Animals
Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby
Class: Mammal
Geographical Region: Australasia
- Distribution & Habitat
- Description & Behaviour
- Reproduction
- Diet
- Threats & Conservation
- Interesting information
One of our Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies
Distribution & Habitat
These wallabies inhabit rocky outcrops and caves in semi arid country. They were once found extensively in the Flinders Ranges, extending through north west NSW and south west Queensland in the Grey Ranges.
The total extent of occurrence for the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby today is approximately 1 000 km².
Description & Behaviour
Yellow-footed Rock wallabies are one of the most colourful members of the kangaroo family and the largest of the rock wallabies. They are also one of the most ancient, with the twenty-three existing species of rock wallabies evolving from just three species, one of which was the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby.
The yellow-footed rock wallaby can be distinguished from other wallabies by its strikingly yellow tail, which is held over the back when hopping for balance. When jumping from rock to rock they hold out their front limbs at right angles to their body, like a tightrope walker, to balance themselves once they land.
They may be seen early in the morning or late afternoon basking on ledges in the sun.
Reproduction
It has a gestation period of about 31 days and a pouch life of about 6 to 7 months. When the young leave the pouch they do not get in and out like other kangaroos but are left in a hiding spot while the mother forages at night.
The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby uses rocky outcrops with suitable crevices and ledges for breeding, and shelter is essential.
Diet
The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby was found to be an opportunistic feeder, eating grasses, forbs and browse, according to seasonal availability. They have to compete for food with rabbits and goats.
Generally grasses and herbs are eaten, with browse from saltbushes and trees being important in summer. They will drink if water is available but can survive for much of the year without drinking water by obtaining it from their food.
Threats & Conservation
The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Conservation Program is a superb example of conservation of threatened species. Click here to read more about what Zoos SA are doing to help the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby.
Interesting information
- This wallaby is also known as the ring-tailed wallaby.
- A group of wallabies is known as a mob.
- Australia's national rugby union team is known as The Wallabies and uses a green wallaby on a yellow background as its logo.
- "Freedom on the Wallaby” is a well known poem by Henry Lawson. It was written as a comment on the 1891 Australian shearers' strike. The "Rebel flag" referred to in the poem is the Eureka Flag that was first raised at the Eureka Stockade in 1854, above the Shearers' strike camp in 1891 and carried on the first Australian May Day march in Barcaldine on May 1, 1891.