The Kuranda rainforest is home to one of the few remaining populations of the endangered Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).
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The wet schlerophyll forest, dominated by the huge straight trunks of Rose Gums (Eucalyptus grandis) and with a more open understorey, is home to a different range of animals. Among these, the Northern Bettong (Bettongia tropica) is one of the rarest and most endangered.
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The Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is one of two quolls, possum sized marsupial carnivores, found in Far North Queensland. This is the smaller of the two, weighing up to 900gm, while the Spotted Tail Quoll which is found in thick forest on mountains weighs as much as 7kg.
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Kuranda was once considered the butterfly capital of Australia. Australia’s largest butterfly, the female of the Cairns Birdwing, (Ornithoptera priamus euphorion) is common here, seeking out Aristolochia deltantha vines on which to lay her eggs.
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