Queensland Tropical Forests - A Global Ecoregion

The only tropical moist forests in Australia

About the area
Australia has a small and scattered area of tropical rainforest, composed of what is believed to be residual fragments of the forests that once covered most of Australia and Antarctica, approximately 15 million years ago.

These forests are of particular interest for their southern location and the high degree of endemism of their plant (many with ancient lineages) and animal species.

Local Species
Among the endemic marsupials are Bennett's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus), Lummholz's tree kangaroo (D. lumholtzi), and the Proserpine rock wallaby (Petrogale persephone).

More widespread species include the Agile wallaby (Macropus agilis), Eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus), Red-legged pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica), and the Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor).

A few of the bat species, some of which have wider Australasian ranges, are the rare Tube-nosed insect bat (Murina florium), and Coastal sheathtail bat (Taphozous australis).

Bird species include Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), Red-backed fairy wren (Malurus melanocephalus), Blue-winged kookabura (Dacelo leachii), Forest kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), Pale-headed rosella (Platycercus adscitus), Australian king parrot (Alisterus scapularis), Barred cuckoo shrike (Coracina lineata), Yellow honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus), and the rare Golden bowerbird (Prionodura newtoniana).

Threats
Deforestation has led to habitat fragmentation and shrinking populations of such species as Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus, a marsupial carnivore), Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), and Ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides). Introduced species also pose a serious threat to many native species.

Resources
• NationalGeographic.com