What are the main animals on the Australian Coast of Arms?

Coat of arms.


forgiven

namaste 

Kangaroo and Emu.

Why? They can't (easily) step backwards.

Thus, they represent Australia as a forward looking nation.

Something like that.

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 11:29am:

Kangaroo and Emu. Why? They can't (easily) step backwards. Thus, they represent Australia as a forward looking nation. Something like that.

Correct

Gnads wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 11:35am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 11:29am: Kangaroo and Emu. Why? They can't (easily) step backwards. Thus, they represent Australia as a forward looking nation. Something like that. Correct

No its incorrect.

The Kangaroo and Emu were selected because they are endemic to Australia and nothing to do with walking backwards.

The shield is held up by the native Australian animals the kangaroo and the emu, which were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, based on the fact that neither animal can move backwards easily.

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 12:44pm:

The shield is held up by the native Australian animals the kangaroo and the emu, which were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, based on the fact that neither animal can move backwards easily.

England granted Australia the coat of arms and the kangaroo and emu were selected due to them being endemic to Australia.
They were not selected due to them being less agile than other animals.


Quote:

King Edward VII first officially granted the first coat of arms to the Commonwealth of Australia, in a Royal Warrant on 7 May 1908.The first Coat of Arms was a simple shield of white and blue. On the shield was the cross of St George, with five six-pointed white stars along the cross and six small escutcheons (small shields) around the edge of the shield. The shield was supported by a kangaroo and an emu standing on a grassy mound and above the shield was the crest containing the seven-pointed gold star of Federation on a wreath of white and blue. The motto 'Advance Australia' was inscribed at the base of the grassy mound

Gnads wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 11:35am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 11:29am: Kangaroo and Emu. Why? They can't (easily) step backwards. Thus, they represent Australia as a forward looking nation. Something like that. Correct

Indeed.

The shield is held up by the native Australian animals the kangaroo and the emu, which were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, based on the fact that neither animal can move backwards easily.

Well the anti British Media Lefty Coat of Arms would have a Drop Bear & Mud Shark

Leroy wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 12:25pm:

No its incorrect. The Kangaroo and Emu were selected because they are endemic to Australia and nothing to do with walking backwards.

God damn, you are retarded.

Why do you think the America flag sewn on military uniforms is backwards?

Try not to think to hard on this one, Peeroy

Private Marla on General Knowledge. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The main animals are the lion, depicted twice, the black swan and the shrike.
The kangaroo and emu are merely supporters and must therefore take a lower order of importance to the animals that are representative of the States, all of which are considered equal.

Marla wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 2:28pm:

Leroy wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 12:25pm: No its incorrect. The Kangaroo and Emu were selected because they are endemic to Australia and nothing to do with walking backwards. God damn, you are retarded. Why do you think the America flag sewn on military uniforms is backwards? Try not to think to hard on this one, Peeroy

Only on the right shoulder, [depending on one’s perspective], on the left shoulder it is the reverse, so that from either side the flag is advancing.

Hope that helps.

<=====<<<                         kerrrrrr...THUNK!

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Our coat of arms:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Australia

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Strictly speaking the roo and the emu are not part of the arms, merely the supporters, the emu is doing the best that it can but the roo is lazy, not holding the shield with his right arm and leaning on it with his left.

Funny. Those two pictures.
Bottom one represents the Convicts who were sent here to build a better country than Britain as quiet achievers.
The top one represents the apathetic lazy winge Australia for Media America.
;D

Leroy wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 12:25pm:

Gnads wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 11:35am: greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 11:29am: Kangaroo and Emu. Why? They can't (easily) step backwards. Thus, they represent Australia as a forward looking nation. Something like that. Correct No its incorrect. The Kangaroo and Emu were selected because they are endemic to Australia and nothing to do with walking backwards.

It's about the fact that they cannot walk backwards therefore the only way they can go is forward. ::)

There are thousands of animals that are endemic to Australia.

These 2 were chosen for the reason of that inability to walk backward - so forward is the only direction - which is a good symbolic meaning for our Coat of Arms.

Are you truly that thick?

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 10:18pm:

Strictly speaking the roo and the emu are not part of the arms, merely the supporters, the emu is doing the best that it can but the roo is lazy, not holding the shield with his right arm and leaning on it with his left.

The Roo has 3 legs for support if you count the tail. :)

Leroy's right though. They were chosen just for endemic reasons. The coincidence of them not able to move backwards was a bonus after realisation. Pure fluke.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 3:35pm:

Only on the right shoulder, [depending on one’s perspective], on the left shoulder it is the reverse, so that from either side the flag is advancing. Hope that helps.

Dipshit can Google

Marla wrote on Aug 4^th, 2026 at 9:18am:

Dipshit can Google

Whereas Marla just knows things; even if they are wrong. 8-)

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2026 at 12:44pm:

The shield is held up by the native Australian animals the kangaroo and the emu, which were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, based on the fact that neither animal can move backwards easily.

I have seen footage of emus walking backwards. And kangaroos are known to hop backwards during their territorial fights. But, in general, both animals move forward most of the time. It is probably coincidental that they were chosen for the coat of arms and have that forward motion trait.

lee wrote on Aug 4^th, 2026 at 1:07pm:

Marla wrote on Aug 4th, 2026 at 9:18am: Dipshit can Google Whereas Marla just knows things; even if they are wrong. 8-)

Only  knows his  role as walter mitty

From Ai - "It’s mostly speculation, but it’s also a widely repeated story.

    For the official Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the Australian Symbols booklet says the kangaroo and emu were chosen as familiar, uniquely Australian native creatures found in almost all states and territories, and then adds that “some say” they were chosen because of a common belief that neither animal can move backwards easily—so even the official source frames the “can’t move backward” idea as secondary/folk belief rather than a confirmed design reason."

confirmed by - https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-symbols-booklet/national-symbols/commonwealth-coat-arms

Marla wrote on Aug 4^th, 2026 at 9:18am:

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 3:35pm: Only on the right shoulder, [depending on one’s perspective], on the left shoulder it is the reverse, so that from either side the flag is advancing. Hope that helps. Dipshit can Google

Not so, personal observation, whilst a guest of one of my former Battalion’s sister US units.

Gnads wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2026 at 11:06am:

Leroy wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 12:25pm: Gnads wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 11:35am: greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 2nd, 2026 at 11:29am: Kangaroo and Emu. Why? They can't (easily) step backwards. Thus, they represent Australia as a forward looking nation. Something like that. Correct No its incorrect. The Kangaroo and Emu were selected because they are endemic to Australia and nothing to do with walking backwards. It's about the fact that they cannot walk backwards therefore the only way they can go is forward. ::) There are thousands of animals that are endemic to Australia. These 2 were chosen for the reason of that inability to walk backward - so forward is the only direction - which is a good symbolic meaning for our Coat of Arms. Are you truly that thick?

Yes I'm that thick.

;D ;D ;D

lee wrote on Aug 4^th, 2026 at 5:06pm:

From Ai - "It’s mostly speculation, but it’s also a widely repeated story.     For the official Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the Australian Symbols booklet says the kangaroo and emu were chosen as familiar, uniquely Australian native creatures found in almost all states and territories, and then adds that “some say” they were chosen because of a common belief that neither animal can move backwards easily—so even the official source frames the “can’t move backward” idea as secondary/folk belief rather than a confirmed design reason." confirmed by - https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-symbols-booklet/national-symbols/commonwealth-coat-arms

Yeah the dingo and swan were first choice but several reports of dingo's running backwards through the bush and swans swimming backwards up the river made them ineligible.

Every thing can go backwards. Emu walks into dense bush, stops and stays there until dead...

The real reason is footie. Roos and emus do the kick, either foot, and deadly.