Nail-tail wallaby

Nail-tail wallaby refers to Onychogalea, a genus describing three species of macropods, all of which are found in Australia. Related to kangaroos and wallabies, they are smaller sized species distinguished by a horny spur at the end of their tail. The northern nail-tail wallaby is still common in the northern part of Australia,[1] the crescent nail-tail is now extinct,[2] and the bridled nail-tail is considered rare and endangered, with probably fewer than 1100 mature individuals in the wild.[3] Nail-tail wallabies are smaller than many other wallabies.[4]

Nail-tail wallabies
Crescent nail-tail wallaby
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Subfamily: Macropodinae
Genus: Onychogalea
Gray, 1841
Type species
Macropus unguifer
Gould, 1841
Species
  • Onychogalea fraenata
  • †Onychogalea lunata
  • Onychogalea unguifera

Taxonomy

There are three recognised species of the genus Onychogalea, the nail-tailed wallabies, they are[5]

  • Onychogalea fraenata, the bridled nailtail, whose range and population has greatly declined since colonisation;
  • Onychogalea lunata, the crescent nailtail, warong, once abundant and widespread across the southwest and centre, the smallest species entered a rapid decline and became extinct;
  • Onychogalea unguifera the northern species, still extant in the Kimberley and Top End regions.

Description

A genus of Macropodidae, small and herbivorous species with a shy disposition. The earliest descriptions noted their elegant shape, graceful movements and beautiful markings.[6] Named for one of their general characteristics, the nail-tailed wallaby has a horny point two or three millimetres wide at the tip of the tail, an almost unknown characteristic for a mammal that has been compared to the bony spur of a lion's tail.[7][6]

References
  1. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources "Onychogalea unguifera", The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008
  2. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources "Onychogalea lunata", The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008
  3. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources "Onychogalea fraenata", The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008
  4. Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 124.
  5. Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 63. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  6. Gould, J. (1863). "Introduction". The mammals of Australia. 1. p. xxi.
  7. Thomas, O. (1888). Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London. p. 77.


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