BINGO!

To say the wildlife here is notable would be an understatement the size of the indigenous saltwater crocodile.  The creatures that roam Australia are like mutant versions of recognizable animals.  Alien beasts thrive here and they're specialized; the cutest animals, the killingest animals, the highest hopping, the strangest looking - the critters are the yearbook superlatives of zoology. 

Last night, driving along the 90 mile beach road looking for a motel (which there wasn't because despite our assumptions, not every beach town on earth is like the Jersey Shore) I completed Australian animal bingo when we nearly ran over a wombat with our shiny new Mitsubishi Lancer.

I'm not counting anything I've seen in captivity, so... I've got:
Koala
Kangaroo
Poisonous Snake (...)
Echindna
Wombat
Parrot
Black Swan
Wallaby

No dingos or emus yet, but I'm on the hunt.  The one I'd really heart to spot is a platypus (its got feet like a duck but its furry) but they're squirrely little guys. 

My heart gives out from a saccharin overdose:

Oh, and just FYI, Australians don't have a very self-deprecating sense of humor.  I haven't made a dingo-ate-my-baby-joke, but its not for lack of want.  I just don't think it would kill.  And while I'm dispelling myths from down under, Foster's is NOT Australian for beeeyah.  Served.