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What Animals Live in a Blue Gum Forest?

The blue gum tree species is native to Australia, and blue gum forests are so-called thanks to the large population of these trees in woodlands. These areas typically contain hundreds of different animals. The Blue Gum High Forest to the north of Sydney is one famous example of this type of environment. As of 2011, it was home to several endangered animal species.

Bats
- The yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat is found over eastern and northern Australia. The bat, which can be 3 or 4 inches long, has a yellow or white belly but black fur elsewhere. It is listed as vulnerable to extinction according to the Australian government website. The grey-headed flying-fox is the biggest native bat in Australia. Its diet consists of mostly pollen and nectar. The bat, which will travel miles to find food, fills the role of a pollinator as it feeds on and around trees and plants.
Birds
- The Powerful owl nests in hollowed out trees of the St Ives blue gum high forest. Like many of the forest residents, it is considered endangered due to the impact man has made on its habitat. The powerful owl is recognizable thanks to a deep call it makes. Another blue gum forest resident, the brush-turkey, aids the forest ecosystem by helping seed germination. The bird scrapes away fallen leaves, which in turn helps spread fallen seeds and fruits. The brush-turkey is also referred to as the bush or scrub turkey.
Marsupials
- The marsupial family includes the blue gum forest-dwelling swamp wallaby, which lives in the woodland undergrowth. The swamp wallaby's diet consists of many of the ferns and shrubs native to the blue gum forest. The sugar glider is a type of tiny possum that prefers to make its home in the hollows of trees. The sugar glider eats nectar as well as the sap of certain trees. It has a membrane it can stretch out that allows it to "glide" for short distances between trees. It is often spotted gliding through the forest canopy.
Insects
- The butterfly-like splendid ochre, also known as the Symmomus Skippe, is recognizable thanks to the pale spots located on its lower wings. This animal also has a combination of brown or orange and yellow coloring across its body. The splendid ochre is also found in other types of woodland and on the edges of rainforests. The blue gum psyllid settles on blue gum trees and sucks out the sap. It is one of a family that includes a variation that latches onto eucalyptus trees. These insects are typically brown and orange.

Animals & Science