• Scientific name: Struthio camelus
• Conservation status: Least concern

The common ostrich, also simply known as the ostrich, is a large species of flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest bird in the world, and although it cannot fly, it can reach incredible speeds of up to 70 km/h / 40 mph!

This impressive animal was introduced to Queensland and Australia, and it is now farmed all around the country, although some individuals escaped and formed feral populations in the Australian outback.

2. Platypus

• Name: Platypus
• Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
• Conservation status: Near threatened

The platypus is one of Australia’s strongest symbols, being one of the most peculiar animals on the planet and being only found in the country! In fact, it can be seen all around the eastern coast, and as far south as Tasmania.

Believe it or not, male platypuses have venom! It is not strong enough to kill a human (but it would leave the victim incapacitated, suffering from excruciating pain), but more than enough for smaller animals such as dogs and cats!

3. Tiger quoll

Andrew Arch / CC BY

• Name: Tiger quoll
• Scientific name: Dasyurus maculatus gracilis
• Conservation status: Endangered

The tiger quoll, also known as the spotted-tail dasyure, the tiger cat, the spotted-tail quoll or the spotted quoll, is the largest carnivorous marsupial found in mainland Australia, and the second-largest in the world after the Tasmanian devil. It can be found in much of eastern Australia, where there are at least 600 mm / 23.6 in of rainfalls per year.

This marsupial inhabits the wet forests of northeastern Queensland and is partly arboreal.

4. Koala

• Name: Koala
• Scientific name: Phascolarctos cinereus
• Conservation status: Endangered

The koala is one of Australia’s strongest symbols in the world, being once more unique to the country. It is also Queensland’s state animal and is found in coastal areas of the region. It is the only representative of its family, is closely related to wombats, and can easily be distinguished from other species thanks to its tailless body and fluffy ears.

This marsupial is known to sleep for up to 20 hours per day, and does not need to drink thanks to the moisture on the eucalyptus leaves it eats.

5. Red kangaroo

• Name: Red kangaroo
• Scientific name: Osphranter rufus
• Conservation status: Least concern

The red kangaroo is the emblem of Australia as a whole, and the country is known to be home to more kangaroos than humans! It can be found all around the country and is the largest kangaroo, the largest marsupial, and the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia.

This mammal only inhabits arid and dry environments and avoids the more fertile areas in the southwest and around the eastern coastline.

6. Southern cassowary

• Name: Southern cassowary
• Scientific name: Casuarius casuarius
• Conservation status: Least concern

The southern cassowary, also known as the Australian cassowary, the two-wattled cassowary, or the double-wattled cassowary, is another large flightless bird found in Australia, but also in several neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

This bird is known to be among the most dangerous animals in Queensland. It is unpredictable and aggressive, but deadly encounters are pretty rare as only 2 deaths have been reported since 1900. When attacking, it jumps high and kicks powerfully with its very large claws.

7. Australian brushturkey

• Name: Australian brushturkey
• Scientific name: Alectura lathami
• Conservation status: Least concern

The Australian brushturkey, also known as the gweela, the scrub turkey, or the bush turkey, is a species of megapode found in most of eastern Australia, where it is fairly common and widespread. It has also been introduced to other areas of the country such as Kangaroo Island.

Interestingly enough, this bird builds a very large nest of up to 4 m / 13 ft across and 1 to 1.5 m / 3.3 to 4.9 high!

8. Dingo

• Name: Dingo
• Scientific name: Canis dingo
• Conservation status: Least concern

You probably know it by now, but Queensland and Australia are unique in terms of wildlife, and they even have their very own canine, the dingo. Medium-sized and very skinny, it has adapted to the harsh conditions of the Australian environment and is particularly enduring and agile.

It was introduced to Australia about 4,000 years ago, and is now very common all around the country, even being considered a pest; aside from the fertile regions in the southeast and the southwest, it can be found all around the country.

9. Dugong

• Name: Dugong
• Scientific name: Dugong dugon
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The dugong is a large species of marine mammal found all across the Indo-West Pacific, in about 40 countries and territories. It lives in most of the shallow waters of Queensland, as well as in the rest of northern and western Australia.

This mammal is related to manatees, and it also has a fusiform body with no hind limbs or dorsal fin. Traditional hunting of the dugong is still important in some areas, especially in northern Australia.

10. Saltwater crocodile

• Name: Saltwater crocodile
• Scientific name: Crocodylus porosus
• Conservation status: Least concern

The saltwater crocodile, also known as the estuarine crocodile, the marine crocodile, the sea crocodile, or the Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest crocodile and reptile in the world, and definitely one of the most impressive and aggressive ones. It can be found around the coastlines of northern Australia and is thriving since there are 100,000 to 200,000 individuals in the country alone.

It is a large apex predator that can kill almost anything within its range, even humans and sharks.

11. Great white shark

• Name: Great white shark
• Scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The great white shark, also known as the great white, the white pointer, or the white shark, is a large species of shark found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans in the world. It can reach up to 6.1 m / 20 ft in length, and females are much larger than males.

Interestingly enough, this dreadful predator can live for more than 70 years, and males need to wait 26 years for sexual maturity, while it is 33 years for females, making it a particularly threatened animal.

12. Southern right whale

• Name: Southern right whale
• Scientific name: Eubalaena australis
• Conservation status: Least concern

The southern right whale is a species of baleen whale found in the southern half of the Southern Hemisphere, except for the coldest waters of the Antarctic. It can be found off the coast of Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria, and there are about 13,600 individuals left in the wild.

Believe it or not, one of the most peculiar predators of this whale is… the gull! In some areas, kelp gulls are seen attacking and pecking down several centimeters of southern right whale calves, leaving them with large open wounds!

13. Australian snubfin dolphin

J Thomas McMurray / CC BY-NC

• Name: Australian snubfin dolphin
• Scientific name: Orcaella heinsohni
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

The Australian snubfin dolphin is a species of dolphin found off the northern coasts of Australia, closely related to the killer whale. It is known to inhabit Australian waters but could be found as far north as Indonesia.

A lot is still to be discovered about it, but this dolphin can live for around 30 years. It eats fish and squid, and is an opportunistic feeder, often foraging in groups.

14. Emu

• Name: Emu
• Scientific name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
• Conservation status: Least concern

The emu is another large flightless bird found in Australia, and it is the second-largest one in the world, after the ostrich. It is endemic to the country and can be seen all around it. Although its numbers are large and its range is very wide, the emu suffers from roadkills, habitat fragmentation, and predation of its eggs.

This bird can be pretty high (up to 1.9 m / 6.2 ft) and reach great speeds of up to 48 km/h / 30 km/h.

15. Palm cockatoo

• Name: Palm cockatoo
• Scientific name: Probosciger aterrimus
• Conservation status: Least concern

The palm cockatoo, also known as the great black cockatoo or the goliath cockatoo, is a large species of cockatoo found in Australia, New Guinea, and the Aru Islands. It is characterized by its dark plumage, as well as its very large beak and red cheek patches.

This bird inhabits the rainforests and woodlands of Cape York Peninsula, in Queensland. It has an interesting territorial display, drumming with a large stick against a dead tree and creating a loud noise.

16. Giant grouper

• Name: Giant grouper
• Scientific name: Epinephelus lanceolatus
• Conservation status: Data deficient

The giant grouper, also known as the Queensland grouper, the mottled-brown sea bass, or the brindle grouper, is one of the largest species of bony fish in the world. It can be found all around the Indo-Pacific, and although it turns gray as an adult, juveniles are much more colorful.

This fish can be found at depths of 1 to 100 m / 3.3 to 328 ft, and it is closely associated with reefs, where it mostly feeds on lobsters and crabs.

17. Golden-shouldered parrot

JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA

• Name: Golden-shouldered parrot
• Scientific name: Psephotellus chrysopterygius
• Conservation status: Endangered

The golden-shouldered parrot, also known as the alwal, is a rare species of bird endemic to Queensland. It is pretty small and is related to the more common hooded parrot and red-rumped parrot.

This bird can be found in the open forested grasslands of Queensland, where there are lots of termite mounds, not for feeding but for nesting purposes. Only 2,000 of these birds remain, with 300 breeding pairs, and they are all threatened by predation, tourist disturbance, and feral pigs.

18. Sugar glider

• Name: Sugar glider
• Scientific name: Petaurus breviceps
• Conservation status: Least concern

The sugar glider is a small species of possum native to northern and eastern Australia, as well as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It gets its name from its predilection for sugary food sources such as nectar and sap, as well as its ability to glide through the air, similar to a flying squirrel.

Gliding is ideal to escape predators and also reaching food. This mammal is covered in soft fur and has a particularly long tail.

19. Australian swiftlet

David Cook / CC BY-NC

• Name: Australian swiftlet
• Scientific name: Aerodramus terraereginae
• Conservation status: Least concern

The Australian swiftlet is a small species of swift endemic to Queensland. After being considered conspecific with the white-rumped swiftlet, it is now considered a separate species. It usually breeds in caves and has a high-pitched flight call.

This swift breeds from July to March, in colonies of several hundreds of individuals. It feeds in flight, and preys on insects and spiders, generally within 30 km / 18.6 mi of the colony.

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So there you have them, these were my 19 wild animals in Queensland. I hope you enjoyed this list and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about animals in the region, feel free to keep reading, as I still have some things to tell you about:

What is Queensland State Animal?

Queensland’s state animal is the koala.

Not only is the koala the emblem of the state of Queensland, but it is also one of the most iconic Australian animals, on top of being a prime example of the possible damages of climate change and wildfire outbreaks.

The marsupial has been representing Queensland since 1971 after a newspaper poll showed how much the public loved it.

More About Animals in the World!

Loved these Queensland animal facts?

Find out all Australia’s most popular animals in this post 👉 Top 30 Wild Animals in Australia

Or go deeper into discovering Australian animals through these posts, by state: 

• Wild Animals in South Australia
• Wild Animals in Victoria
• Wild Animals in Western Australia
• Wild Animals in New South Wales
• Wild Animals in Tasmania

Click here to see ALL the facts on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

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