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| Red-necked Wallaby | ||||||||||||||||
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| Macropus rufogriseus ( Desmarest, 1817) |
The Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) is a medium-sized macropod, common in the more temperate and fertile parts of eastern Australia. As one of the largest wallabies, it can easily be mistaken for a kangaroo. Males can weigh more than 20 kg and attain a head-body length of 90 cm.
Red-necked Wallabies are distinguished by their black nose and paws, white stripe on the upper lip, and grizzled medium grey coat with a reddish wash across the shoulders.
Red-necked Wallabies are found in coastal scrub and sclerophyll forest throughout coastal and highland eastern Australia, from Rockhampton to the South AustraliaSouth Australia State flag ( In detail) Coat of Arms ( In detail) Capital Adelaide Governor HE Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann Area — Land — Marine — Total 983 482 km˛ 60 032 km˛ 1 043 514 km˛ Population (2002) Density 1 522 500 1. 55/km˛ Time zn border; in TasmaniaTasmania State flag ( In detail) Coat of Arms ( Full size) Capital Hobart Governor William Cox (Acting Governor) Premier Paul Lennon Area — Land — Marine — Total 68 401 km˛ 22 357 km˛ 90 758 km˛ Population(Sep 2003) Density 478 400 6. 92/km˛ Time zone UTC and on many of the Bass StraitBass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland ( Victoria in particular). It was discovered by Europeans in 1798 by Matthew Flinders and named after explorer George Bass. Approximately 240 km wide at its narrowes islands (although it is unclear which of the islands have native populations as opposed to introduced ones).
In Tasmania, north-east New South WalesNew South Wales NSW is Australia's most populous and oldest state, located in the southeast, north of Victoria. It was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland. During the 19th century large areas were successively separate and coastal QueenslandQueensland State flag ( In detail) Coat of Arms ( In detail) Capital Brisbane Governor HE Ms Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie Area — Land — Marine — Total 1 730 648 km˛ 121 994 km˛ 1 852 642 km˛ Population (2002) Density 3 729 000 2. 15/km˛ Time zone U, their numbers have expanded over the past 30 years because of a reduction in hunting pressure and the partial clearing of forest to result in a mosaic of pastures where wallabies can feed at night, alongside bushland where they can shelter by day. For reasons not altogether clear, it is less common in Victoria.
There is a small colony of Red-necked Wallabies on the island of Inchconachan , Loch LomondLoch Lomond (pronounced LOW-mond) is a Scottish loch (or lake) located in the western lowlands of Central Scotland. It is located in the administrative district of Stirling, and its southern shores lie approximately 14 miles north of Glasgow, the country' in ScotlandScotland or in Scottish Gaelic, Alba is a country and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom. Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland took part in a p. This was founded in 1975 with two pairs taken from Whipsnade Zoo, and had risen to 26 individuals by 1993. There were at one time small colonies in England, in the Peak District and in Ashdown Forest. These are now believed to be locally extinct, though unconfirmed sightings are still reported from time to time.
Like most macropods, the Red-necked Wallaby is largely solitary, although loose groups, known as mobs, often share common feeding areas. They feed at night and, particularly on dull days, in the late afternoon, generally grazing on grass and herbs close to forest shelter.
There are two subspecies. The Tasmanian form, Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus, also known as Bennett's Wallaby is smaller (as island species nearly always are), has longer, shaggier fur, and breeds in the late summer, mostly between February and April.
The mainland form, Macropus rufogriseus banksianus, breeds all year round. Interestingly, captive animals maintain their breeding schedules; Tasmanian females that become pregnant out of their normal season delaying birth until summer, which can be anything up to eight months later.