FAUNA
Early in the world's history, Australia was separated from other
continents and its animals have developed differently from them.
Australia has about 230 species of mammals and almost half are
marsupials. The most peculiar feature is the pouch in which the female
carries her young. The best known are the kangaroo, the wallaby, koala
and the possum, but there are a lot of others , not so well- known , but
not less interesting.
The koala, unique to Australia, is not a member of the bear family.
It lives in trees, drowsing during the day and becoming more active in
the evening. It feeds on vast quantities of gum leavers which have high
oil content, enabling it to go for long periods without water. Its pouch
opens downwards.
Kangaroos are represented in Australia by three subfamilies. Its
pouch opens upwards and it has a unique continuous flow of reproduction,
with one joey outside the pouch which will still suckle, one inside
suckling and one embryo "on hold". There are 45 species in Australia.
Possums herbivorous marsupials which live in trees. They belong to
four main families: ringtails and large gliders; brushtails and cuscus;
feathertail and possums and honey possums.
The Tasmanian devil is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.
It is nocturnal and very shy. It is the size of a fox terrier but has
strength enough in its teeth to consume a whole sheep, including the
skull. Also known as thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger is the largest
carnivorous marsupial in the world. It is presumed extinct although there
are many unconfirmed sightings.
The wombat is a powerful, thickest, burrowing marsupial found only
in Australia. Not a very sociable animal, it has a bony plate in its
rump which can be to kill any predator which might follow it into its
burrow.
Placental mammals in Australia (which produce fully developed young)
comprise bats, dingoes, rodents and marine mammals. The bat is the only
true flying mammals. There are 58 species in Australia including the
fruit bat and the rare ghost bat. The dingo is a dog considered
indigenous to Australia. It is presumed to have evolved from dogs
brought from Asia 3000 to 8000 years ago by the ancestors of the
Australia Aborigines. Dingoes are stealthy nocturnal hunters and often
set up a continual chorus of howls much like the wolf. Sea lions and
seals are marine mammals found on Australia's .Dugongs are herbivorous
marine mammals which feed on sea grasses.
Also there is the primitive, the lowest order of egg-laying mammals,
which are called Monotremes. The echidna has sharp claws and a long
sticky ribbon-like tongue with it gathers up ants and termites at
lightning speed. It has no teeth and relies on its stiff spines for
protection. It lays a single egg which is carried and hatched in a
temporary but commodious pouch formed from folds of skin. The platypus,
unique to Australia, is the only other egg-laying mammal in the world.
It has been considered a living fossil and may be the missing link
between reptiles and mammals. Its fur and tail are beaver-like, and it
has webbed clawed feet and a duck-like bill which is fleshy and
sensitive. The platypus lays eggs and suckles its young.
Reptiles and amphibians. Australia has about 140 species of snake,
360 species of lizard, 2 species of crocodile, 15 species of freshwater
tortoise and 6 species of marine turtle. Both species of crocodile are
found in northern waters. The freshwater crocodile is not dangerous to
people but the saltwater species, which can grow to 7 metres long, are
very dangerous.
Birds there are over 700 different kinds of birds in Australia
including the bower-builders, the lyrebirds, magpies, butcher birds and
song larks. The black swan is unique to Australia and the only species
of swan on the continent. The emu is unofficial emblem of Australia. It
is flightless and stands about 1,5 metres high. It is closely related to
the cassowary and next in size to ostrich.
Kookaburras, unique to Australia are the largest of the
king-fishers. There are two types, the laughing jackas of the eastern
states and the blue-winged kookaburra of the north and north-west. The
male lyrebirds have a fancy gauze-like tail giving this unique bird its
name. There are more than 50 species of Australian parrots. Among them
are galahs, sulphur-crested cockatoos, rosellas, lorikeets and
budgerigars.

mammal-млекопитающee
marsupial-сумчатое
peculiar-особенный
pouch-карман
to drowse-дремать
joey-детеныш
herbivourous-травоядный
ringtail-лунь
carnivourous-плотоядный
to consume-съесть, поглощать
skull-череп
thylasine-тайласин
extinct-вымерший
unconfirmed-неподтвержденный
rump-крестец
predator-хищник
to comprise-собирать
bat-летучая мышь
rodent-грызун
stealthy-скрытный
howl-вой
seal-тюлень
claw-коготь, лапа
sticky-липкий
at lightning speed-со скоростью молнии
stiff-жесткий
to hatch-высиживать яйца
commodious-просторный
fossil- ископаемый, допотопный
fur-мех
beaver-бобр
bill-клюв
lizard-ящерица
tortoise-пресноводная черепаха
turtle-морская черепаха
magpie-сорока
butcher bird-серый сорокопут
lark-жаворонок
sulphur-зеленовато-желтый

I. Answer the questions:

1.Why have Australian animals developed differently from other
continents' animals ?
2.Why can koala live without water for long periods ?
3.Can you say that kangaroo has a unique continuous flow of
reproduction ?
4.What carnivorous marsupials do you know ?
5.Whan was dingo brought to Australia ?
6. Why is the platypus considered a living fossil ?
7.What birds are unique to Australia ?

II. Insert the suggested words :

( pouch, carnivorous, predator, peculiar, mammals )
1.The most (...) feature is the pouch in which the female carries her
young .
2.Kangaroo's (...) opens upwards, and there are 45 species of them in
Australia .
3.The Tasmanian tiger is the largest (...) marsupial .
4.The platypus and echidna are two unique egg-laying (...) in the
world.
5.the wombat can kill any (...) which might follow it into its burrow.

III. Agree or disagree :

1.Koala is a member of a bear family .
2.The dingo was brought from Asia by the ancestors of the Australian
Aborigines.
3. Kangaroos are nocturnal and very shy animals.
4.The black swan is unique to Australia and the unofficial emblem of
Australia.
5.The bat is the only true flying mammal.

IV. Insert the prepositions :
(in, on, by, although, of )

1. Kangaroos are represented in Australia (...) three subfamilies.
2.Possums belong to four main families which live (...).
3.Thylasine is presumed extinct (...) there are many unconfirmed
sightings .
4.Echidna has no teeth and relies (...) its stiff spines for
protection .
5. The Tasmanian Devil is the size (...) fox terrier .

V. Translate into English :

1.Австралия имеет около 230 видов млекопитающих, из которых половина
сумчатые .
2.Ехидна и утконос уникальные животные, которые откладывают яйца и выкармливают своих детенышей молоком .
3.Челюсти тасманского дьявола настолько сильны , что он может съесть целую овцу , включая голову.
4. Существует 58 видов летучих мышей , включая редкую летучую мышь
привидение .
5.Оппоссумы это травоядные млекопитающие, которые живут на деревьях.