Pitjantjatjara words - Animals
Animals play an important role in Anangu Tjukurpa. One of our main ancestors, the Mala (rufous-hare wallaby) people, travelled to Uluru from the north and subsequently fled to the south and southeast (towards South Australia) to escape from kurpany, an evil dog like creature created and sent from Kikingkura (near the Western Australia border).
Actions of ancestral beings such as the mala and itjaritjari (marsupial mole) have important roles in forming the physical features of Uluru.
Blue-tongued lizard
An ancestral being
Anangu word: Lungkata
Sounds like: Loong-cart-ah
Dog/dingo
Anangu word: Papa
Sounds like: Pah-pah
Emu
The feathers and meat are used by Anangu
Anangu word: Kalaya
Sounds like: Kal-lay-a
Marsupial mole
An ancestral creature yet rarely seen as it lives almost entirely underground.
Anangu word: Itjaritjari
Sounds like: It-cha-ree-cha-ree
Perentie
The largest monitor lizard, a good food source.
Anangu word: Ngintaka
Sounds like: Nin-tar-ka
Poisonous snake
Western brown or king brown snake, highly venomous and not eaten, also an important ancestral being
Anangu word: Liru
Sounds like: Leer-oo
Rabbit
Anangu word: Rappita
Sounds like: Rap-ee-ta
Red-backed kingfisher
Anangu word: Luunpa
Sounds like: Loon-pa
Red kangaroo
An important food and material source (rear leg sinew used as binding for spears)
Anangu word: Malu
Sounds like: Mar-loo
Rufous hare-wallaby
A small wallaby with big ears and ginger fur. Mala are one of the most important ancestral creatures associated with Uluru
Anangu word: Mala
Sounds like: Mahr-la
Sand goanna
Anangu word: Tinka
Sounds like: Tin-kah
Spinifex hopping mouse
A small nocturnal marsupial
Anangu word: Mingkiri
Sounds like: Ming-keer-ree
Thorny devil
Anangu word: Ngiyari
Sounds like: Nee-ah-ree
Woma python
Woma python is a non-venomous, edible snake that is an important ancestral being
Anangu word: Kuniya
Sounds like: Koon-i-ya
