Blog / Australia

Hey there, join us as we dive deep into the world of the platypus—the strange but oh so cute Australian animal. Enjoy!

Why is the platypus such a weird animal?

The platypus is a mixture of many different animals, and this is what makes it so unique. It's poisonous like a snake, it swims and has webbed feet like a duck, it has fur and a tail like a beaver, it walks close to the ground like a lizard. It is a marsupial that lays eggs, and the only other animal in the world that does this is the echidna.

Does the platypus have teeth?

No, the platypus doesn't have teeth. It moves its bill in a way that allows it to grind its food. It also scoops up rocks and dirt to help it grind down its food as it eats. How clever!

Does the platypus lay eggs?

Yes, the platypus and the echidna are the only two marsupials in the world that lay eggs.

What do you call a group of platypus?

A group of platypus is called a paddle. What do you call a baby platypus? A baby platypus is called a puggle. Such a cute name! Stickers:

Check out our Aussie stickers here: https://flashofculture.com/collection...​

And our sweet Australian themed flashcards too, over here: https://flashofculture.com/collection...

The thrill of travel and different cultures the world has to offer no doubt excites all of us adults and enlightens us on the amazing experiences out there. But what about our children? 

Hey everyone, in today's episode of #FOCFunFacts Luka and I have three fun facts about the possum and a few terrible mum jokes too. Enjoy ✌️

Possum Fact 01: How many different varieties of possums are there in Australia?

There are 23 different varieties of possums found in Australia. The main ones are the brushtail and ringtail possum.

Possum Fact 02: What are boy and girl possums called?

A girl possum is called 'Jill' and a boy possum is called 'Jack'.

Possum Fact 03: What do possums eat?

Possums are omnivores, so they eat food sourced from both plants and animals. Although they mostly eat plants, they have been known to eat bird eggs, lizards and small birds.

Possum Joke 01: Why do you see possums hanging upside down? 

They are cleaning out their pouches.

Hey everyone, we are back with season two of #FOCFunFacts 🤗 🥳  This season, we have a new little assistant co-anchor who has wanted to join us for a while. 🥰 I'm not sure if it was the chocolate we had before filming or the excitement to be back that put us in a giggly mood. Either way, we had a lot of fun filming, and we hope you enjoy it too! If you can think of a better quokka joke than my terrible ones, let us know. 😉  

Is the quokka really smiling?

The quokka is known as one of the happiest animals because it looks like it's always smiling, but it turns out it's not actually smiling. That's just how its face is shaped, and its mouth stays open with its tongue out to keep it cool.

Where do you fin the quokka?

The quokka is only found in the wild in Western Australia on two small islands called Rottnest Island and Bald Island.

How safe are quokkas?

The quokka may be very cute, but you still have to be careful because it is a wild animal with sharp teeth and claws. If you do touch a quokka or feed them, you can get a $150 fine and sometimes more.

Quokka Joke 01: What do you get when you cross a cockatoo and a quokka?

A quokka-too. 

Quokka Joke 02: What do you get when you cross a crocodile and a quokka?

A quokka-dile.

Enjoy ✌️

In today's FOC Fun Facts we learn about the Aussie dingo and if this cute animal would make a good pet plus a bunch and more facts. If you have a fun fact about dingos let us know down below. Enjoy 🐕 

Can you own a dingo as a pet?

Yes, you can have a pet dingo in some states of Australia. However, it isn't treated like an average dog; you need to have a permit and specific conditions to keep the dingo and people and animals around it safe. It is still a wild animal and has different needs to the average domestic dog.

Did you know that Australia has a dingo fence?

It is one of the longest fences in the world. It is 5600 km (3480 miles) long and was built to keep dingos away from farmland.

Can dingos come in different colours?

Yes, they can, originally it was thought that pure dingos only come in the sandy colour, but they can also be tan, brown and white in some colder regions.

What do you call a group of dingos?

The collective noun for dingos is the same as wolves. It is called a pack of dingos.

Hey guys, we are back with our fun facts, and today there are three fun facts, one bonus fact (for those who love collective nouns), two awesomely terrible mum jokes and lots of giggles! Enjoy

Can kangaroos swim? Yes, kangaroos are actually excellent swimmers, and they can use their large feet to propel themselves through the water with the help of their large tails. The ability to swim also comes in handy as a form of defence. If under attack, the kangaroo can enter the water, and if the animal is attacking the kangaroo, for example, a dog enters the water, the kangaroo will then try to drown it.

Can kangaroos walk backwards? No, they can't because their large tails get in the way and because of the shape of their feet.

What do kangaroos eat? Kangaroos are herbivores, and they like to chew on grasses, herbs and shrubs. This is also where they get a lot of the water from too.

What do you call a group of kangaroos? A group of kangaroos can be called a mob, troup or a herd.

What do you get when you cross an alien with a kangaroo? A MARS-upial.

What do you get when you cross a kangaroo with a sheep? A woolly jumper.

Happy Sunday! In today's fun facts we learn about the little Aussie echidna, not to be mistaken for the hedgehog! We hope you enjoy our video. If you have an exciting echidna fact you'd like to share, let us know :) 🦔

Are the echidna and the hedgehog the same animal?

The echidna and hedgehog are often confused for each other. However, there is a big difference between the two. Both are mammals but the echidna is an egg-laying marsupial. The only other egg-laying marsupial is the platypus. The echidna is also native to Australia while the hedgehog can be found around the world.

The echidna's spines (not spikes) protect it from predators.

When a predator approaches the echidna it rolls up into a ball of spines.

Does the echidna have any teeth?

The echidna doesn't haven't any teeth and instead has a very long tongue around 15 cms long. The long, sticky tongue moves quickly in and out to eat ants, insects and larvae.

What do you call a group of echidnas? The collective noun for echidnas is a parade. What do you call a baby echidna? A baby echidna is called a puggle. Stickers:

Check out our Aussie stickers here: https://flashofculture.com/collection...​

And our sweet Australian themed flashcards too, over here: https://flashofculture.com/collection...

Including wombat poop and other facts.

 

Happy Sunday and ANZAC Day!

In today's #FOCFunFacts​ we learn about the Tasmanian Devil and find out if they are as scary as their name suggests. We hope you learn something new and have a good laugh with us.

 

Join Sam and Luka as they share some fun facts about the classically cute cockatoo and find out if cockatoos really do talk?

 

Join Sam and Luka as they share some fun facts about the Aussie kookaburra!

What is the collective noun for a group of kookaburras?

A group of kookaburras is called a riot.

 

The Kiwis claim that New Zealand did, Aussies reckon it's there's. Both countries love eating this delicious cake around Christmas time topped with yummy summer fruits.⁠
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After a lot of research (and not enough cake testing), we decided to give it to our Kiwi neighbours and included the Pavlova card in our Explore New Zealand Flashcard set. ⁠
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At least the Aussies have the Lamington, or do we??? 😕⁠
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