5 key species of each of the following types: Insects, , Herbivores, .
Grasslands are home to many unique species. In the Northern Australian Grassland alone it harbours:
The seemingly desolate area is abundant in life. Within the broad spectrum of species, some are paramount to the survival of the biome and the community of organisms.
Grasslands are home to many unique species. In the Northern Australian Grassland alone it harbours:
- 460 bird species
- 110 mammal species
- 225 freshwater fish species and
- 40 percent of Australia’s reptiles
The seemingly desolate area is abundant in life. Within the broad spectrum of species, some are paramount to the survival of the biome and the community of organisms.
Plants
Big Bluestem Grass
Also called Turkey feet because the shape of the seed heads look like turkey feet. It is also sometimes called beard grass. The name big bluestem grass comes from the height a mature bluestem grass can grow to in maturity, 3 to 10 feet. It blooms from June through September.
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Big Bluestem Grass
Also called Turkey feet because the shape of the seed heads look like turkey feet. It is also sometimes called beard grass. The name big bluestem grass comes from the height a mature bluestem grass can grow to in maturity, 3 to 10 feet. It blooms from June through September.
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Fleabane
Fleabanes look similar to daisies, with 100 small petals on each flower. They can grow up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. If Fleabane is burned it repels small insects, like fleas. Fleabane is commonly considered a weed.
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Fleabanes look similar to daisies, with 100 small petals on each flower. They can grow up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. If Fleabane is burned it repels small insects, like fleas. Fleabane is commonly considered a weed.
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Milkweed
Milkweed produces red and yellow blossoms in the spring which are smaller than an inch across. The 5 outside petals, or corolla, are red and curve downwards. The 5 inside petals are curved and yellow or orange. They grow in a cluster at the top of woody stems.
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Milkweed produces red and yellow blossoms in the spring which are smaller than an inch across. The 5 outside petals, or corolla, are red and curve downwards. The 5 inside petals are curved and yellow or orange. They grow in a cluster at the top of woody stems.
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Stinging Nettle
True to its name, the stinging nettle causes a strong, irritating pain to the skin when touched. The nettle reaches a height between 2 and 4 feet when mature. The leaves are thin and zigzagged around the edges, this larger SA:V will allow the plant to cooler than a plant with rounded leaves.
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True to its name, the stinging nettle causes a strong, irritating pain to the skin when touched. The nettle reaches a height between 2 and 4 feet when mature. The leaves are thin and zigzagged around the edges, this larger SA:V will allow the plant to cooler than a plant with rounded leaves.
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Purple Coneflower
The purple cone flower has a reddish center and purple, red or white petals that hang down in a cone shape. It can grow to be 2-3 feet tall when grown. The center can grow to two inches across and the petals are about as long as the diameter of the center. It is part of the daisy and dandelion family.
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The purple cone flower has a reddish center and purple, red or white petals that hang down in a cone shape. It can grow to be 2-3 feet tall when grown. The center can grow to two inches across and the petals are about as long as the diameter of the center. It is part of the daisy and dandelion family.
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Carnivores
Lion
The lion can weight between 117kgs and 250kgs. The yellow and brown colour of the Lion's hair is an adaption designed to mimic the environment of sun dried grass. Species such as Zebra, Antelope, Giraffe, Wildebeest & Buffalo. Its only know predator is man.
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Lion
The lion can weight between 117kgs and 250kgs. The yellow and brown colour of the Lion's hair is an adaption designed to mimic the environment of sun dried grass. Species such as Zebra, Antelope, Giraffe, Wildebeest & Buffalo. Its only know predator is man.
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Leopard
Leopards weigh between 20-80kg. The spotted skin provides the leopard with camouflage to hide among tree branches, this adaption is vital for its survival. The leopard's main diet consists of bird, monkey, jackal & antelope. Its central predator is man.
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Leopards weigh between 20-80kg. The spotted skin provides the leopard with camouflage to hide among tree branches, this adaption is vital for its survival. The leopard's main diet consists of bird, monkey, jackal & antelope. Its central predator is man.
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Cheetah
Cheetah's reach a weight between 35-65kg when fully grown. Unlike most felines, a cheetahs claws cannot be retracted and help maintain grip like cleats at the bottom of soccer shoes. Cheetah's mainly hunt and consume small antelope. Cheetah cubs may be killed by lions & hyenas.
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Cheetah's reach a weight between 35-65kg when fully grown. Unlike most felines, a cheetahs claws cannot be retracted and help maintain grip like cleats at the bottom of soccer shoes. Cheetah's mainly hunt and consume small antelope. Cheetah cubs may be killed by lions & hyenas.
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Hyena
Weighs approximently 40-85kg. Hyenas hunt mostly at night & in a pack, this adaption is used to increase the likelihood of finding prey. They also mark their territories by excreting a strong-smelling yellow substance onto grass along the boundaries,. Hyenas main diet consists of carrion & bones, antelope, zebra, wildebeest & cheetah cub. The Hyena's predators are lion & man.
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Weighs approximently 40-85kg. Hyenas hunt mostly at night & in a pack, this adaption is used to increase the likelihood of finding prey. They also mark their territories by excreting a strong-smelling yellow substance onto grass along the boundaries,. Hyenas main diet consists of carrion & bones, antelope, zebra, wildebeest & cheetah cub. The Hyena's predators are lion & man.
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Crocodile
Commonly found in the rivers and lakes of grasslands & rain forests. They weigh 450kg when matured. When in the water only their nostrils, eyes & ears can be seen above the surface. The diet of a crocodile consists of fish, birds, antelope, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and giraffe. Its main predator is man
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Commonly found in the rivers and lakes of grasslands & rain forests. They weigh 450kg when matured. When in the water only their nostrils, eyes & ears can be seen above the surface. The diet of a crocodile consists of fish, birds, antelope, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and giraffe. Its main predator is man
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Insects
Arrow-Shaped Micrathena Spider
Found in Eastern and Central America, the Arrow-Shaped Micrathena Spider has a distinctive appearance as the females are boldly coloured and covered in six sharp spikes. The females grow to a centimetre in diameter, and males are approximately half of that.
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Arrow-Shaped Micrathena Spider
Found in Eastern and Central America, the Arrow-Shaped Micrathena Spider has a distinctive appearance as the females are boldly coloured and covered in six sharp spikes. The females grow to a centimetre in diameter, and males are approximately half of that.
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Japanese beetle
The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, is a widespread and destructive pest in the United States. It is also a pest of several fruit, garden, and field crops, and has a total host range of more than 300 plant species. Mature Japanese beetles feed on foliage, flowers, and fruits. Leaves are typically skeletonized or left with only tough network of veins. The larvae primarily feed on roots of grasses often destroying costly vegetation in urbanised areas. Currently the Japanese beetle is the most widespread pest of turfgrass and costs the turf and ornamental industry approximately $450 million each year in management alone
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The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, is a widespread and destructive pest in the United States. It is also a pest of several fruit, garden, and field crops, and has a total host range of more than 300 plant species. Mature Japanese beetles feed on foliage, flowers, and fruits. Leaves are typically skeletonized or left with only tough network of veins. The larvae primarily feed on roots of grasses often destroying costly vegetation in urbanised areas. Currently the Japanese beetle is the most widespread pest of turfgrass and costs the turf and ornamental industry approximately $450 million each year in management alone
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Velvet Ants
These organisms are in fact not ants, but rather solitary wasps commonly mistaken for large ants. The females possess a large stinger which is incredibly painful. These wasps burrow into the ground to make nests in their immature stages. Velvet ants characteristically attempt to avoid conflict with people, but when provoked they will sting.
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These organisms are in fact not ants, but rather solitary wasps commonly mistaken for large ants. The females possess a large stinger which is incredibly painful. These wasps burrow into the ground to make nests in their immature stages. Velvet ants characteristically attempt to avoid conflict with people, but when provoked they will sting.
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Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
This butterfly possesses black wings with white spots on the outside of forewing with an orange or red stripe through center of forewing extending to edge of hindwing.
Nettles are common host plants, however false nettles or hops can be used for survival.
The species emigrates north in the spring, with some evidence of a dispersed return flight in the fall.
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This butterfly possesses black wings with white spots on the outside of forewing with an orange or red stripe through center of forewing extending to edge of hindwing.
Nettles are common host plants, however false nettles or hops can be used for survival.
The species emigrates north in the spring, with some evidence of a dispersed return flight in the fall.
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Western Meadowhawk
A smaller dragonfly with a length on only 1 1⁄4 to 1 1⁄2 inches when mature.
Commonly found in the western United States. Can be found in a wide variety of habitats provided water is near. Typically feeding on a wide variety of aquatic animals: mosquito larvae, aquatic fly larvae, shrimp, small fish and tadpoles. Adults eat almost any flying insects: mosquitoes, flies, moths, mayflies, and flying ants.
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A smaller dragonfly with a length on only 1 1⁄4 to 1 1⁄2 inches when mature.
Commonly found in the western United States. Can be found in a wide variety of habitats provided water is near. Typically feeding on a wide variety of aquatic animals: mosquito larvae, aquatic fly larvae, shrimp, small fish and tadpoles. Adults eat almost any flying insects: mosquitoes, flies, moths, mayflies, and flying ants.
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Herbivores
Elephant
When mature it reaches a height of 5-4m. Fully grown they weigh in at 2,300-6,300 kg. One adaption of the elephant is they can eat great quantities even fibrous, poor quality vegetation to compensate for their low absorption of nutrients. Their diet mainly consists of grass, leaves, seed pods, twigs & fruit.
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Elephant
When mature it reaches a height of 5-4m. Fully grown they weigh in at 2,300-6,300 kg. One adaption of the elephant is they can eat great quantities even fibrous, poor quality vegetation to compensate for their low absorption of nutrients. Their diet mainly consists of grass, leaves, seed pods, twigs & fruit.
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Rhinoceros
At a mature height they grow to 1.4-1.8m high and 3-4.3m long. Adult rhinoceroses grow to 800-1,400kg. They've adapted as pointy lip to grasp twigs of woody plants, to assist in a diet mainly consisting of leafy plants, buds, shoots, reeds, branches, thorny wood bushes & fruit
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At a mature height they grow to 1.4-1.8m high and 3-4.3m long. Adult rhinoceroses grow to 800-1,400kg. They've adapted as pointy lip to grasp twigs of woody plants, to assist in a diet mainly consisting of leafy plants, buds, shoots, reeds, branches, thorny wood bushes & fruit
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Giraffe
A mature Giraffe reaches a heigh of 4-6m. Weighing 800-1,200kg when grown. Giraffe's can close its nostrils to keep out sand & dust. A giraffe mainly eats thorny acacia leaves, twigs, fruit of trees & bushes. Hunted lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas & crocodiles
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A mature Giraffe reaches a heigh of 4-6m. Weighing 800-1,200kg when grown. Giraffe's can close its nostrils to keep out sand & dust. A giraffe mainly eats thorny acacia leaves, twigs, fruit of trees & bushes. Hunted lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas & crocodiles
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Zebra
An adult Zebra is 1.2-1.6m high. Zebra's weigh approximately 200-450kg. Zebra's are known to have keen sense of hearing; their stripes make it difficult for a predator to pick out one zebra from another. They predominately eat short grass. Zebra's face predators such as lion, cheetah & hyena
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An adult Zebra is 1.2-1.6m high. Zebra's weigh approximately 200-450kg. Zebra's are known to have keen sense of hearing; their stripes make it difficult for a predator to pick out one zebra from another. They predominately eat short grass. Zebra's face predators such as lion, cheetah & hyena
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Antelope
Antelope grow to anywhere between 6 feet tall or as small as 10-12 inches. They weigh on average 15-50kg. Antelope rely on their acute senses of smell & hearing allow them to detect any lurking danger then leap to safety. They mostly consume low vegetation & grass. Predators include cheetah, hyena & man
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Antelope grow to anywhere between 6 feet tall or as small as 10-12 inches. They weigh on average 15-50kg. Antelope rely on their acute senses of smell & hearing allow them to detect any lurking danger then leap to safety. They mostly consume low vegetation & grass. Predators include cheetah, hyena & man
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