The blue-ringed octopus, shown in this photograph, is both beautiful and dangerous. The octopus has a venomous bite that has killed several people.
© Richard Merritt, FRPS/Getty Images

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

What has eight arms and a venomous bite? The blue-ringed octopus. The blue-ringed octopus is a kind of sea animal found in the tropical and subtropical waters of Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Australia, and south Japan. It is recognizable by its psychedelic spots that are ringed with bright blue. The bodies of most blue-ringed octopuses measure about 11/2 to 21/2 inches (4 to 6 centimeters) in diameter. They measure up to about 4 inches (10 centimeters) with their tentacles.

Blue-ringed octopuses like to hide under rocks or in crevices during the day, coming out during the night. Though they inhabit depths as far down as 160 feet (50 meters), you don’t want to get caught near their parrotlike beaks. Sometimes, they bite people. The venom from their salivary glands then enters the wound. Several people have died from bites by these animals. The bite is often painless. A small spot of blood on the skin when the animal is removed may be the only clue that a bite has been sustained. The first effect of the venom is a rapidly developing numbness. Victims often stop breathing, requiring mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Treatment is the same as for snakebite. No specific antidote is available.

The blue-ringed octopuses belong to the genus Hapalochlaena.

Mary Reibey, Australian convict and merchant
State Library of New South Wales

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Mary Reibey was a famous woman convict in the history of Australia. A convict is a person found guilty of a crime. From 1787 to 1868, more than 162,000 convicts were sent from Britain (now the United Kingdom) to colonies in Australia. In Australia, Reibey became a successful merchant and trader.

Reibey’s parents died when she was young, and she was sent to live with her grandmother. At the age of 13, Reibey ran away from home. She dressed as a boy and gave her name as James Burrow. She was arrested for stealing a horse and sent to Australia for seven years. In 1794, at the age of 17, she married Thomas Reibey, an Irish trader with the East India Company. The Reibeys lived together along the Hawkesbury River near Sydney, New South Wales. Thomas was granted land and founded a trading estate named Entally House.

Reibey was born Molly Haydock on May 12, 1777, in Bury, near Manchester, England. Little is known about her childhood before she ran away. After her arrest, she arrived in Sydney on the Royal Admiral, a trading ship that also transported convicts, in 1792. She worked for two years as a nursemaid for Major Francis Grouse, the English lieutenant-governor of New South Wales, before marrying Thomas Reibey.

The Reibeys’ business interests expanded to include multiple farms and a cargo business. When Thomas died in 1811, Mary assumed all responsibility for the businesses. Mary had experience managing the businesses while Thomas was absent from Sydney for months on trips. She became known as a community role model and prosperous businesswoman. She was also respected for her interest in education and the church.

Mary invested in Sydney by building in Macquarie Place. In 1825, she was appointed one of the governors of the Sydney Public Free Grammar School, an early college-preparatory school. She expanded the family business and eventually retired in 1828. In 1835, Mary built a cottage outside Hunters Hill, New South Wales. She later built a house in Newtown, Sydney, where she died from pneumonia in 1855. Reibey is featured on the Australian 20-dollar note.

Lauren Jackson shoots a free throw during the Seattle Storm 66-53 victory over the San Antonio Silverstars at Key Arena.
Credit: © Andrew Fredrickson, Southcreek Global/ZUMA Press/Alamy Images

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson was named to the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Jackson is one of the greatest players in the history of women’s basketball. Jackson has been an Olympian and WNBA champion. She was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

Jackson played both the center and forward positions. She stands 6 feet 5 inches (195 centimeters) tall. Jackson won many Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in both Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) of the United States. She led three professional teams to a number of titles and helped Australia win a world championship.

Lauren Elizabeth Jackson was born on May 11, 1981, in Albury, New South Wales. Her mother, Maree, was a superstar player for the Australian national women’s basketball team, and her father, Gary, was a skilled role player on the men’s national squad. At the age of 15, Lauren won a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). She helped lead the 1998-1999 AIS team to the WNBL title. She led the WNBL’s Canberra Capitals to the championship the following season.

In 2001, the Seattle Storm made Jackson the first pick in the WNBA draft. She played 12 seasons for the Storm, winning MVP awards in 2003, 2007, and 2010. She also won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2007. The Storm won league titles in 2004 and 2010. Jackson returned to the WNBL for several seasons, leading the Capitals to additional titles at the conclusion of the 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2005-2006, and 2009-2010 seasons. She won MVP awards in 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2004. In four appearances at the Olympic Games, starting in 2000, she led the Australian women’s team to three silver medals and one bronze medal. Jackson won a World Championship in 2006 with the Australian national team and won EuroLeague championships with the Russian squad Spartak Moscow Region in 2008 and 2009 and with the Spanish team Ros Casares Valencia in 2012. She also played seasons in China and Korea. Jackson played her last WNBA game in 2012 and retired from professional basketball in 2016.

A memoir, My Story: A Life in Basketball and Beyond, was published in 2018. In 2019, she was selected as the head of women in basketball for Basketball Australia, the country’s governing body for the sport.

Tawny frogmouth
Credit: © feathercollector, Shutterstock

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

The tawny frogmouth is not actually a frog. It’s actually a bird of Australia known for its wide, froglike mouth and heavy, triangular bill. The tawny frogmouth has a stout body. With round, striking, yellow eyes, it is sometimes mistaken for an owl. It is actually a member of the nightjar family. The tawny frogmouth is found throughout Australia, including Tasmania. It prefers open woodlands but lives almost anywhere there are trees, including urban and suburban parks and gardens.

The tawny frogmouth measures 13 1/2 to 21 inches (34 to 53 centimeters) in length, with males larger than females. The bird has silver-gray feathers streaked and mottled with black and reddish brown. Its bill is dark, and its eyes are yellow. During the day, the tawny frogmouth perches on low tree branches and blends into the bark. If one is startled out of sleep, it straightens its body to resemble a branch. This is called stumping. 

The tawny frogmouth is nocturnal (active at night). During the daytime, it perches on low branches, relying on its coloration for camouflage. At night, it hunts insects and other small invertebrates (animals without backbones), snatching up its prey in its big mouth. The bird is also known to eat small mammals and reptiles, frogs, and other birds. Such animals as carpet pythons and foxes eat tawny frogmouths.

Tawny frogmouths mate for life. They breed from August to December, often following seasonal rains. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs in a nest of loose sticks. The eggs take about 30 days to hatch. Both the male and the female incubate the eggs and feed the young. The young are ready to leave the nest after about a month. Tawny frogmouths can live up to 14 years in the wild.

Emma McKeon of Australia competes during the women’s 100m butterfly final of the swimming competition at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021.
Credit: © Du Xiaoyi, Xinhua/Alamy Images

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Finishing her latest latest Olympic run with seven medals, Emma McKeon became the most decorated swimmer at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian swimmer went home with four gold medals (breaking three Olympic records and one world record) and three bronze. In the 400-meter medley relay, Australia set an Olympic record with 3 minutes and 51.6 seconds, and McKeon achieved her seventh medal in Tokyo, becoming the first female swimmer to win as many in one Olympic Games. Only the male swimmers Matt Biondi, Michael Phelps, and Mark Spitz have taken home seven or more medals in a single Games. Seven also tied gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya for the record female Olympian medals in one Games. McKeon had previously won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Her wins make her the most decorated Australian Olympian ever.

McKeon was born May 24, 1994, in Wollongong, New South Wales. Her parents, Ron and Susie, were both competitive swimmers. Ron competed in the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics and Susie competed in the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Emma’s brother, David, swam for Australia in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. McKeon first competed internationally in 2010, winning silver and bronze medals at the 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Championship in Hawaii. That year, she also won gold as a part of the 400-meter medley relay at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, McKeon won gold for the 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter medley relay, and 800-meter freestyle relay. At the 2016 Olympics, McKeon won gold for the Women’s 400-meter relay, placed silver in the 800-meter freestyle relay and 400-meter medley relay, and won bronze in the 200-meter freestyle.

Following the 2016 Olympics, McKeon spent time focusing on strength training in order to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2018, McKeon won eight gold medals, four at the Commonwealth Games and four at the Pan Pacific Championship in Tokyo. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, McKeon won gold in the 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, and 400-meter medley relay. She won bronze in the 100-meter butterfly, 800-meter freestyle relay, and the 400-meter mixed medley relay. In addition to competitive swimming, McKeon and her brother host swimming clinics at McKeon’s Swim School in Unanderra, New South Wales.

Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus
Credit: © Stefan Wermuth, Reuters/Alamy Images

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

In just 1 minute and 53.5 seconds, rising star Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus broke the Olympic record for the Women’s 200-meter freestyle competition. She won two gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. (The games were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Titmus defeated her American rival Katie Ledecky, winning her second gold in the Women’s 400-meter freestyle competition.

Titmus has enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Ledecky. Titmus first defeated Ledecky at the 2019 World Championships in South Korea. Her win in the 400-meter freestyle in Tokyo also marked the first time since 2013 that Ledecky had lost that event.

Titmus was born Sept. 7, 2000, in Launceton, Tasmania. She began swimming at age 7, and at age 14 her family relocated to Brisbane, Queensland, to further her training.  A year later, in 2016, Titmus became a member of the Australian Dolphins national swim team. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Titmus won silver in the women’s 200-meter freestyle and won gold for the women’s 400-meter freestyle, women’s 800-meter freestyle, and as a member of the Australian women’s 800-meter relay team. She also set a world record in the 400-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championship in 2018 in Hangzhou, China.

Stephanie Gilmore of Australia made a splash on her country’s team in the surfing event.
Credit: © Louis Lotter Photography/Shutterstock

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Washing up to the shores of Tsurigasaki Beach in Japan is a brand new Olympic event—surfing. The sport made its first appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Representing Australia is the professional surfer Stephanie Gilmore. Gilmore qualified to join the Australian surfing team, called the Irukandjis, for the 2020 Summer Olympics Games. Gilmore dropped in on a poor wave during the women’s surfing event. She was eliminated in the third round on July 26, 2021.

Gilmore has won the Association of Surfing Pros World Title seven times. She has tied the Australian surfer Layne Beachley for most women’s surfing world titles. Gilmore is also known as an activist for equal pay and opportunity for women surfers. Critics have noted her effortless, feminine style.

Stephanie Louise Gilmore was born Jan. 29, 1988, in Murwillumbah, in the northeast of New South Wales, Australia. She began surfing around the age of 10. She started competing in 2005 at the age of 17 as a wild-card competitor. A wild-card competitor is an individual who participates in a competition without qualifying. In 2007, her rookie year as a professional surfer, Gilmore won the world title at the Billabong Pro tournament in Hawaii. She went on to win the world title in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018. In August 2010, at the age of 22, Gilmore became the youngest person inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame.

In December 2010, Gilmore was attacked outside her home in New South Wales, resulting in a broken wrist and head injury. Her early success, the attack, and her comeback to surfing were the subject of the documentary motion picture Stephanie in the Water (2014).

Australian tennis player Ash Barty
© Oleksandr Osipov, Shutterstock

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Many tennis players spend their careers in pursuit of the legendary Wimbledon. Considered tennis’s most prestigious championship, the tournament has inspired athletes, children, and even a romantic comedy. The latest player to earn the coveted title of Wimbledon champion is Ash Barty, a woman of indigenous Australian descent.

In 2021, Barty won the Wimbledon singles title. Barty is a talented Australian professional tennis player. Barty is a versatile right-handed player with an excellent serve. She has won a number of singles and doubles titles.

Barty’s first grand slam event win came in doubles at the 2018 US Open (with partner CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States). The grand slam consists of the Australian, French, and US Open tournaments, and the All-England (Wimbledon) Championships. Barty won her first grand slam singles title at the 2019 French Open, after which the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranked her as the top singles player in the world. Barty became only the third Australian woman to achieve a number one ranking. Evonne Goolagong Cawley briefly held the WTA top slot in 1976, and Margaret Court was named number one several times in the 1960′s and 1970′s, before the WTA began releasing its rankings.

Ashleigh Barty was born on April 24, 1996, in Ipswich, Queensland. She began playing tennis at age five, reaching professional status in 2010 at age 14. In 2011, Barty won the girls’ singles title (for players aged 14 through 17) at Wimbledon, in England. She joined the WTA Tour in 2012 but quit tennis in 2014 to play semi-professional women’s cricket. Barty returned to tennis in 2016. She won her first WTA title at the Malaysian Open in 2017.

Barty’s family has roots among the Ngarigo Indigenous people. In 2018, she was named National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador by Tennis Australia, the country’s governing body for the sport. In 2020, Barty was named Young Australian of the Year for her achievements.

Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons during the NBA London Game 2018 at the O2 Arena, London.
Credit: © Simon Cooper, PA Wire/Alamy Images

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Ben Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player. Though he showed talent in many sports, Simmons came to the United States in high school to excel in basketball. He is now a talented guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Simmons became the second-fastest player in the league to make 1,000 assists, 2,000 points, and 1,000 rebounds. He also ranks among the league’s tallest point guards at 6 feet 10 inches (208 centimeters). That is taller than the average door! Can you imagine ducking every time you walk into a room?

Simmons has played for the Philadelphia 76ers since the start of his professional career. He is known for his outstanding passing and defense. Simmons won the Rookie of the Year award for his play in the 2017-2018 NBA season. In 2019, he became the first Australian selected for the NBA’s All-Star game. He was again named an All-Star in 2020 and 2021.

Benjamin David Simmons was born in Melbourne, Australia, on July 20, 1996. His father, Dave Simmons, was an American who starred in Australia’s National Basketball League. As a youth, Ben gained notice for his skill in rugby and Australian Rules football, as well as basketball. In 2012, his Australia team finished second in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Under-17 World Championship. The following year, Simmons moved to Florida to complete high school and play against elite competition. He starred at Louisiana State University during the 2015-2016 college season. The 76ers selected him as the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft.

Soon after being drafted, Simmons broke a bone in his foot, forcing him to miss the 2016-2017 NBA season. During his debut 2017-2018 season, he averaged about 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. Simmons was selected to his first NBA All-Star Team for his play in the 2018-2019 season. He led the league in steals per game during the 2019-2020 season and was named to the All-Defensive First Team.

Bandy-bandy © Ken Griffiths, Shutterstock

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

The bandy-bandy is a small Australian snake known for its striking black and white stripes. There are several species (kinds). When threatened, a bandy-bandy may raise its body off the ground in hypnotizing loops, perhaps to intimidate or confuse predators. For this reason, it is also known as the hoop snake. 

When the serpent is on the move, its pattern of  black and white bands may confuse and dazzle predators. Zebra stripes may serve a similar function. The stripes confuse predators as to which direction the snake is moving, allowing it to make a quick escape. This trick is sometimes called “flicker fusion.”

The bandy-bandy lives throughout northern and eastern Australia. It lives in a variety of habitats, from coastal rain forests to woodlands, scrublands, and even deserts. Bandy-bandies are burrowing snakes, often found sheltering under rocks or logs. The snakes emerge at night to hunt for prey.

The bandy-bandy may feed largely or exclusively on smaller snakes called blind snakes. It has a weak venom that is not thought to be dangerous to people. Owls, cats, foxes, and larger reptiles may prey on bandy-bandies.

The female bandy-bandy lays from 2 to 15 eggs. Adults reach 24 inches (60 centimeters) in length.