Common Fauna - day

Common Name	Scientific Name	Use of Wetland
Waterboatmen	Corixidae	Occupy vegetation in slow moving waterbodies, feeding on mainly mosquito larvae
Dragonfly and Damselfly larvae	Odonata	Occupy wetlands for the laying of their eggs and through their juvenile stage. Juveniles prey on other small aquatic invertebrates
Water Scorpions	Nepidae	Occupy slow moving water bodies. Sit-and-wait predators that are not too well at swimming therefore without camouflage are easy prey themselves for large predators such as fish.
Freshwater mussels	Bivalvia	Known to filter mass amounts of water, spend their juvenile stage as a parasite on fish. This parasite stage allows the mussels to be transported to floodplain and wetland areas.
Freshwater shrimp	Paratya australiensis	Benefits from seasonal drying of wetlands and floodplains, breed once the water reduces
Yabbies	Cherax destructor	One of the few crustaceans that can survive drought. Able to aestivate while burying themselves deep in moist sediments
Murray cod	Maccullochella peeli	Rely on floods for successful recruitment of their young after breeding. Floods provide enough food to promote growth and development for the many thousands of eggs produced by this species.
Bony bream	Nemetotalosa erebi	This species utilises flooding periods to produce more offspring by increased spawning. Flooded areas are able to provide a plentiful food source to the large number of offspring.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Use of Wetland
Callop or Golden perch	Maquaria ambigua	Known to move great distances at the time of flooding. The rise in water level triggers the species to travel upstream to spawn.
Silver Perch	Bidyanus bidyanus	Found in slow-flowing, warm lowland rivers, the reproduction of this species is known to occur at times of increased flow. Their migration for this time is floodplain areas which provide suitable nursery habitats for their young.
Freshwater turtles	Chedlodina longicollis	All three species found in the river basin can be found on floodplains, feeding on the yabbies and insects. The long-necked turtle (in picture) is the only freshwater turtle species that prefers floodplains and that will intentionally seek these areas to feast.
Red-bellied black snake	Pseudechis porphyriacus	Found on the banks of wetlands and floodplains feeding on the large number of frogs. Also uses these waters to cool down their body temperature in warmer weather. Other species of snake can also be witnessed using this 'cooling' behaviour.
Eastern water skink	Eulamprus quyoii	Hunt for prey along the riverbed habitats of the floodplains and wetlands. Feeding on insects and other small animals that it is able to consume.
Gould's goanna or Sand monitor	Varanus gouldii	Utilising permanent riverbeds and semi-permanent floodplains for prey (such as insects, small mammals and other lizards)
Tree goanna or Lace monitor	Varanus varanus	Utilising permanent riverbeds and semi-permanent floodplains for prey (such as insects, small mammals and other lizards)
Emu	Dromaiidae	Constantly on the move, emus will follow resources across the landscape. Wetlands and floodplains provide a vast variety of food sources, such as insects and plant shoots, to keep this species regenerated

Common Name	Scientific Name	Use of Wetland
Ducks and relatives	Anatidae	Swans, geese, ducks etc. are common occupiers of floodplains and wetlands. The pacific black duck (in picture) is a versatile species being found in most waterbodies feeding on aquatic vegetation and crustaceans
Cormorants and Darters	Anhingas, Cormorants	Cormorants and darters, like other freshwater waterbirds, occupy floodplain and wetlands for their large populations of food sources such as fish, crustaceans and insects. The great cormorants (in picture) breeding is triggered by flooding
Pelicans	Pelicanidae	One of the most common wetland species, the pelican is an oppurtunistic species gorging itself on fish, crustaceans, turtles and anything other gourmet foods a wetland provides
Herons, Bitterns & Egrets	Ardeidae	The white-faced heron and alike family members, depend on the large population of prey such as insects and other fauna that are relied on for a food source. This species also relies on flooding for breeding
Ibises and Spoonbills	Threskiornithidae	Ibises and spoonbills are also well known wetland species. The common Australian White Ibis (in picture) prefers, along with a small number, floodplain habitats. Floodplains provide a large number of their favourite foods, crustaceans and mussels.
Hawks, Eagles & Kites	Accipitridae	Birds of prey, such as the family of hawks, eagles and kites will target floodplain sites for animals that utilise the temporary water bodies. The Wedge-tailed eagle (as pictured) preys on reptiles, mammals and other birds.
Coot, Rails and Native hens	Rallidae	Birds from this family rely on wetlands and floodplains as a food source and nesting site. The purple swamphen (as pictured) will nest on the margins of the wetlands amongst the reeds.
Pigeons and Doves	Columbidae	Pigeons and doves, such as the crested pigeon (as shown in picture), are commonly known for being an urban area bird. These birds can also be found in woodlands within close vicinity to water such as wetlands.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Use of Wetland
Cockatoos and Parrots	Cacatuidae, Psittacidae	Although they are not dependent on the food sources that wetlands provide feeding on seeds and berries, these species, such as the cockatiel, rely on wetlands and floodplains for breeding.
Kookaburras, Kingfishers & Bee-eaters	Alcedinidae, Meropidae	Relatives of the common kookaburra, the sacred kingfisher moves from the north of Australia to the south in spring time. These families use wetlands and floodplains as a breeding ground and food source.
Swifts, Swallows & Martins	Apodidae, Hirundinidae	Feeding on a variety of insects, these families thrive on the presence of wetlands and floodplains. The common welcome swallow (in picture) can be found in these areas in numbers feasting on the large insect populations.
Robins, Shrike-tits and Shrike-thrushes	Pomatostomidae Pachycephalidae	Family also includes whistlers. The common grey-shrike thrush can be found in wetlands feeding on the large populations of insects and frogs
Fantails and Flycatchers	Dicruridae	Including the common willie-wagtail (in picture). This family of birds are commonly found in woodland areas close to water. They feed on the large population of insects found in wetlands and floodplains
Honeyeaters, Miners & Wattlebirds	Meliphagidae	Nectar feeding birds such as the red-throated honeyeater (in picture), depend on the flowers and insects that produce this food source. These insects and flowering plants are found associated with rich areas such as floodplains
Magpies, Woodswallows & Mudnesters	Artamidae, Corcoracidae	The Australian magpie (in picture) and alike species will forage for insects in areas that provide shelter by trees and are abundant in numbers. Floodplains provide this favourable habitat.
Kangaroos	Macropus	Kangaroos can be seen grazing on the grasses that grow due to flooding and around wetlands. As the water retracts they are commonly seen feeding on these grasses. The eastern grey kangaroo (pictured) is one of the most common.