The waters off Kangaroo Island provide some of the best temperate-water diving in Australia. One particularly spectacular sight is the elusive Leafy Sea-dragon (Phycodurus eques) which is endemic to these waters. One particularly spectacular sight is the elusive Leafy Sea-dragon (Phycodurus eques) which is endemic to these waters. So-called because of their numerous leafy appendages which camouflage them amongst the seaweed, sea dragons are related to pipefish and seahorses, all members of the family Syngnathidae.

More than 750 species of birds have been recorded in Australia, 350 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Among them are the kookaburra, the rainbow lorikeet and fairy penguins.

Escape Travel has mapped out an eight-day Kenya Highlights safari fromNairobi that showcases Africa’s best game reserves and national parks tospot a glimpse of rare animal species. Wildlife highlights include the big five at Masai Mara Game Reserve, pinkflamingos and pelicans at Lake Nakuru National Park, and the grevy zebra andgerenuk gazelle at the Samburu Game Reserve.

Australia hosts another unique animal group, the monotremes—egg-laying mammals, often referred to as ‘living fossils’. The most distinctive is the platypus, a river-dwelling animal with a duck’s bill, a furry body and webbed feet.

Australia has more than 140 species of marsupials, including koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian devil, now found only in the Tasmanian wilderness.

More than 80 per cent of Australia’s flowering plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique to Australia, along with most of the fish and almost half the birds.

The kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of our most easily recognised mammals. It is also a marsupial and a macropod. There are 55 different species of the kangaroo family.