It has been observed that one small, wooded hill in Canberra contains more ant species than exist in the whole of Great Britain. Because of our continent's long isolation from other land masses, many species of our flora and fauna are not found anywhere else. When a species is present only in one region or country and nowhere else it is said to be endemic to that place. Australia has a very high rate of endemism. Although 70 species of marsupial occur in South America, Australia has the largest number in the world, with about 144 species.
Monotremes are even more special, occurring only in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Both of these are almost entirely in Queensland, which therefore carries an immense responsibility in terms of global biodiversity. External sites are not endorsed by the Australian Academy of Science. The Australian Foundation for Science and the Science and Technology Awareness Program of the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources are also supporters of Nova . This topic is sponsored by an anonymous donor.