Editing Fauna of Australia (section)

==Invertebrates==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em; font-size:80%; float:right;"
|- style="background:pink;"
!Taxonomic group
!width="70"|Estimated number of species described
!width="70"|Estimated total number of species in Australia
|-
|[[Porifera]]
|1,476
|~3,500
|-
|[[Cnidaria]]
|1,705
|~2,200
|-
|[[Platyhelminthes]]
|1,593
|~10,000
|-
|[[Acanthocephala]]
|56
|~160
|-
|[[Nematoda]]
|~2,060
|~30,000
|-
|[[Mollusca]]
|~8,700
|~12,250
|-
|[[Annelida]]
|2,192
|~4,230
|-
|[[Onychophora]]
|71
|~80
|-
|[[Crustacea]]
|7,266
|~9,500
|-
|[[Arachnida]]
|6,615
|~31,338
|-
|[[Insecta]]
|~62,000
|~205,000
|-
|[[Echinodermata]]
|1,475
|~2,000
|-
|Other invertebrates
|~2,371
|~5,015
|-
|colspan="3"| <small>Modified from: Williams et al. 2001<ref name="Williams">Williams, J. et al. 2001. [http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2001/publications/theme-reports/biodiversity/pubs/biodiversity.pdf ''Biodiversity, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001'' (Theme Report)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110327235509/http://environment.gov.au/soe/2001/publications/theme-reports/biodiversity/pubs/biodiversity.pdf|date=27 March 2011}}, CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. {{ISBN|0-643-06749-3}}</ref> and Chapman, 2009<ref>{{Cite report|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/2ee3f4a1-f130-465b-9c7a-79373680a067/files/nlsaw-2nd-complete.pdf|title=Numbers of Living Species in Australia and the World|last=Chapman|first=Arthur D.|date=September 2009|publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study|edition=2nd|access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref></small>
|}

Of the estimated 200,000 animal species in Australia, about 96% are invertebrates. While the full extent of invertebrate diversity is uncertain, 90% of [[insect]]s and [[mollusk|molluscs]] are considered endemic.<ref name="Williams"/> Invertebrates occupy many ecological niches and are important in all ecosystems as decomposers,<ref>Egerton, p. 492.</ref> pollinators, and food sources.<ref>Egerton, pp. 494–495, 520, 553.</ref> The largest group of invertebrates is the insects, comprising 75% of Australia's known species of animals. The most diverse insect orders are the [[Beetle|Coleoptera]], with 28,200 species of [[beetle]]s and [[weevil]]s,<ref>Egerton, pp. 538–540.</ref> the [[Lepidoptera]] with 20,816 species{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} including [[butterfly|butterflies]] and [[moth]]s,<ref>Egerton, p. 545.</ref> and around 14,800 species of [[Hymenoptera]],<ref name="CSIRO-Entomology">CSIRO Entomology: Insects and their allies [http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects_allies.html Insects and their allies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050615124728/http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects_allies.html |date=15 June 2005 }}</ref> including the [[ant]]s, [[bee]]s and [[wasp]]s. Order [[Diptera]], which includes the [[fly|flies]] and [[mosquito]]es, comprises 7,786 species.<ref>Egerton, pp. 542–543.</ref> Order [[Hemiptera]], including bugs, aphids and hoppers,<ref>Egerton, pp. 533–535.</ref> comprises 5,650 species; and there are 2,827 species{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} of order [[Orthoptera]], including [[grasshopper]]s, [[cricket (insect)|cricket]]s and [[Tettigoniidae|katydids]].<ref>Egerton, pp. 528–531.</ref> Introduced species that pose a significant threat to native species include the [[german wasp|European wasp]],<ref>Egerton, p. 552.</ref> the [[red imported fire ant|red fire ant]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/red_imported_fire_ant.htm#economic |title=red imported fire ant – Solenopsis invicta |publisher=Entomology.ifas.ufl.edu |access-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921211110/http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/red_imported_fire_ant.htm#economic |archive-date=21 September 2016 }}</ref> the [[yellow crazy ant]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Synergy International Limited |title=issg Database: Ecology of Anoplolepis gracilipes |url=http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=110&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212184249/http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=110&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN |archive-date=12 February 2012 |access-date=24 July 2011 |publisher=Issg.org}}</ref> and feral [[Western honeybee|honeybees]] which compete with native bees.<ref>Egerton, p. 553.</ref>
[[Image:Green ants.jpg|left|thumb|There are 1,275 described species and subspecies of ant from Australia.<ref>Shattuck, S. and Barnett, N. 2001. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080315185148/http://www.ento.csiro.au/science/ants/ants_in_australia.htm Australian Ants Online], CSIRO Entomology. Internet Archive: Retrieved 18 December 2013.</ref> These green ants (''[[Oecophylla smaragdina]]'') are found in tropical Australia and build nests in leaves.<ref>Egerton, p. 555.</ref>]]
Australia has a wide variety of [[arachnid]]s, including 78 spider families<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia |last1=Whyte|first1=Robert|last2=Anderson|first2=Greg|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|year=2017|isbn=9780643107076|location=Clayton, Victoria, Australia}}</ref> with 79 species of [[List of common spiders of Australia|spider familiar enough to have common names]]. There are numerous highly venomous species, including the notorious [[Sydney funnel-web spider|Sydney funnel-web]] and allied mygalomorphs, whose [[spider attacks in Australia|bites can be deadly]].<ref>Egerton, p. 563.</ref> The [[redback spider]] was thought to be deadly but redback bites are no longer thought to be life-threatening, as the lack of deaths since 1956 was thought to be due to the development of an anti-venom which has since been shown to be no better than placebo.<ref>{{Cite book|last=White|first=Julian|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/794734478|title=A clinician's guide to Australian venomous bites and stings : incorporating the updated CSL antivenom handbook|date=2012|publisher=CSL Ltd|others=Julian White, CSL Limited|isbn=978-0-646-57998-6|location=Parkville, Vic.|oclc=794734478}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Booth, Carol|date=July–September 2008|title=Along Came A Spider|url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/along-came-a-spider.htm|url-status=dead|journal=Australian Geographic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006070407/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/along-came-a-spider.htm|archive-date=6 October 2009|access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> There are thousands of species of mites and ticks from the subclass [[Acari]].<ref>Egerton, p. 557.</ref> Australia also has at least 150 species of [[pseudoscorpion]] with an estimated 550 more waiting to be described,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Order SCORPIONES|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/PSEUDOSCORPIONES|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304135805/http://www.biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Scorpiones|archive-date=4 March 2015|access-date=18 July 2017|website=Australian Faunal Directory|language=en}}</ref> and at least 17 scorpion genera with 120 species.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Names List for SCORPIONES|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/SCORPIONES/names|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511100909/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/SCORPIONES/names|archive-date=11 May 2018|access-date=18 July 2017|website=Australian Faunal Directory|language=en}}</ref>

In the [[Annelida]] (sub)class [[Oligochaeta]] there are many families of aquatic worms, and for native terrestrial [[worm]]s: the [[Enchytraeidae]] (pot worms) and the "true" earthworms in families [[Acanthodrilidae]], [[Octochaetidae]] and [[Megascolecidae]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} The latter includes the world's largest earthworm, the [[giant Gippsland earthworm]], found only in [[Gippsland]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]].<ref>Egerton, p. 518.</ref> On average they reach 80&nbsp;cm in length, but specimens up to 3.7&nbsp;m in length have been found.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}
[[Image:Wolf spider&egg sac02.jpg|thumb|The [[wolf spider]], ''Lycosa godeffroyi'', is common in many areas of Australia. In this family of spiders, the female carries her egg-sac.]]
The large family [[Parastacidae]] includes 124 species of Australian freshwater crayfish.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} These include the world's smallest crayfish, the [[Tenuibranchiurus|swamp crayfish]], which does not exceed 30&nbsp;mm in length,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Short|first=John W.|date=November 2000|title=Freshwater Crayfish|url=http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/inquiry/factsheets/leaflet0057.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602082709/http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/inquiry/factsheets/leaflet0057.pdf|archive-date=2 June 2009|website=Crustaceans 1|publisher=Queensland Museum}}</ref> and the world's largest crayfish, the [[Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish]],<ref name=e575>Egerton, p. 575.</ref> measuring up to 76&nbsp;cm long and weighing 4.5&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/lobster.html |title=Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster (''Astacopsis gouldi'') |publisher=[[Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts]] |date=9 February 2007 |access-date=16 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205071506/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/lobster.html |archive-date=5 February 2010 }}</ref> The crayfish genus ''[[Cherax]]'' includes the [[common yabby]],<ref name=e575/> in addition to the farmed species [[marron]] and [[Australian red claw crayfish|Queensland red claw]]. Species from the genus ''[[Engaeus]]'', commonly known as the land crayfish, are also found in Australia. ''Engaeus'' species are not entirely aquatic, because they spend most of their lives living in burrows. Australia has seven species of freshwater crab from the genus ''[[Austrothelphusa]]''. These crabs live burrowed into the banks of waterways and can plug their burrows, surviving through several years of drought. The extremely primitive freshwater [[Anaspididae|mountain shrimp]], found only in Tasmania, are a unique group, resembling species found in the fossil record from 200 MYA.
[[Image:Common clownfish.jpg|thumb|A [[Heteractis magnifica|magnificent sea anemone]] on the [[Great Barrier Reef]], with an [[ocellaris clownfish]].|left]]
A huge variety of marine invertebrates are found in Australian waters, with the [[Great Barrier Reef]] an important source of this diversity.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Families include the [[Porifera]] or sea sponges,<ref>Egerton, p. 497.</ref> the [[Cnidaria]] (includes the [[jellyfish]], [[coral]]s and [[sea anemone]]s, [[Ctenophore|comb jellies]]),<ref>Egerton, pp. 499–506.</ref> the [[Echinoderm]]ata (includes the [[sea urchin]]s, [[sea star]]s, [[brittle star]]s, [[Holothuroidea|sea cucumber]]s, the [[Brachiopod|lamp shell]]s)<ref>Egerton, pp. 597–606.</ref> and the Mollusca (includes [[snail]]s, [[slug]]s, [[limpet]]s, [[squid]], [[octopus]], [[cockle (bivalve)|cockle]]s, [[oyster]]s, [[clam]]s, and [[chiton]]s).<ref>Egerton, p. 494.</ref> Venomous invertebrates include the [[Chironex fleckeri|box jellyfish]], the [[blue-ringed octopus]],<ref name=ill>Egerton, pp. 502, 596.</ref> and ten species of [[cone snail]],{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} which can cause respiratory failure and death in humans.<ref name=ill/> The [[crown-of-thorns starfish]] usually inhabits the reef at low densities. However, under conditions that are not yet well understood, they can reproduce to reach an unsustainable population density when coral is devoured at a rate faster than it can regenerate. This presents a serious reef management issue.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Other problematic marine invertebrates include the native species purple sea urchin and the [[white urchin]], which have been able to take over marine habitats and form urchin barrens due to the over harvesting of their natural predators which include [[abalone]] and [[Jasus edwardsii|rock lobster]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Introduced invertebrate pests include the [[Asian mussel]], [[New Zealand green-lipped mussel]], [[black-striped mussel]] and the [[northern Pacific seastar]], all of which displace native shellfish.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

There are many unique marine crustaceans in Australian waters. The best-known class, to which all the edible species of crustacean belong, is [[Malacostraca]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} The warm waters of northern Australia are home to many species of [[decapoda|decapod]] crustaceans, including [[crab]]s, [[Anomura|false crabs]], [[hermit crab]]s, [[Spiny lobster|lobsters]], [[Thalassinidea|shrimps]], and [[Dendrobranchiata|prawns]]. The [[Peracarida|peracarids]], including the [[amphipoda|amphipods]] and [[Isopoda|isopods]], are more diverse in the colder waters of southern Australia.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Less-well-known marine groups include the classes [[Remipedia]], [[Cephalocarida]], [[Branchiopoda]], [[Maxillopoda]] (which includes the [[barnacle]]s, [[copepod]]s and [[Argulidae|fish lice]]), and the [[Ostracod]]a.<ref>Egerton, pp. 569–570.</ref> Notable species include the [[Tasmanian giant crab]], the second largest crab species in the world,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/141462/crab/1592/Distribution-and-variety#ref=ref3637 |title=crab (crustacean) :: Distribution and variety. – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120420/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/141462/crab/1592/Distribution-and-variety#ref=ref3637 |archive-date=6 June 2011 }}</ref> found in deep water, and weighing up to 13&nbsp;kg,<ref>Egerton, p. 577.</ref> and the Australian [[spiny lobster]]s, such as the [[western rock lobster]], which are distinct from other [[lobster]] species as they do not have claws.<ref name="e575"/>