Black wallaroo

Black wallaroo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Genus: Macropus
Species: M. bernardus
Binomial name
Macropus bernardus
black wallaroo range

The black wallaroo (Macropus bernardus), Bernard's wallaroo[1] or Woodward's wallaroo,[2] is a species of macropod restricted to a small, mountainous area in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, between South Alligator River and Nabarlek. It classified as near threatened, mostly due to its limited distribution.[3] A large proportion of the range is protected by Kakadu National Park.[1]

The black wallaroo is by far the smallest of the wallaroos as well as the most distinctive. It is sexually dimorphic, with the male being completely black or dark brown and the female a mid-grey colour. It is little known but is known to be a shy nocturnal grazer which does not gather in groups. It makes great use of the rocky escarpments where it lives to shelter itself and escape from danger.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Woinarski, J. (2016). "Macropus bernardus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T12620A21954187. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T12620A21954187.en. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  2. ↑ 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. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. 1 2 Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 118.


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