Eastern wallaroo
| Wallaroo[1] | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Macropodidae |
| Genus: | Macropus |
| Species: | M. robustus |
| Binomial name | |
| Macropus robustus Gould, 1841 |
|
| Subspecies | |
 |
|
| Eastern wallaroo range | |
The eastern wallaroo (Macropus robustus robustus) also known as the common wallaroo or the hill wallaroo is part of the Wallaroo family (Macropus robustus). It is a large, variable species of macropod (same as the Kangaroo).
Many mistakenly believe that the eastern wallaroo and the euro are the same species, but they are actually two distinct sub-species. The eastern wallaroo (Macropus robustus robustus)—which is grey in colour—occupies the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and the euro (Macropus robustus erubescens)—rufous in colour—occupies land westward.
The photograph at right is a euro.
The eastern wallaroo is mostly nocturnal and solitary, and is one of the more common macropods. It makes a loud hissing noise and some subspecies are sexually dimorphic, like most wallaroos.[3]
There are four subspecies of the wallaroo:[1]
- M. r. robustus – Found in eastern Australia, males of this subspecies have dark fur, almost resembling Woodward's wallaroo (Macropus bernardus). Females are lighter, being almost sandy in colour.[3]
- M. r. erubescens – Found on covering most of its remaining range, this subspecies is variable, but mostly brownish in colour.[3]
- M. r. isabellinus – This subspecies is restricted to Barrow Island in Western Australia, and is comparatively small. It is uniformly reddish brown.[3]
- M. r. woodwardi – This subspecies is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and in a band running through Northern Territory. It is the palest subspecies and is a dull brown-grey colour.[3]
The eastern wallaroo as a species is not considered to be threatened, but the Barrow Island subspecies (M. r. isabellinus) is classified as vulnerable.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 65. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ a b Ellis, M., Menkhorst, P., van Weenen, J., Burbidge, A., Copley, P., Denny, M., Woinarski, J., Mawson, P. & Morris, K. (2008). Macropus robustus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ a b c d e Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 118.
[edit] External links
- Animal Diversity Web
- Sedgwick County Zoo on Wallaroos
- Photos at ARKive.
- Fourth Crossing Wildlife - The Wallaroo and the Euro
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