G'day ABC Science subscribers! It's ABC Radio National science editor Jonathan Webb here with a special National Science Week edition of our newsletter.
 

Here's a short question with a long answer: What makes an icon?
 

The kangaroo and the emu who stare down haughtily (or is that just a bemused look?) from Australia's coat of arms. Reportedly they were chosen because they were big enough to hold a shield, and can't walk backwards; "Advance Australia" being the message.
 

Other familiar icons from our coins, postcards and picture books are creatures like the koala, platypus, kookaburra, echidna or frill-necked lizard.
 

But are these our most significant animals? Or just the lucky winners of a sort of prominence pinball, preferred by accidents of history, cultural biases and the very human tendency to love things that are cute and furry?
 

This Science Week, the ABC Science wanted to create a new Aussie icon.
 

We put the word out to you, our readers and listeners, as well as to wildlife experts and conservation groups, asking for suggestions. Then we compiled a list of 10 animals which we thought were a) amazing and b) underrated — then asked you to cast your votes.
 

Some of these creatures are relatively well-known but not as widely loved, or well understood, as wallabies or wombats. Think the mighty dugong, or the incredible, but decidedly slimy, short-finned eel.
 

Others are emerging, blinking, into the national spotlight from relative obscurity: the voracious velvet worm, for example, or the delightfully toilet-trained great desert skink.
 

Jessica Mauboy voted velvet worm. G Flip overlooked their fellow drummer the palm cockatoo and ticked turtle frog. Annabel Crabb couldn't go past the cuttlefish.
 

But today is the day, after a total of 66,572 votes, when we crown the champion! And a worthy winner it is too:
 

The rakali, our native water rat, is officially Australia's most underrated animal.
 

This hardy specimen is "more than a rat", in the words of my wonderful colleague Dr Ann Jones.
 

"The rakali is the quintessential underrated Aussie animal. It's widespread but secretive, it is fluffy but a kick-arse fighter … and its very presence repels introduced black rats out of its territory."
 

We've been genuinely thrilled with how people have responded to this initiative. Thank you to everybody who shared their views and cast their votes!
 

Below you'll find a list of some of the surprising stories we've told in the past two weeks; there are things to read, listen to and watch.
 

And next time you're thinking about noteworthy Aussie icons … remember the rakali.
 

Happy National Science Week everyone!
 

PS. If you have feedback, fun science photos or something else you want to tell us about, send us an email. 
 

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The fantastic water rat — the rakali — takes the win in our poll for Australia's most underrated animal this National Science Week. Find out how it all went down.

Many marsupials have become Aussie icons, such as kangaroos, koalas and wombats, yet we still need to pay more attention to this amazing group of animals, experts argue.

There is growing momentum in Australia's conservation planning to incorporate First Nations knowledge into the management of culturally significant species such as the great desert skink. 

We teamed up with photographers to find out how to use a smartphone to take wildlife images, snap tiny creatures, and catch birds in action.

The world's largest health study of dugongs in Moreton Bay provides critical clues for helping conserve the enigmatic marine mammal, especially in other locations where numbers are falling.