Native animals

The Gold Coast is home to almost 3000 species of native animals and countless invertebrates (animals without backbones), including native bees, butterflies, crustaceans, water bugs, worms and molluscs.

We have more fish, birds, frogs and mammals than Kakadu!

Our natural environment can support these species because of its diverse ecosystems and habitats.

Native animals that have been recorded include:

Mammals

Approximately 84 native species including:

• iconic Australian animals – koalas, echidnas and platypus
• bounding macropods – kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons
• tree dwelling possums and gliders including sugar and greater gliders, ringtail possums
• carnivorous marsupials – antechinus, phascogale, planigale, dunnarts and quolls
• other marsupials including bandicoots, potoroos and bettongs
• native mice and rats including the water mouse and the rare native water rat
• flying foxes including the grey-headed flying fox and bats
• marine mammals including dugongs, baleen whales, orcas and dolphins.

Birds

Each year, migratory shorebirds visit Australia to escape the cold northern hemisphere winter. Protected under international agreements, they feed along our coasts on plants, crabs, molluscs, worms and fish.

From August to March, many shorebirds nest on the ground and are easily disturbed - keep your distance to help protect these important coastal birds.

Approximately 352 native species including:

• noisy and colourful parrots and cockatoos
• long beaked honeyeaters that feast on nectar
• a wide diversity of forest birds, many of which are rarely seen. Some live high in the canopy of trees, others hide in shrubs. A few including quails, brush turkeys and the rare Albert's lyrebird live on the ground.
• birds of prey that hunt over land and water
• owls that spend their days in tree hollows and their nights hunting
• frequently encountered backyard birds including magpies, butcher birds and a wide variety of pigeons
• shorebirds that gather and feed on the edge of our tidal beaches, sandbanks, mudflats and rocky shores. Most are migratory, a few are permanent residents.
• coastal birds including crested and little terns, seagulls and the beach stone-curlew
• a diverse variety of waterbirds that live in and depend on our water environments including:
  - long legged waders that stride through wetlands and shallow water in search of food
  - shy and elusive fringe dwellers that live and hide among the plants at the water's edge
  - swimmers and divers including cormorants, grebes and pelicans that venture out into open water in search of food
  - web-footed waterfowl including Australia's unique black swan
  - brightly coloured kingfishers and the not so brightly coloured kookaburra
  - soaring sea birds which spend their time feeding in ocean waters off our coast

• Remember to keep a safe distance from shorebirds and report any unusual deaths or illness to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline – 1800 675 888.

Reptiles

Approximately 74 species including:

• a wide range of lizards including skinks, geckos, legless lizard, dragons and lace monitors
• land snakes including pythons, blind snakes and venomous land snakes
• sea snakes in and around our reefs
• marine turtles that swim in our coastal waters and a few that occasionally nest on island beaches
• freshwater turtles in our creeks and streams.

Frogs

38 species of local native frogs have been recorded:

• 18 species of tree frogs
• 20 species of ground frogs that are unique to Australia and Papua New Guinea including the wallum froglet and the giant barred frog.

Fish, sharks & rays

• 37 species of freshwater fish including blue eyes, grunters, catfish, rainbow fish, freshwater bass, freshwater eels and gudgeons
• most fish recorded on the Gold Coast are reef and marine fish with more than 200 species recorded, including species of surgeonfish, tangs, unicornfish, cardinal fish, trevallies, jacks, king and queenfish, butterfly fish, moray eels and angel fish
• sharks and rays including eagle rays, blind sharks, wobbegongs and common stingrays.

Invertebrates (animals without backbones)

Many are small and we may not give them much thought, but invertebrates are an abundant and important part of our wildlife. They are often eaten by other animals and are therefore an essential part of ecosystem food chains.

Native bees and butterflies are also important pollinators.

• native bees – it is estimated that there more than 200 species of native bees
• butterflies – as many as 170 species
• dragonflies and damselflies – more than 130 species
• crustaceans – numerous species of crabs, lobsters and crayfish including the swamp crayfish and the hinterland spiny crayfish
• water bugs – countless small animals without backbones live all or part of their lives in water including dragonfly larvae, mosquito larvae, water fleas, beetles and snails.

Of the animals recorded on the Gold Coast, more than 72 are listed as threatened species which means they are at risk of becoming extinct.

We have identified 30 of our local native animals as priority species for conservation. There are also more than 150 species that have been identified as city-wide significant species.

All native wildlife is protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and cannot be harmed. This includes species such as flying foxes, ibis, magpies, noisy minor, pigeons, possums and snakes which may have nuisance behaviours.

Pest and invasive animals also occur including introduced rodents, foxes, feral deer, feral cats, wild dogs and feral pigs. Animal pests are also found in our creeks and rivers including tilapia fish, mosquito fish and red eared slider turtles.

Help protect our coastal wildlife

• Reduce artificial lighting by turning off lights at night where possible. If lights are needed, shield and direct them away from beaches, use motion sensors or timers and choose red or warm LED bulbs.
• Never ride or drive on beaches or dunes as this can disturb wildlife, damage nests and make it harder for hatchlings to move through the sand to the water.
• Keep pets contained, always walk dogs on a leash and keep cats indoors to protect wildlife.
• Give wildlife space. Many native coastal species are easily disturbed. Keep your distance to avoid changing their natural behaviour.
• Plant locally native species to support dune restoration, boost biodiversity and improve the health of Gold Coast flora and fauna.
• Reduce plastic use and place all rubbish in the bin.
• Be careful on the water. Travel slowly to avoid injuring marine life and dispose of fishing gear responsibly to prevent entanglement.

Kids learn about native animals with us

Encourage children to learn more about our native animals with our NaturallyGC Junior Defenders education program.