Mountain kangaroo
| Mountain kangaroo | ||||||||||||
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Mountain kangaroo ( Macropus robustus ) |
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| Macropus robustus | ||||||||||||
| Gould , 1841 |
The mountain kangaroo ( Macropus robustus ), also known by its English name Wallaroo , is a species of marsupial from the kangaroo family (Macropodidae). It is one of the kangaroo species best adapted to arid habitats.
description
The mountain kangaroo is slightly smaller than the giant kangaroo, but more clumsy. Its thick, shaggy fur is darker than that of most kangaroo species, it is dark gray on top, often almost blackish in color, the underside is lighter, the feet and the tail are often dark brown. As with most kangaroos, its physique is characterized by its strong hind legs, muscular tail and short front legs. Mountain kangaroos reach a head body length of 75 to 140 centimeters, a tail length of 60 to 90 centimeters and a weight of up to 36 kilograms, with males becoming significantly larger and heavier than females.
distribution and habitat
Mountain kangaroos are native to arid, mountainous regions across Australia , even the inhospitable central part of the country. However, they are missing in Tasmania . They can survive in areas with less than 400 mm of precipitation per year and sparse vegetation, but prefer rocky terrain that offers them shade.
Way of life
The way of life of these kangaroos is adapted to the hot climatic conditions of their habitat. They are crepuscular or nocturnal, during the day they sleep in the shade of caves or crevices. Sometimes they also dig themselves burrows in which they rest in an upright position. They inhabit an area of 120 to 280 hectares and are very true to their location. As a rule, they live solitary, but many animals can meet in rich feeding places. It is unclear whether they have a territorial behavior: Most kangaroo species do not know this; however, it is possible that the mountain kangaroo will at least defend its preferred roosting place against conspecifics.
food
Like all kangaroos, mountain kangaroos are herbivores, but they are adapted to a nutrient-poor diet to a greater extent than other species. Their diet includes scrub (spinifex), grasses and herbs. They meet most of their fluid requirements from food, so they can survive for two to three months without drinking. Your urine is highly concentrated, which minimizes fluid loss.
Reproduction
Mountain kangaroos do not have a set mating season; under favorable circumstances they can reproduce all year round. In times of severe drought, however, females do not become pregnant. The gestation period is around 32 days. As with many other kangaroo species, the birth is delayed: shortly after birth, the female mates again, but the newly created embryo only grows as soon as the old young animal is weaned or dies. In this way, they can ensure a rapid birth sequence.
The young spends its first eight to nine months of life in its mother's pouch. It is weaned at around one year and sexually mature at one and a half to two years. Their life expectancy can be up to 20 years.
threat
Mountain kangaroos are less affected than other species of kangaroo by the changes that Europeans have brought to Australia. Due to their remote habitats, competition for food from introduced sheep and other animals is only a minor problem. Only the population in the state of Victoria is threatened , which is isolated from the other distribution areas and exposed to a greater extent to the destruction of the habitat. In general, however, they are common and are not endangered species.
Systematics
Together with the black mountain kangaroo and the antelope kangaroo, the mountain kangaroo forms the group of mountain kangaroos within the genus Macropus .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Macropus robustus onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 11, 2009.