Parmawallaby
| Parmawallaby | ||||||||||||
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Parmawallaby with young animal in Salzburg Zoo |
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| Macropus parma | ||||||||||||
| Waterhouse , 1846 |
The Parma Wallaby or Parma Kangaroo ( Macropus parma ) is a species of kangaroo from the subgenus of Wallabies ( Notamacropus ). The species, which is one of the smallest representatives of the wallabies, had been thought to be extinct for several decades before it was "rediscovered" in the 1960s.
features
Parma whale babies are among the smallest representatives of the kangaroos, they reach a head body length of 45 to 53 centimeters and a tail length of 40 to 55 centimeters. The weight varies between 3.2 and 5.9 kilograms, with the males becoming significantly larger and heavier than the females. As with most kangaroos, the hind legs are significantly longer and stronger than the front legs. Their fur is reddish or gray-brown on the upper side, the underside is light gray. Characteristic are the white throat, a white stripe on the cheeks and a dark stripe on the back.
distribution and habitat
Parma whale babies inhabit a small area in the Great Dividing Range in the Australian state of New South Wales . Their habitat is mainly mountainous areas with hard -leaf vegetation with dense undergrowth up to 900 meters above sea level. They are also found less often in eucalyptus forests or more humid habitats. A small, introduced population lives on the New Zealand island of Kawau .
Way of life
These kangaroos are shy, mostly crepuscular or nocturnal animals. As a rule, they live solitary, but sometimes find themselves together in short-lived groups without a pronounced social structure. As with most kangaroo species, no territorial behavior is pronounced. Parma kangaroos are herbivores that feed on grasses and herbs.
Reproduction
The mating season is between March and July, when the female gives birth to a single young after around 35 days of gestation. 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 animal spends its first 30 weeks of life in its mother's pouch, where it is suckled; after another ten weeks it is weaned and independent. Sexual maturity occurs at 16 to 24 months.
Life expectancy in the wild is estimated to be six to eight years, and in human care they can live to be eleven to 15 years old.
Parma kangaroos and people
The shy animals were first sighted and scientifically described by Europeans in the 1840s. They were never considered common and by the end of the 19th century there were no more sightings, so they were already believed to be extinct.
In 1965 the species was rediscovered on the New Zealand island of Kawau , which is also inhabited by Derby wallabies . This population was believed to be the only survivor and several animals were also brought to Australia in hopes of captive breeding and reintroduction. In 1967 it was found that there are still wild populations in Australia itself. Meanwhile, several dispersed populations of this species have been discovered in the Great Dividing Range . Due to the protection of part of its range, the number of individuals is on the rise, the IUCN lists the species as " near threatened " today .
Parma kangaroos are kept in 15 German zoos, which makes them, together with the much more common Benett kangaroos, the most common marsupial species in the German zoo landscape.
supporting documents
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Information on Animal Diversity Web
- Macropus parma onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 12, 2009.