Geographic Range
Found only in northern Queensland, Australia (Strahan 1995).
- Biogeographic Regions
- australian
Habitat
Rock dominated terrain in northern Queensland, Australia (Strahan 1995).
- Habitat Regions
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- forest
Physical Description
Physically, Allied rock-wallabies have large hindfeet, reduced forepaws, and large hindlegs compared to their arms. They stand upright and move bipedally. The coloration may depend on surrounding rock color. They are usually gray-brown on the body with lighter brown underneath and on their appendages, and darker paws and feet. The tail has a brush that becomes darker in coloration towards the end (Strahan, ed. 1995).
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
- Mating System
- monogamous
Allied rock-wallabies are usually found in facultative, long-term, monogamous pairs, although females may have extra-pair copulations. They breed continously throughout the year, yet certain times seem to be more common (Spencer et. al 1997).
- Key Reproductive Features
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
As with other marsupials, birth occurs early in the developmental process. At birth, young crawl to a pouch. They stay in the pouch on the teat for roughly 180 to 231 days. Sexual maturity occurs at 23 months for males and 17.5 months for females (Delaney 1997b).
Lifespan/Longevity
The Allied rock-wallabies may live over seven years in the wild (Delaney 1997a).
Behavior
Their home ranges are elliptical in shape and occupy 9 to 11 hectares, with extension during the dry seasons, presumably to find more food. Size of the home ranges is not sexually dependent. Allied rock-wallabies have a shelter site, usually a rock overhang, where they stay during the daytime (Horsup 1994). They are excellent climbers (Grzimek 1972).
Communication and Perception
Food Habits
Members of this species use darkness as a cover or shelter when foraging. Breeding pairs have been known to eat together, and feeding individuals also seem to prefer to be near to others with whom they are not breeding (Horsup 1994).
Predation
They are seldom threatened by predators.
Conservation Status
This species of rock wallaby has fairly stable population numbers, rarely reaching low levels. A possible threat to the species is introduced predators during a drought (Delaney 1997a).
Additional Links
Contributors
Sean Maher (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ondrej Podlaha (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
- Australian
-
Living in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and associated islands.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- monogamous
-
Having one mate at a time.
- year-round breeding
-
breeding takes place throughout the year
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- internal fertilization
-
fertilization takes place within the female's body
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- social
-
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- folivore
-
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
References
Delaney, R. 1997. Population dynamics of the Allied Rock-wallaby *Petrogale assimilis*: Implications for conservation. Australian Mammalogy , 19: 199-207.
Delaney, R. 1997. Reproductive ecology of the Allied Rock-wallaby, *Petrogale assimilis*.. Australian Mammalogy , 19: 209-218.
Grzimek, B. 1972. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia . New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
Horsup, A. 1994. Home range of the allied rock wallaby Petrogale assimilis. Wildlife Research , 21 (1): 65-84.
Spencer, P., A. Horsup, H. Marsh. 1998. Enhancement of reproductive success through mate choice in a social rock, *Petrogale assimilis* (Macropodidae) as reavealed by microsatellite markers.. Behaviorial Ecology and Sociobiology , 43: 1-9.
Strahan, R. 1995. The Mammals of Australia . Chatswood, NSW, Aus.: Reed Book.