Shark Bay is a mecca for visitors interested in discovering unique and diverse wildlife
Thorny devil common but hard to spot, the devil is a favourite for locals and visitors alike. Active during the day, feeding on ants, they walk along with slow jerky movements that make us chuckle but is actually thought to be a defense mechanism. These amazing little critters can also change colour to match their surroundings and sport a 'pretend' head on the back of their necks to confuse predators.
Echidnas belong to group of mammals called monotremes (egg-laying mammals). The echidna and the platypus are the only mammals to do this. With a keen sense of smell, they snuffle around looking for ants and termites to eat. Their rigid snouts allow them to break open logs and termite mounds and their sticky 17cm tongues slurp up the food!
Did you know a baby echidna is called a puggle?
Emus are a common sight in Shark Bay. You'll spot them strolling around the bush, looking after their chicks and on a hot day taking a dip in the ocean! The second largest bird in the world, they are a peculiar sight, running rather than flying and weighing up to 55kgs!
Galahs are members of the cockatoo family and are easily identified by their rose-pink heads, necks and underpants. The galah can be seen flying around with an acrobatic style, at dusk they congregate in large numbers and have a distinctive high pitched "chi-chi" screech.
Bilbies shy, nocturnal creatures, bilbies are not a common sight for the average visitor. In appearance they are similar to a rabbit, with long pink ears and silky, grey fur. Unfortunately these cute native creatures have been pushed to the brink of extinction, with only one of two species still surviving.
Did you know that Aboriginal Australians refer to bilbies with up to 20 different names?
Image credits: Toursim Western Australia, R Stanley