Short-eared rock-wallaby
Short-eared rock-wallaby[1] | |
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Short-eared rock-wallaby in Kakadu National Park | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | Macropodidae |
Genus: | Petrogale |
Species: | P. brachyotis
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Binomial name | |
Petrogale brachyotis (Gould, 1841)
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Subspecies | |
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Short-eared rock-wallaby range |
The short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis) is a species of rock-wallaby found in northern Australia, in the northernmost parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is much larger than its three closest relatives, the eastern short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale wilkinsi), the nabarlek (Petrogale concinna) and the monjon (Petrogale burbidgei).[3]
Taxonomy
The species was described by John Gould in 1841.
In 2014 a genetic and morphological study identified a separate species, the eastern short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale wilkinsi), previously thought to be P. brachyotis. It occurs in the Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, weighs less, and has stronger markings and colouring.[4]
Prior to a revision of the genus in 2014, a number of subspecies had been recognised.[1] A tentative arrangement of two subspecies were proposed in that revision, identifying a taxon that may be a third species as the subspecies Petrogale brachyotis victoriae.[5]
Description
A species of
Prior to its revision, the generalised description for the species Petrogale brachyotis (
The nominate subspecies bases its description of a specimen collected at Hanover Bay.
There is a second subspecies, described by four specimens of a population that may be elevated to species rank after examination of more material. The holotype of Petrogale brachyotis victoriae was obtained in 1974 at Lobby Creek in the "Bradshaw" region of the Northern Territory. The population is only known from collections made near the Victoria River, inspiring the authors to propose that name as the taxon's epithet.[5]
Behaviour
The short-eared rock-wallaby is a gregarious vegetarian, found in rocky hills and gorges. It is variable in its appearance but is generally grey-brown with white areas around its face and legs. It is not considered threatened.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Petrogale brachyotis has a patchy occurrence within a wide distribution range, extending west from the border of Queensland and the Northern Territory through the Top End to the Windjana Gorge in northwestern Australia. The range inland is limited to areas of rainfall above the 600 mm
In Aboriginal language and culture
Speakers of
Conservation
The IUCN Red List notes the conservation status of the species was assessed as least concern in 2015. The trajectory of the population is not known. Local extinctions are known to have occurred in the southern range in the Northern Territory, the subpopulation in Western Australia has not been historically surveyed. Altered fire regimes may detrimentally affect local populations of the species, and the IUCN advisory group recommends study of the effect of this and other factors on this poorly monitored species.[2]
References
- ^ OCLC 62265494.
- ^ . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ a b Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 126.
- The Australian Museum. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ S2CID 84985950.
- ^ ISBN 9780195573954.
- ^ Garde, Murray. "badbong". Bininj Kunwok dictionary. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ISBN 1862543062.