Proserpine rock kangaroo
| Proserpine rock kangaroo | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Petrogale persephone | ||||||||||||
| Maynes , 1982 |
The Proserpine rock kangaroo ( Petrogale persephone ) is a species of marsupial from the kangaroo family (Macropodidae).
features
The Proserpine rock kangaroo is one of the larger representatives of the rock kangaroos , males weigh around 6.9 kilograms and females 5.1 kilograms. Their fur is dark gray on the back, the underside is light gray. In some animals, the upper arms are reddish-brown while the paws are black. The tail often ends in a white tip. As with most kangaroos, the hind legs are significantly longer and stronger than the front legs.
Distribution and way of life
These kangaroos live in Australia and have the smallest range of all rock kangaroos. They only live near the towns of Proserpine and Airlie Beach on the Queensland coast . Their habitat are rocky regions with dry forests.
They are nocturnal and sleep in caves and crevices during the day. At night they look for food, often looking for grassy areas on the edge of the woods. They feed primarily on grasses, such as millet ( Panicum maximum ).
After a gestation period of around 33 days, the female gives birth to a single young. This spends its first seven months in the mother's pouch and is weaned after another four months.
Danger
Proserpine rock kangaroos are the most endangered rock kangaroos. The main threats are the destruction of their habitat, the stalking by introduced dogs and road traffic. Their distribution area covers less than 5000 km² and is very fragmented, the IUCN lists the species as "endangered" ( endangered ).
literature
- Ronald Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Information from the Queensland Park and Wildlife Service (PDF) (160 kB)
- Petrogale persephone onthe IUCN Red List of Endangered Species . Retrieved May 26, 2009.