Carnivorous birds feeding on insects and some fish are found in these areas, including ibis, herons and egrets. Spoonbills are commonly seen eating algae and vegetable matter.

Due to the shallow and often ephemeral nature of this wetland habitat type, there are very few fish species typically found in it.

Reptiles that inhabit freshwater wetland habitats include the Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudchis porphyriacus), Arafura File Snake (Acrochordus arafurae, which is largely aquatic) and the Freshwater Snake (Keelback—Tropidonophis mairii). Turtles are usually found in small numbers. A range of frog species can also be found in this wetland habitat type.

A range of insects can be found in this wetland habitat type, including dragonflies, damselflies, mosquitoes and sandflies.

• Order Hemiptera
• Order Odonata
• Order Coleoptera
• Order Chironomidae

Zooplankton and microcrustaceans—microscopic aquatic fauna that graze on phytoplankton and detritus—can also be present.

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Coastal and subcoastal non-floodplain grass sedge and herb swamp – Fauna, WetlandInfo website, accessed 12 April 2025. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/aquatic-ecosystems-natural/palustrine/non-floodplain-grass-sedge-herb-swamp/fauna.html