Antilopine kangaroo

Antilopine kangaroo[1]
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Genus: Macropus
Subgenus: Osphranter
Species: M. antilopinus
Binomial name
Macropus antilopinus
(Gould, 1842)
Antilopine kangaroo range

The antilopine kangaroo (Macropus antilopinus), sometimes called the antilopine wallaroo or the antilopine wallaby, is a species of macropod found in northern Australia: in Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, the Top End of the Northern Territory, and the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is a locally common, gregarious grazer.[3]

The name antilopine means antelope-like. The antilopine kangaroo is sometimes referred to as the 'antilopine wallaroo', but in behaviour and habitat is more similar to the red and grey kangaroos.

The antilopine kangaroo is one of a few macropods to display sexual dimorphism, with the male being mostly a reddish colour above, and females being considerably greyer. It is one of the largest macropods, being only slightly smaller than the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus).[3]

References

  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). "Order Diprotodontia". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 63–64. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Woinarski, J.; Ritchie, E. & Winter, J. (2008). "Macropus antilopinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 110.


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