Best Australian wildlife apps of 2014

It’s easier than ever to become a wildlife expert, or help researchers study our animals and plants

By Matthew Ingles • Reading Time: 4 Minutes

WITH THE WORLD at your fingertips (or in your pocket) it is simple to become a wildlife expert. These apps are the best out there to help you identify Australian wildlife.

Depending on your needs you may benefit from a general or a more specific guide depending on your location (local, state or national) or group of animals (harmful creatures, birds, mammals or frogs). Either way, there’s an app that will suit your identification needs.

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Gaia Guide

The Gaia Guide is an online field guide that anyone can contribute to, with thousands of species described, including many high-quality identification photos. To use this app, you first need to register with the Gaia Guide website, select the guides you want to download and then download them to your mobile. You can search the species lists from the guides you downloaded, make identifications, and add photos, locations, times and other details about your sightings, which are then automatically uploaded to the Gaia Guide website for everyone to see. However there are costs for additional downloads though there are usually less than FREE* (with in app purchases, $2)

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iTunes

Google Play

OzAtlas

Funded by the Australian Government, The Atlas of Living Australia is a national initiative run by 17 organisations, to bring together rich information about Australia’s plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. This app allows you to retrieve lists of species recorded in an areas, and view details of the species such as distribution, scientific name, common name and images. It also allows users to submit species occurrence records with an image to the Atlas of Living Australia and view the latest images added to the Atlas. FREE

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iTunes

Google Play

DangerOZ

This app is specific to all the animals in Australia that can do you harm, with the ‘near me’ feature detecting what may be around you. It lists, and even ranks according to danger, 40 different dangerous species including snakes, sharks, spiders, crocodiles, insects and even some birds. FREE

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Google Play

Frogs Field Guide

The Frogs Field Guide is a great way to explore the unique frog fauna of Australia. This field guide allows you to browse comprehensive information about frogs including their calls and photographs. Use your current location to tell you what frogs would be nearby and keep a record of what you have seen with the ‘Frog Log’. FREE

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Google Play

Australian Mammals

A field guide to Australian mammals, use the app to record your own sightings, which can be uploaded to the web, along with photos of the species. This guide includes more than 200 species, while 163 have been omitted due to the lack of images. As a field guide this one is still in its infancy so make use of any updates available. FREE

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iTunes

Google Play


Australian Birds Guide

Data on Australian bird species are updated regularly, and users are encouraged to contribute to the quality of the app in terms of photos or species information. Photos and descriptions of bird species are found in the guide and the ability to record sightings of birds and their locations to keep track of what you see. Some birds are missing due to the lack of an available photos for the species, but will be included once a photo becomes available. FREE

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Google Play

WildlifeID Australia

Use the simple interface to easily find animals. Every search field is optional and should give the result you are looking for near the top of the results. If what you are looking for isn’t there you can ‘search similar’ and the search will be reconfigured to find animals that are most like the details you entered. However, there are no species distribution maps. This is more of an identification guide rather than an encyclopaedia on each species, but would be very helpful for beginners. PAID ($3.79)


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Google Play

Field Guide to Victorian Fauna

This app provides detailed descriptions of Victorian animals, maps of their distribution, and endangered species status, combined with breathtaking images and sounds. It features information on over 950 species including birds, fish, reptiles, insects and mammals in the terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments. This app is constantly updated with more species and descriptions are redefined over time. However, it is designed for newer devices and may crash on opening on some older models. FREE

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Google Play

Field Guide to New South Wales Fauna

Developed by the Australian Museum, this app allows the user to explore and identify thousands of different NSW species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and more. For each species there is a detailed species description including pictures, conservation status and maps of their recorded observations. FREE


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Google Play

Field Guide to Northern Territory Fauna

This app combines detailed descriptions with stunning images and sounds that can be used in urban, rural or coastal environments. With nearly 600 species from terrestrial, marine and freshwater systems, this is just a fraction of the diversity the Northern Territory offers, but with continued updates available more species will be added to the guide. FREE

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iTunes

Google Play

Field Guide to Australian Capital Territory Fauna

Each species profile has a detailed description, photographs, a distribution map and the endangered status of the animals. With more than 400 species this app will help you to identify anything in your backyard to your favourite national park. Continually updated to include new species. FREE

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Google Play

Field Guide to Western Australia Fauna

Holding more than 250 different species records marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats. For each species there is a detailed description, distribution maps, endangered species status and life images from their natural habitat. FREE

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Google Play

Field Guide to Queensland Fauna

With more than 560 species including birds, lizards, mammals, turtles and more. This app is a must-have for any budding naturalist in Queensland. With species descriptions, distribution maps, species status and images, you can learn all about your favourite Queensland animals. FREE

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iTunes

Google Play

Field Guide to South Australian Fauna

Learn about the biodiversity of South Australia, with descriptions of many mammals, reptiles, birds, insects and marine life. Though still missing many species, it is constantly updated with new species regularly. FREE

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iTunes

Google Play

Field Guide to Tasmanian Fauna

Featuring over 700 Tasmanian species, from those in rock pools, to the creatures of the bush. For every species is a detailed description and amazing photographs, with some species sounds for your reference. FREE

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Google Play