Editing Kakadu National Park (section)

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Kakadu 3333.jpg|thumb|upright|Waterlilies such as the [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus flower]] abound in Kakadu National Park.]]
[[File:A157, Kakadu National Park, Australia, red and pink looped wildflower, 2007.JPG|thumb|right|[[Grevillea]]]]
Kakadu is [[ecologically]] and [[biologically diverse]].

===Flora===
{{main|Flora of Kakadu National Park}}
Kakadu's flora is among the richest in [[northern territory|northern Australia]] with more than 1700 plant species
recorded which is a result of the park's geological, landform and habitat diversity. Kakadu is also considered to be one of the most weed free national parks in the world.

The distinctly different geographical areas of Kakadu have their own specialised flora. The [[Natural environment|environment]] referred to as the "Stone Country" features "resurrection grasses" that are able to cope with extreme heat and long dry spells followed by periods of torrential rain. Monsoon forests often develop in the cool moist gorges dissecting the stone country. The southern hills and basins support several [[Endemic (ecology)|endemic]] plants that are only found in Kakadu such as ''[[Eucalyptus koolpinensis]]'' near Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge). Lowland areas form a large proportion of Kakadu National Park and are mainly covered in eucalypt-dominated open woodland with the ground layer consisting of a large range of grasses including [[Heteropogon contortus|spear grass]], sedges and wildflowers. The Kakadu plum, ''[[Terminalia ferdinandiana]]'', is commonly found in the area.

The [[floodplain]]s, which are inundated for several months each year, feature sedges such as spike rush as well patches of freshwater [[mangrove]]s (itchy tree), [[pandanus]] and paper bark trees ([[Melaleuca]]). Varieties of [[Nymphaeaceae|water lilies]], such as the blue, yellow and white snowflake, are commonly found in these areas. Estuaries and tidal flats are populated with varieties of mangroves (39 of the 47 Northern Territory species of mangrove occur in Kakadu) that are important for stabilising the coastline. [[Mangrove]]s serve as feeding and breeding grounds for many fish species including the [[barramundi]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-20 |title='What is extraordinary is when you see the mulga dying': These iconic ecosystems are on the brink of collapse |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-03-21/ecosystem-collapse-mangroves-gidgee-desert/13234044 |access-date=2025-04-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

On the tidal flats behind the mangroves, hardy succulents ([[samphire]]), grasses and sedges grow. Isolated pockets of monsoon forest grow along the coast and river banks. These forests contain several impressive trees, among them the [[banyan]] fig, which can be recognised by its large, spreading aerial roots, and the yellow-flowered kapok bush or cotton tree, ''[[Cochlospermum fraseri]]'', whose pods split to release cotton-like material.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Cochlospermum fraseri'' Planch. BIXACEAE |url=http://eflora.nt.gov.au/factsheet?id=766 |website=NT Flora: eflora |publisher=Government of the Northern Territory |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kapok bush |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/discover/nature/plants/kapok-bush/ |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}}</ref>

===Fauna===
There is a remarkable variety and concentration of wildlife, including:<ref name="UNEPWCMC" />
* over 280 [[bird]] species
* roughly 60 [[mammal]] species
* over 50 [[freshwater]] species
* over 10,000 [[insect]] species
* over 1,600 [[plant]] species
* some 117 species of [[reptiles]]

The diverse environments of Kakadu National Park supports a great array of animals, a number of which have adapted to particular habitats. Some animals in the park are rare, [[endangered]], vulnerable or [[endemism|endemic]]. Responding to the extreme weather conditions experienced in the park, many animals are active only at particular times of the day or night or at particular times of the year.
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Black Wallaroo Nourlangie Rock in Kakadu NP.jpg|[[Black wallaroo]]s at Nourlangie Rock
File:Antilopine Kangaroo Kakadu.jpg|Agile wallaby in grassland at Kakadu National Park
File:Petrogale Brachyotis.jpg|[[Short-eared rock-wallaby]] in Kakadu
File:Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni) -5 walking.jpg|Plumed whistling ducks
File:Kakadu 3541.jpg|[[Black-necked stork]]<br />Kakadu National Park
File:Kakadu Brolga and Pied Geese.jpg|Brolga and magpie geese
File:Saltwater croc kakadu.jpg|[[Saltwater crocodile]]
File:Anhinga novaehollandiae.jpg|[[Australasian darter|Australian darter]]
File:Great-billed Heron Kakadu BPS IMG 4036.jpg|[[Great-billed heron|Great-billed Heron]] in Ngurrungurrudjba, Kakadu National Park
File:Black Neck Stork Kakadu 2025 BPS.jpg|[[Black-necked stork|Black-necked Stork]] in Ngurrungurrudjba, Kakadu National Park
</gallery>

====Mammals====
About 74 [[mammal]] species—marsupials and placental mammals—have been recorded in the park. Most of them inhabit the open forest and woodlands and are [[nocturnal]], making it difficult to see them. Others, such as [[wallaby|wallabies]] and [[kangaroo]]s (macropods, 8 species), are active in the cooler parts of the day and are easier to see.

Among the larger more common species are [[dingo]]es, [[antilopine kangaroo]]s, [[black wallaroo]]s, [[agile wallabies]], and [[Petrogale brachyotis|short-eared rock wallabies]]. Smaller common mammals are [[northern quoll]]s, [[brush-tailed phascogale]]s, [[Isoodon macrourus|brown bandicoot]]s, [[Mesembriomys gouldii|black-footed tree-rat]]s, and [[Pteropus alecto|black flying fox]]es. [[Dugong]]s are found in the coastal waters.<ref>Australian Government: ''Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Parks and reserves, Kakadu National Park'' online. [http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/nature-science/fauna-mammals.html Environment.gov.au] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603215421/http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/nature-science/fauna-mammals.html |date=3 June 2009}}</ref>  However, recent surveys have revealed a disturbing decline of nearly all mammal species throughout Kakadu, including once common and widespread species such as northern tart bats.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-11-15|title=Drop in Kakadu wildlife numbers a significant concern: IUCN|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-15/kakadu-national-park-wildlife-drop-significant-concern-iucn-says/5893672|access-date=2020-06-21|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref>

====Birds====
Kakadu's many habitats support more than 280 species of birds, or about one-third of Australia's bird species. Some birds range over a number of habitats, but many are found in only one environment.

Some 11,246&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of Kakadu's [[savanna]] habitats has been identified by [[BirdLife International]] as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) because it supports populations of the [[endangered]] [[Gouldian finch]], the [[vulnerable species|vulnerable]] [[red goshawk]], the [[near threatened]] [[partridge pigeon]] and [[chestnut-backed button-quail]], and the restricted-range [[hooded parrot]] and [[rainbow pitta]].  The Kakadu Savanna IBA also supports [[varied lorikeet]]s, [[northern rosella]]s, [[silver-crowned friarbird]]s, [[white-gaped honeyeater|white-gaped]], [[yellow-tinted honeyeater|yellow-tinted]], [[white-lined honeyeater|white-lined]], [[bar-breasted honeyeater|bar-breasted]] and [[banded honeyeater]]s, [[sandstone shrike-thrush]]es, [[white-browed robin]]s, [[canary white-eye]]s, and [[Masked finch|masked]] and [[long-tailed finch]]es.<ref name="IBA: Kakadu Savanna">{{cite web|url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Kakadu Savanna |access-date=13 July 2011 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |archive-date= 6 July 2011 }}</ref>

Waterbirds include large populations of [[Magpie goose|magpie geese]], [[wandering whistling duck]]s, [[green pygmy goose|green pygmy geese]], [[comb-crested jacana]], [[black-necked stork]], [[Australian pelican]]s, [[little black cormorant]], [[Australian darter]], [[nankeen night heron]]s, [[pied heron]]s, [[black bittern]], [[sarus crane]] and [[brolga]].<ref name="IBA: Kakadu Savanna"/>

====Reptiles====
[[File:Kakadu YellowWaters Croc.jpg|thumb|Estuarine crocodile in Yellow Water Billabong]]
Some 117 species of [[reptiles]] have been recorded in Kakadu. Being cold-blooded, these animals rely on heat from an external source such as the sun to regulate their body temperature. This is not to say that reptiles are active only during the day; in fact, few snakes can withstand Kakadu's midday heat and most are active at night. Since the arrival of the [[cane toad]] in the park, many populations of reptiles have crashed. Reptiles which were once a common sight such as large [[goanna]]s, [[eastern brown snake]]s, [[Acanthophis|death adder]]s and many others were rare by 2010.<ref>[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]: [http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/10/15/3040035.htm ''Cane Toad impacts in the Top End'']</ref> The iconic [[frill-necked lizard]] has also significantly dropped in numbers.

Two species of [[crocodile]] occur in Kakadu: the [[freshwater crocodile]] (''Crocodylus johnstonii'') and the estuarine, or [[saltwater crocodile]] (''C. porosus''). Freshwater crocodiles are easily identified by their narrow snout and a single row of four large boney lumps called "scutes" immediately behind the head. Estuarine crocodiles do not have these scutes and their snout is broader. The maximum size for a freshwater crocodile is 3 metres, whereas a saltwater can exceed 6 metres.

On October 22, 2002, a twenty-four-year-old female [[Germans|German]] tourist was killed by a saltwater crocodile assault while swimming in Sandy billabong with other foreign backpackers including her sister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/woman-who-escaped-bali-bomb-killed-by-crocodile-1.443360|title=Woman who escaped Bali bomb killed by crocodile|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/10/22/australia.crocattack/|title=CNN.com - German tourist taken by crocodile - Oct. 22, 2002|website=www.cnn.com}}</ref>

====Frogs====
Kakadu's 25 [[frog]] species are extremely well adapted to the region's climatic extremes. Many remain dormant during rainless times. With the onset of the wet season, when the [[billabong]]s and swamps start to fill with water, the night air is filled with the sounds of frogs such as the northern bullfrog and the marbled frog. As the water builds up, frogs and tadpoles have an abundance of food, such as algae, vegetation, insects, dragonfly nymphs, and other tadpoles. Not all of Kakadu's frogs are found in the wetlands: many live in the lowland forests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Dave |title=Frogs of Australia > Northern Territory > The frogs of Kakadu and Arnhem Land |url=https://frogs.org.au/frogs/ofNT/Kakadu_and_Arnhem_Land |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=frogs.org.au |language=en}}</ref>

====Fish====
[[File:Kakadu 1766.jpg|thumb|right|Driving near Red Lily Lagoon at [[Oenpelli, Northern Territory|Gunbalanya]]]]
Fifty-three species of [[freshwater fish]] have been recorded in Kakadu's waterways; eight of them have a restricted distribution. In the [[Magela Creek]] system alone, 32 species have been found. In comparison, the Murray–Darling river system, the most extensive in Australia, now supports only 27 native fish species. Although introduced fish have been found in most Australian waterways, none have been recorded in the park.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-10-07 |title=Kakadu's freshwater fish at risk of rising sea level and encroaching salinity |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-07/kakadu-fish-at-risk-of-rising-sea-level-kakadu-national-park/6832980 |access-date=2025-04-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

====Insects====
Kakadu supports more than 10,000 species of insect. Among the insect groups are [[grasshopper]]s, beetles, flies, [[termite]]s, [[butterflies]] and [[moth]]s, [[bee]]s, [[wasp]]s, [[ant]]s, [[dragonflies]] and [[damselflies]], [[caddisflies]], non-biting midges and [[mayflies]]. The great variety of insects is a result of the varied habitats and relatively high temperatures throughout the year.

Perhaps the most striking insect-created features in the park are the termite mounds. The mounds in the southern part of the park are particularly large and impressive. [[Leichhardt's grasshopper]], in colours of orange-red, blue and black, is perhaps the most spectacular insect found in Kakadu. It is also found on the Arnhem Land plateau and in Gregory National Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leichhardt's grasshopper {{!}} Kakadu National Park {{!}} Parks Australia |url=https://kakadu.gov.au/discover/nature/animals/leichhardts-grasshopper/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=kakadu.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Kakadu brumbies.jpg|thumb|Brumbies (feral horses) at Yellow Water Billabong (Ngurrungurrudjba)]]