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Newcomers to the state The Australian Magpie is arguably the most successful species in the state. It is wonderfully adapted to its natural habitats of woodlands, grasslands and open forests and it has withstood the changes wrought by agriculture, forestry and urban development. There is virtually nowhere in Victoria that is far away from at least one Magpie. With some qualifications, the same can also be said of the Flatweed, the Starling, the Sow-thistle and the Rabbit. These are all extraordinary organisms which are almost as well-suited to life in the bush are they are to the suburbs and farmlands, and, unlike the Magpie, they didn't evolve in this country but were introduced by European settlers. About 20% of the vascular plants and 5% of the vertebrates that live
wild in Victoria have been released by humans sometime in the past 200
years. Most species that have been introduced to Victoria don't
manage to survive outside of agricultural or domestic circumstances but
those that can sometimes do very well indeed. In general
non-native species that have become established are more abundant than
natives, something that is borne out by the fact that the most
widespread mammals and vascular plants in the
state are all non-natives. |
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A common weed Cirsium vulgare is a robust thistle with spiny leaves and large, almost globular, purple flowers heads. [more] |
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The other lagomorph The European Hare is a long-eared, long-legged, rabbit-like, herbivorous mammal which is largely nocturnal. [more] |
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A native weed Pittosporum undulatum is a dense, broad-leafed shrub with sweetly-perfumed white flowers and orange fleshy fruits. [more] |
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A hunted animal The Sambar is a large, dark brown deer, to 1.4 m at the shoulder and weighing up to 240 kg. [more] |
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A narcotic weed Papaver somniferum is an annual herb with broad, toothed leaves and large white, red, pink or purple flowers. [more] |
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A new songbird The Common Blackbird is a medium-sized songbird which feeds on invertebrates (particularly worms) and fleshy fruits.[more] |
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A weed in waiting Disa bracteata is a ground orchid to about 30 cm tall with small yellow, green and brown flowers. [more] |
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An early arrival The Dingo is a medium-sized, erect-eared, generally sandy-coloured dog.[more] |
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An urban weed Pennisteum clandestinum is a dense, mat-forming, perennial grass with very short flowering stems. [more] |
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An extended range The Marbled Gecko is a small, thick-tailed lizard, to about 14 cm long. [more] |
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A planted weed Ammophila arenaria - Marram Grass - is a coarse, spreading grass of coastal sands. [more] |
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An introduced traveller The Cattle Egret is a medium-sized, largely ground-dwelling white bird with a tan flush to its plumage during breeding. [more] |
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A weed somewhere else Acacia mearnsii is a large shrub or tree with dark-green feathery leaves and clusters of pale yellow flowers. [more] |
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A market introduction The Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog is a small, bright green frog, often with brown markings on the legs and flanks. [more] |