history associated with the Gondwanan landmass. They preserve unique, rare or superlative natural phenomena, formations or features of exceptional natural beauty – exceptional coastal scenery unusual in the world (and Australia) where tropical rainforest extends to white sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs just offshore; rugged mountain peaks and gorges with swiftly flowing rivers and spectacular waterfalls (e.g., Thornton Peak, Mossman Gorge, Roaring Meg Falls); extensive vistas of undisturbed forest and valleys. The Daintree rainforest contains important and significant habitats for conservation of biological diversity. Approximately 430 species of birds live among the trees. The primitive flowering plants Austrobaileya scandens and Idiospermum australiense are also endemic to the Daintree. However, The Daintree Region is home to a number of rare and endangered species, including the southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius) and Bennett's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus). Daintree Important Bird Area The Daintree Important Bird Area (IBA) is a tract of land that largely coincides with the northernmost part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Site. It encompasses, or overlaps, the Kalkajaka, Ngalba Bulal, Daintree, Mount Windsor and Mowbray National Parks. It has been identified as an IBA by BirdLife International because it supports a population of southern cassowaries. It also contains populations of the locally endemic tooth-billed and golden bowerbirds, lovely fairywrens, Macleay's, bridled, yellow-spotted and white-streaked honeyeaters, fernwrens, Atherton scrubwrens, mountain thornbills, chowchillas, Bower's shrike-thrushes, pied monarchs, Victoria's riflebirds and pale-yellow robins. See also Cape York Peninsula Forests of Australia Queensland tropical rain forests References External links Daintree Visitors Guide Visitor information about the Daintree Summary of the Daintree Rainforest Bugs & Butterflies of The Daintree Landforms of Far North Queensland Forests of Queensland Tropical rainforests of Australia Important Bird Areas of Queensland Tourist attractions in Far North Queensland