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One of Australia’s most spectacular insects, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is among the country’s largest butterflies and is found only in the rainforests of Queensland and northern New South Wales.

With its striking colours and impressive size, this beautiful species has become a symbol of the unique biodiversity that makes Australia’s rainforests so special.

It is also a reminder that even some of our most iconic species can be vulnerable to environmental change.

Why it matters

The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly plays an important role in the health of rainforest ecosystems.

🦋 Adult butterflies feed on nectar from a wide variety of native and introduced flowering plants

🌼 They contribute to pollination and support the reproduction of many plant species

🌳 Their lifecycle is closely linked to the health of rainforest habitats

🌏 Their recovery is seen as symbolic of broader efforts to protect Australia’s unique biodiversity

As both pollinators and indicators of ecosystem health, Richmond Birdwing Butterflies highlight the importance of conserving interconnected natural systems.

Fun facts

🤓 The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly has a close relationship with the native Birdwing Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa), which is the sole food source for its larvae

🤓 The Birdwing Vine contains aristolochic acid, making the caterpillars toxic to vertebrate predators

🤓 Despite this defence, the caterpillars can still fall prey to other invertebrates, including other larvae

🤓 Adult butterflies prefer feeding on white and red flowers, including native frangipani, lilly pillies and hibiscus

A deeper reflection

The Richmond Birdwing Butterfly reminds us that no species exists in isolation.

Its survival depends entirely on the presence of a single native vine, demonstrating how deeply interconnected biodiversity can be.

Yet habitat destruction, climate change and the introduction of non-native plants have significantly restricted the butterfly’s range and placed increasing pressure on its future.

In a country with more than 600,000 native species, many found nowhere else on Earth, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly is a powerful example of why conservation is about protecting relationships between species as much as protecting individual plants and animals.

How we care for rainforests and native habitats today will determine whether future generations can continue to witness one of Australia’s most beautiful butterflies.

From Wonder to Action

Learn & understand

Explore how biodiversity, climate, and land systems are deeply connected through our workshops with People For Nature.

Create your Nature Oasis

Plant native species to restore habitat and support the insects, birds, and wildlife that depend on them.

Join citizen science

Record native species around you on iNaturalist and contribute to real conservation data.

(Special thanks to Simon Andrews, Ambassador for People For Nature, for helping shape this story)

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References:

Made famous by the animated film Finding Nemo, the Clownfish is one of the world’s most recognisable marine species and a fascinating example of the remarkable life found on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Also known as the Eastern Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion percula is a small, brightly coloured fish that lives among coral reefs and shallow lagoons, where it forms a unique partnership with sea anemones.

It is a reminder that some of nature’s most extraordinary relationships can be found beneath the ocean’s surface.

Why it matters

The Clownfish plays an important role in the health and functioning of coral reef ecosystems.

🐠 It forms a mutualistic relationship with sea anemones, with both species benefiting from the partnership

🧼 It helps provide nutrients to its host anemone and keeps it clean

🪸 It is part of the intricate web of relationships that support the biodiversity of coral reefs

🌊 It highlights the importance of healthy reef systems that sustain thousands of marine species

Through its relationship with sea anemones, the Clownfish demonstrates how interconnected life in the ocean truly is.

Fun facts

🤓  Clownfish can live safely among the venomous tentacles of sea anemones because they have a protective coating on their bodies

🤓  They live in groups organised around a dominant female

🤓  All Clownfish are born male

🤓  If the dominant female dies, the dominant male can change sex and take her place within the group

A deeper reflection

The Clownfish challenges the idea that survival in nature is always based on competition.

Its partnership with sea anemones shows that cooperation and interdependence are also powerful forces that shape the natural world.

Yet the future of this remarkable species is closely tied to the health of coral reefs, which are increasingly under pressure from coral bleaching, habitat loss and rising sea temperatures.

In a country with more than 600,000 native species, many found nowhere else on Earth, the Clownfish is a reminder that protecting biodiversity means protecting the relationships that sustain entire ecosystems.

How we respond to the challenges facing our oceans will shape the future of one of Australia’s most colourful and charismatic marine species.

From Wonder to Action

Learn & understand

Explore how biodiversity, climate, and land systems are deeply connected through our workshops with People For Nature.

Create your Nature Oasis

Plant native species to restore habitat and support the insects, birds, and wildlife that depend on them.

Join citizen science

Record native species around you on iNaturalist and contribute to real conservation data.

(Special thanks to Simon Andrews, Ambassador for People For Nature, for helping shape this story)

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References:

Australian Museum. Clown Anemonefish (Amphiprion percula).

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/clown-anemonefish-amphiprion-percula/ 

Found across much of Australia, the Banksia is one of the country’s most recognisable native plants, known for its striking flower spikes and distinctive woody cones.

With 173 species occurring across a wide range of habitats, from coastal regions and tropical areas to deserts and sub-alpine environments, the Banksia demonstrates the remarkable adaptability of Australian flora.

It is a reminder that Australia’s biodiversity is not only found in its animals, but also in the plants that support entire ecosystems.

Why it matters

Banksias play an important role in supporting wildlife and ecological health across Australia.

🌸 Their flowers provide food for birds, insects and other pollinators

🍂 Many species flower during autumn and winter when food resources can be limited

🌰 Their cones provide food for species such as cockatoos

🌿 They help support biodiversity across a wide range of Australian landscapes

Through these interactions, Banksias help sustain the complex relationships that keep ecosystems healthy and functioning.

Fun facts

🤓 There are 173 Banksia species and all but one occur naturally only in Australia

🤓 Banksias were named after Sir Joseph Banks, who collected the first specimens in 1770

🤓 Each flower spike is made up of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of tiny flowers

🤓 Indigenous people in south-western Australia traditionally enjoyed Banksia nectar and used flower spikes to make a sweet drink

A deeper reflection

The Banksia reminds us that plants are often the overlooked foundation of biodiversity.

While animals frequently capture our attention, native plants create the habitat, food and ecological connections that support life across entire landscapes.

Many Australian plant communities now face pressures from land clearing, habitat fragmentation, invasive species and a changing climate.

In a country with over 600,000 native species, most found nowhere else on Earth, the Banksia is a reminder that protecting biodiversity begins with protecting the ecosystems that sustain it.

How we care for native plants today will shape the future of the wildlife that depends on them.

From Wonder to Action

Learn & understand

Explore how biodiversity, climate, and land systems are deeply connected through our workshops with People For Nature.

Create your Nature Oasis

Plant native species to restore habitat and support the insects, birds, and wildlife that depend on them.

Join citizen science

Record native species around you on iNaturalist and contribute to real conservation data.

(Special thanks to Simon Andrews, Ambassador for People For Nature, for helping shape this story)

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References:

Australian National Botanic Gardens. Banksia.

https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/banksia.html 

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australian Government. Banksia Atlas.

https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/science-research/flora-conservation-research/banksia-atlas