Forester kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), at Springlawn Narawntapu National Park.
Forester kangaroo, Narawntapu National Park.

Land mammals

Find out more

​​Tasmania is home to many unique and unusual mammals. Here you can find out more information about them, their scientific names, and the best places to see them.

In this Topic

  • Bats
    Tasmania's bats are small but widespread, keep an eye out for one of our eight species.
  • Kangaroos and wallabies
    Learn more about these instantly-recognised Australian animals.
  • Platypus and echidnas
    Two of our most unusual native creatures, find out more about these wonderful monotremes.
  • Possums
    Tasmania is home to five species of possums, find out more about these night-time adventurers.
  • Quolls
    This largely nocturnal animal can be hard to find, find out the best places to catch a glimpse of these carnivorous mammals.
  • Wombats
    Find out more about one of our most endearing mammals, the wombat.

​​Tasmania has a unique assemblage of Australian animals, including the three largest extant (living) marsupial predators - Tasmanian devil, spotted-tailed quoll and eastern quoll. Because of its island status, fewer introduced predators and a relatively large amount of intact habitat, Tasmania has a diverse mammal fauna and the state is a stronghold for many species which have become extinct, or are on the verge of extinction, on mainland Australia.

Tasmania has several endemic mammilian species - those found nowhere else in the world. Some, like the Tasmanian devil and Tasmanian tiger​ are well-known. Others, such as the eastern quoll, pademelon, long-tailed mouse and bettong are less well-known, but equally fascinating.

Like most of Australia's mammals, the Tasmanian mammal fauna comprises many marsupials, or pouched mammals. Marsupials are remarkable for their method of reproduction; they produce fingernail-sized young that complete their development in their mother's pouch.

For further information, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania ​​(NRE Tas) has a complete list of Tasmania's land mammals.​