Below you can find a complete list of Papua New Guinean animals. We currently track 194 animals in Papua New Guinea and are adding more every day!
Papua New Guinea is a small island nation in Oceania. With about 850 spoken languages, it is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. PNG shares a land border with Indonesia, which owns the western half of the island. Much of the country is dominated by dense tropical rainforests and wetlands, while a large mountain range known as the New Guinea Highlands runs along the entire length of the interior. Along with the rest of the Asian Pacific region, New Guinea is a place of immense biodiversity. A greater concentration of unique species can be found here than almost anywhere else.
The Official National (State) Animals Of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has a few important national symbols, including the dugong and Count Raggi’s bird of paradise.
The dugong is a marine mammal that includes three species of manatees. While they are similar in appearance, the one thing that separates them is their tales – the dugong has a fluked tale and the manatee has a paddle-shaped tale. They were often considered to be the inspiration for the mermaid.
In 1976, the government made them protected animals, although they are still permitted to be hunted to a certain degree as they are thought to have healing properties.
The Raggiana bird of paradise was made the national emblem and included on the national flag in 1971. Of the 41 species of this bird, Papua New Guinea is home to 39 of them. The males of the species have more brightly colored plumage, while the females have more subdued colors.
Where To Find The Top Wild Animals In Papua New Guinea
Encompassing about 5,500 square miles, Papua New Guinea has around 71 protected areas and national parks. Here are just a few:
- The Tonda Wildlife Management Area, in the Western Province, is one of the most significant wetlands on the planet and also the largest protected area in the entire country. Amid the 2,200 square miles of swamps, grasslands, Monson forests, and mangrove areas, visitors can find the hare-wallaby, quoll, dunnart, crocodile, birds of paradise, and many other mammals.
- The Maza protected wildlife area covers more than 700 square miles of marine environments and coral reefs to the east of Tonda. Visitors can find dugongs, sea turtles, and other marine animals here.
- The Kamiali Wildlife Management Area, located on the Huon Gulf Coast in Morobe Province, spans across 180 square miles of sandy coasts, lakes, coral reefs, rivers, wetlands, and tropical rainforests. Visitors can find a rich array of reef fish, sea turtles, and other rare fauna.
- Lake Kutubu, located in the Southern Highlands Province, is surrounded by mountains in a rugged depression. It was deemed a wetland of international significance for its unique selection of freshwater fish, including the rainbowfish, the mogurnda, and the grunter.
Lake Kutubu is the second-largest lake in Papua New Guinea. Lying east of Kikori and southwest of the provincial capital, the lake has a depth of 230 feet and a width of 2.8 miles. This is a large tropical lake that was derived from volcanic ash. With its great biodiversity and ecological significance, it has been designated a Wildlife Management Area.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Papua New Guinea Today
A Hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) sitting in a tree in the Varirata National Park, Papua New Guinea.
©feathercollector/Shutterstock.com
While Papua New Guinea contains very few large predators (besides the crocodile), it does have several smaller, poisonous animals that pose a danger to people. Of 80 recognized snakes, the country is home to six venomous species. Together they are responsible for about a thousand deaths per year. Interestingly, PNG contains one of the few poisonous birds in the world, the hooded pitohui. It’s believed that the bird derives this poison from something it eats.
- Coastal Taipan – Sporting a uniform olive or reddish-brown color, the coastal taipan is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Venom affects the body by attacking the nervous system and the blood clotting ability. Nearly all cases of untreated bites eventually prove to be fatal.
- Papuan Black Snake – A member of the same family as the coastal taipan, the black snake can deliver a powerful neurotoxin that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. Although not quite as deadly as its cousin, the venom can be life-threatening if delivered in a large enough dose.
- Death Adders – Papua New Guinea is home to both smooth-scaled and rough-scaled death adders. These snakes lie in wait and strike their targets very quickly with their dangerous venom.
- New Guinea Crocodile – Measuring up to 11 feet long, this crocodile is strong, aggressive, and not to be messed with. Fortunately, attacks on humans are relatively rare.
One of the only known toxic birds in the world, the hooded pitohui is found on this island. Batrachotoxin, the same chemical substance found in poisonous frogs, is what makes this little bird so deadly. This toxin binds to nerve cells and prevents them from closing. Touching this bird will cause severe burning and pain to your skin. Eating it is not a good idea. There is no antidote for this poison and if you’ve been infected, it will result in paralysis and death.
Endangered Animals In Papua New Guinea
The Northern glider is closely related to this sugar glider.
©LesPalenik/Shutterstock.com
Papua New Guinea’s diverse fauna has long been under threat from deforestation and hunting. Trees are often cut down for logging or in order to create new grazing grounds or to replace them with highly demanding plantation crops like palm oil. The following is just a small list of the currently endangered species.
- Giant Bandicoot – This is largely regarded as the largest species of bandicoot in the world. While not much is known about it since it was discovered, this long-nosed, rodent-like marsupial is in danger of becoming extinct.
- Black-spotted Cuscus – Closely related to the brushtail possums, the cuscus is a marsupial with a long tail and rounded head. It is currently in danger of becoming extinct from hunting and habitat loss.
- Tree Kangaroos – These arboreal mammals aren’t quite as well-known as their ground-hopping counterpart. In PNG, it lives in the remote mountainous forests of the interior. Unfortunately, this also makes it highly vulnerable to deforestation and overhunting. Three species of this genus are currently endangered: Matschie’s tree kangaroo, Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, and the tenkile.
- Northern Glider – Closely related to the more well-known sugar glider, this is a unique species of marsupial with the ability to glide through the air from high treetops by using their specialized skin flaps, which extend between the forelegs and the hind legs. It is currently in danger of becoming extinct because of its very limited range.
- New Guinea Big-eared Bat – Little is known about these small-bodied, big-eared bats, but they are currently endangered from habitat loss.
The Northern glider was discovered in the Torricelli Mountains of north-western Papua New Guinea in 1981. They are primarily found in tropical, moist rainforests. Adults average 10 inches in length and weigh around 9.8 ounces. Fruit is the main staple of their diets. They are listed as critically endangered due to human encroachment and hunting.
The Rarest Animals In Papua New Guinea
Golden Masked Owl sitting on branch
©Owen Derrick Photography/Shutterstock.com
The golden masked owl is one of the rarest animals in Papua New Guinea. Also known as the Bismark owl, Bismark masked owl, New Britain barn owl, and the New Britain masked owl. Its habitat is located off the coast of Papua New Guinea on the island of New Britain and because it is very difficult to spot, it has not been well studied. While currently not endangered, they are listed as vulnerable as the forests where they reside are listed as endangered. Habitat loss will have an effect on the current population, which numbers between 2500 to 9999.
The Largest Animals In Papua New Guinea
The
Tiger
Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) is similar to the rare bronze quoll found on the island.
©Leonard G – Public Domain
Papua New Guinea is not known for hosting animals of great sizes. The largest animal found on the island, first discovered in Southern New Guinea in 1979, is the bronze quoll. It is considered the largest omnivorous mammal, while the tree kangaroo is considered the largest herbivore. The bronze quoll, which is a nocturnal predatory species, is listed as a threatened species. The bronze quoll generally lives on average between 3 to 5 years.
The tree-kangaroo is an herbivore, with the rainforest as its habitat. Weighing up to 32 pounds and measuring about 30 inches, which doesn’t include their almost 34-inch tails, this marsupial is the only known kangaroo to live in the trees. There are fewer than 2,500 left in their native habitat due to illegal hunting for trade and food. It is hard to determine their age because they are difficult to study in the wild but it is believed that they have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years.
Papua New Guinean Animals
Papua New Guinean Animals List
- Amethystine Python (Scrub Python)
- Ant
- Arafura File Snake
- Australian Firehawk
- Bandicoot
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bird
- Bird Of Paradise
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Blind Snake
- Boelen’s python
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Dog Tick
- Brown Tree Snake
- Butterfly
- Camel Cricket
- Carpenter Ant
- Carpet Python
- Cassowary
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chicken
- Coastal Taipan
- Cockatoo
- Cockroach
- Coconut Crab
- Codling Moth
- Comb-crested Jacana
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Common Spotted Cuscus
- Coral Snake
- Corella
- Cormorant
- Cosmic Caterpillar
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crocodile Monitor
- Crocodylomorph
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Death Adder
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eclectus Parrot
- Eel
- Emerald Tree Monitor
- Fairy-Wren
- Falcon
- False Widow Spider
- Fiddler Crab
- Fierce Snake
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Frilled Lizard
- Frog
- Fruit Bat
- Fruit Fly
- Gecko
- German Cockroach
- Giant Trevally
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Golden Masked Owl
- Grasshopper
- Green Tree Python
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hercules Moth
- Heron
- Highland Cattle
- Honey Bee
- Honey Buzzard
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Ibis
- Insects
- Keelback
- King Quail
- Ladybug
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Lawnmower Blenny
- Leech
- Lizard
- Locust
- Lorikeet
- Magpie
- Marine Toad
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Millipede
- Mole
- Monarch Butterfly
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mourning Gecko
- Mouse
- Nematode
- No See Ums
- Orb Weaver
- Otter
- Owl
- Pademelon
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pesquet’s Parrot (Dracula Parrot)
- Pheasant
- Pig-Nosed Turtle
- Pigeon
- Platinum Arowana
- Pompano Fish
- Possum
- Praying Mantis
- Pterodactyl
- Quail
- Quoll
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Rooster
- Sable Ferret
- Sand Crab
- Scorpion
- Sea Dragon
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Spotted Garden Eel
- Spotted python
- Stick Insect
- Stork
- Striped Rocket Frog
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swallowtail Caterpillar
- Swan
- Taipan
- Tarantula Hawk
- Tarsier
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Tree Kangaroo
- Tree Snake
- Turtles
- Ulysses Butterfly
- Viper Boa
- Wallaby
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Dragon
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Worm
Animals In Papua New Guinea FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What type of animals live in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea is particularly rich in marsupials, rodents, bats, honeyeaters (a family of nectar-eating birds), birds of paradise, and many other species of forest birds. Snakes, lizards, amphibians, freshwater fish, and insects are also quite prolific throughout the country. The largest fauna are the flightless cassowaries and crocodiles, but there are few large mammals.
What dangerous animals live in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea is home to six very poisonous and dangerous snakes, plus the crocodile.
Are there tigers in Papua New Guinea?
No, tigers are not found as far east as Papua New Guinea.
How many species of animals are there in Papua New Guinea?
The island of New Guinea is one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots. It is home to some 4,600 discovered vertebrates (about 8% of the world’s total) and an unknown but still sizeable number of invertebrates, many of which have yet to be discovered.