Allied rock-wallaby

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Allied rock-wallaby[1]
Allied rock-wallaby on Magnetic Island, Queensland

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Genus: Petrogale
Species:
P. assimilis
Binomial name
Petrogale assimilis
Ramsay, 1877
Allied rock-wallaby range

The allied rock-wallaby or Weasel rock-wallaby (Petrogale assimilis) is a species of rock-wallaby found in northeastern Queensland, Australia. It forms part of the P. lateralis/penicillata species complex and is very similar to six other species of rock-wallaby found in this area; these include the Cape York rock-wallaby (P. coenensis), the unadorned rock-wallaby (P. inornata), the Herbert's rock-wallaby (P. herberti), the Godman's rock-wallaby (P. godmani), the Mareeba rock-wallaby (P. mareeba) and the Mount Claro rock-wallaby (P. sharmani).[3][4]

Description

Few features distinguish the allied rock-wallaby from its close relatives but each species lives in a different part of Queensland and northern New South Wales; where their ranges overlap slightly, there is some hybridisation. They all have upper parts that range from brown to grey, and paler underparts. They usually have a dark muzzle and a dark patch around the armpits. On the face is a pale cheek stripe, and across the hips is another pale stripe.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The allied rock-wallaby is

endemic to Queensland in Australia. Its range extends from Townsville to the Burdekin River, the Bowen River, Croydon and Hughenden, and includes Magnetic and Palm Islands. It occurs at elevations of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in rocky areas, both in woodland and in more lightly-treed areas, even when agricultural land is nearby.[2] Typical habitat is mountainous areas with cliffs, ledges, caves and rock piles.[4]

Behaviour

The diet comprises grasses and shoots of herbaceous plants, with up to thirty percent of the diet being browsed from bushes. They have a small home range during the wet season when food is readily available, but range much more widely during the dry season. While foraging, out-of-pouch young are often left hidden in rock crevices.[4]

The allied rock-wallaby is behaviourally

gestation period is about thirty days, the joey leaves the pouch at six to seven months and is fully weaned when nearly a year old.[4] Young adults may disperse over distances of two kilometres or so, and longevity is about seven years.[4]

Status

P. assimilis has a wide distribution in Queensland and is common within that range. The population trend seems to be stable and no particular threats to this species are known. For these reasons, the

fragmentation of habitat, competition from introduced grazing animals and changing practices for periodic burning.[4]

References

  1. OCLC 62265494
    .
  2. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40569A21954955.en
    . Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  3. ^ Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 130.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-643-10715-1
    .

Further reading

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Allied_rock-wallaby&oldid=1213914811"