Mareeba rock kangaroo
| Mareeba rock kangaroo | ||||||||||||
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Mareeba rock kangaroo ( Petrogale mareeba ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Petrogale mareeba | ||||||||||||
| Eldridge & Close , 1992 |
The Mareeba rock kangaroo ( Petrogale mareeba ) is a species of marsupial from the kangaroo family (Macropodidae).
features
The fur of the Mareeba rock kangaroos is gray or gray-brown on the back and light gray on the belly. They have a light stripe on their cheeks, their paws and feet are dark, and the tail becomes darker towards the tip. As with most kangaroos, the hind legs are significantly longer and stronger than the front legs, the tail is long and muscular. Males weigh an average of 4.5 kilograms, making them slightly heavier than females who reach 3.8 kilograms.
Distribution and way of life
These kangaroos live in Australia . Their distribution area covers around 20,000 km² and is located in north-eastern Queensland . The species is named after the city of Mareeba . They inhabit rocky regions up to 1000 meters above sea level.
Little is known about their way of life. Like all rock kangaroos , they are nocturnal and should sleep in crevices or caves during the day. They feed on grasses and herbs.
Taxonomy
The first scientific description of the species was made during a revision of the genus Petrogale by the Australian zoologists Mark DB Eldridge and Robert L. Close in 1992.
Danger
The total population of the Mareeba rock kangaroos is relatively large and stable; no major threats are known. The IUCN lists them as “not at risk” ( least concern ).
supporting documents
- ↑ MDB Eldridge, RL Close: Taxonomy of Rock Wallabies, Petrogale (Marsupialia, Macropodidae). 1. A Revision of the Eastern Petrogale With the Description of 3 New Species. Australian Journal of Zoology 40 (6), 1992; Pp. 605-625. DOI: 10.1071 / ZO9920605
literature
- Ronald Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Information and illustration
- Petrogale mareeba onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 27, 2009.