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Macropus eugenii
Habitat: Areas of dense vegetation with low trees and bushes, thickets, and around the outskirts of forests near the coasts
Diet: Primarily grazers, they mostly eat grasses
Reproduction: The gestation period of Wallabies lasts 25 to 28 days. Young are born at a rudimentary stage of development. After birth, the joey remains in the pouch for 8 to 9 months until it is physically fully developed. Weaning occurs at about 10 to 11 months. Macropus eugenii has only one offspring per birth; the newborn weighs less than 1 gram. The young reaches sexual maturity at 9 months if it is a female, and 2 years if its a male.
The members of this family have a unique reproductive pattern called embryonic diapause. This phenomenon is also known as "delayed birth" because embryonic development is temporarily postponed until the proper conditions are available. A female that is nursing a joey in her pouch may also have a dormant embryo in its uterus. Then, when the joey stops nursing, the embryo resumes its development.
Behavior: Male tammar wallabies can weigh up to 20 pounds, while females weigh approximately 15 pounds. Some tammar wallabies live in areas with little fresh water. They get enough moisture from salty sea plant juices, and can even drink seawater. They live in groups with a dominant male. In order to establish dominance they will use a variety of postures to both impress and intimidate their opponent. Dingos and raptors are the main predator of these animals.
Physical Description: Significant sexual dimorphism exists between the males and the females of this species, with males growing to be larger. The maximum recorded weight in males is 9.1 kg, while in females it is 6.9 kg. The body length is 59 to 68 cm in males and 52 to 63 cm in females. Both males and females are about 45 cm in height. The tails of males range from 38 to 45 cm and that of females from 33 to 44 cm.
Males have considerably larger forelimbs and wider claws than the females. Macropus eugenii is the smallest species of wallaby. It has a small head and large ears; the tail is long and thick at the base. The hind legs are larger than the forelimbs and specialized for leaping. This species has a gray to yellow belly and red legs. Like all marsupials, the female of this species has a pouch in the skin of the abdomen in which she nurses her young
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Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Fun Facts:
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Kangaroos and wallabies damage cereal crops, eat livestock food, drink stock water and destroy fences. In 1983 to 1984, the loss of sheep food due to kangaroo and wallaby consumption led to an opportunity cost that accounted for 51% of total agriculural losses. |
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Macropus eugenii is a very important animal in scientific research |
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These animals used to be hunted for meat and leather. |
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