Why The Funny Names?
Since these amazing animals originate in Papua New Guinea,
and the surrounding islands (as well as Cape York, Australia), I
thought it fitting for my animals to have Aboriginal names.  

Bunyip:  A devil or spirit that lurks in the swamps and riverbeds. They
devour anything in their path, but favorite prey is human women. (This
particular animal gave me a nasty bite the first time we met, so I thought it
fitting).
Makara:  The 'seven sisters' that eventually become the Pleiades.
Karora: Creator God that was born in a lake...Eventually went back into
the lake to sleep.
Gnowee: Solar goddess who lived on Earth before there was a sun.  
People used to carry torches only for light.  Her child wandered off, and she
spends the day looking for him, carrying a large torch.  Her torch is the sun.
Mokoi:  An evil spirit that killed sorcerers that used black magic.
Dilga:  An aboriginal goddess of fertility and growth.
Nerang: 'Little One'
Alinga: 'The Sun'
Ganan: 'From the west' (he came from Harlin Wall in Colorado....)
Manya: 'Small'
Yindi: 'Sun'
Miah: 'Moon'
Dural: 'Tree on fire'
Hanya: 'Stone'
Gidja: 'Moon god'
Narwee: 'Like the sun'
Kumba: 'Black Tree'
Kutya: 'Rotten'