Kingdom Animalia Subclass Marsupialia Family Macropodidae Scientific name Petrogale xanthopus Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Diprotodontia Genus Petrogale Higher classification Rock-wallaby | |
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Similar Rock‑wallaby, Whiptail wallaby, Agile wallaby, Bridled nail‑tail wallaby, Bennett's tree‑kangaroo | ||
The yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus), formerly known as the ring-tailed wallaby, is a member of the macropod family (the marsupial family that includes the kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, and wallaroos).
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Description
The yellow-footed rock-wallaby is grey to fawn-grey above and light-coloured below with a black mid-dorsal stripe from the crown of the head to the centre of the back. There is a distinct white cheek stripe, with ears ranging in colour from orange to grey-brown. The forearms and hind legs are bright yellow to rich orange to a light orange-brown.The tail is orange-brown irregularly ringed with dark brown and golden-brown, with the colour of the tip variable from dark brown to white. The head and body length is 480-650 mm (usually 600 mm), with tail length 570-700 mm (usually 690 mm), and weight 6-11 kg.
Distribution and habitat
This species of rock-wallaby is found in western New South Wales, eastern South Australia and isolated portions of Queensland. It is not typically found near human habitation, instead preferring rough terrain and rock outcroppings.
Subspecies
There are two recognised subspecies.
Conservation
Previously the species has been killed in large numbers for its pelt, primarily through the period between the 1880s and 1920s.
The yellow-footed rock-wallaby was originally known and described from specimens from South Australia. The species was subsequently discovered in New South Wales (and Queensland) where it was first recorded in 1964 in the Coturaundee Ranges, now part of Mutawintji National Park. The two small mountain ranges in the far west of the state are still the only known places where the species survives in New South Wales.
In 1979, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife purchased 100 square kilometres of this land, which then became Coturaundee Nature Reserve, for the conservation and protection of the yellow-footed rock-wallaby. Further funds were allocated to fox and goat eradication. Annual surveys of the area, which is now part of Mutawintji National Park, indicate that the population is now recovering, seemingly having grown progressively since 1995, with at least one large fluctuation due to rainfall changes noted. The recovery strategy that saved the yellow-footed rock-wallaby initially served as a model to preserve other rock-wallabies including the brush-tailed rock-wallaby from extinction.