An adult male platypus named Millsom is carried by his keeper at an animal sanctuary in Melbourne May 8, 2008
An adult male platypus named Millsom is carried by his keeper at an animal sanctuary in Melbourne May 8, 2008 Reuters/Mick Tsikas

Australia houses some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. It is also home to thousands of animal species that are not found anywhere else.

Here are some of the strangest animals discovered in the continent.

1. Dendrogramma

A study published on PLOSone.org studied the nature and characteristics of two new species of animals called Dendrogramma enigmatica and Dendrogramma discoides. These look like gelatin mushrooms, measuring about 1 centimeter wide. There are 18 known species of Dendrogramma in the world. Scientists cannot even tell whether the floating organisms are upside down.

2. Echidna

The echidna appears like the cross between an anteater and a porcupine. It belongs to the Tachyglossidae family, which means that it is one of the few mammals that are capable of laying eggs. These generally feed on termites and ants and were said to have evolved about 20 to 50 million years ago.

3. Platypus

Australia is also famous for being the home of the platypus. The animal is a duck-billed monotreme, which means that it is a mammal that also lays eggs, like the echidna. A study conducted at the University of Adelaide focused on the genetic background of the animal, which dates back 160 million years ago. The study showed that the genetic traits of the platypus were actually closer to birds than mammals.

4. Smooth long-necked turtle

The country is also home to a variety of rare reptiles and amphibians. The smooth long-necked turtle lives in parts of Eastern Australia and features a very long neck that cannot be completely hidden into its shell. It produces an odorous liquid in dangerous situations. Its shell will grow to about 25 centimeters.

5. Blue-ringed octopus

The octopus resides in enclosed pools and feature several blue rings around its pinkish body. The blue rings continue towards the tentacles. Despite measuring only 10 centimeters, the blue-ringed octopus is very dangerous and produces a deadly venom, which can cause death in just two hours.

There are plenty of other unique creatures that only reside in Australia. Some of these are kept in reservoirs and parks, while others continue to roam the environment. Did we miss anything on this list?