After spending some time with Zoe the platypus in the southern rivers
region, Splash evaporates and gets blown northward by a stiff southern
breeze which takes cool air from the south up towards Australia’s
tropical north, a phenomenon known as the Southerly Buster. He falls
as rain during the tropical north’s wet season. There he meets
Chomp the crocodile, who is the icon for the northern rivers area of
the aquarium and is our guide through this region.
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| The rivers of the Far North face a number of environmental threats: |
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| Mining activities cause sedimentation and the introduction of heavy metals. |
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| Introduced species of fish and plants compete with native species for food, light, oxygen and space. |
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The rivers of northern Australia are affected by the
tropical seasons, providing a regularly changing habitat for a unique,
diverse group of animals, many of which are shared with Papua New Guinea.
From November to April monsoonal rains flood the flat coastal plains, but
for the rest of the year little rain falls and the upper reaches of some
rivers dry up completely. As flood waters recede in the dry season, salt
water travels upstream as far as 100 kms from the ocean. Most fishes and
other animals living in this environment are well adapted to changing salinity.
Two good examples of such salt adapted animals on display in the aquarium
are the barramundi, a large fish highly prized for both food and sport,
and Australia’s largest predator, the saltwater or Indopacific crocodile,
which is also the largest reptile in the world.
Some northern species are less salt adapted and are therefore restricted
to fresh water found in the far upper reaches of larger, permanent
rivers. The lungfish and saratoga on display are two such species.
What these fish also have in common is that their nearest ancestors
are found in South America and Africa, indicating that the ancestors
of these fish have been around since Australia was part of the giant
supercontinent called Gondwana, 140 million years ago.
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| Purchase your tickets online and save 10% off ALL admission prices! |
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When boating, don’t throw any waste overboard, and use pump out stations for toilet waste. Keep an eye on the boat motor for fuel or oil leaks and have them repaired as soon as possible.
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