Black mountain kangaroo
| Black mountain kangaroo | ||||||||||||
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Black Mountain Kangaroo ( Macropus bernardus ) |
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| Macropus bernardus | ||||||||||||
| Rothschild , 1904 |
The black mountain kangaroo ( Macropus bernardus ) is a species of marsupial from the kangaroo family (Macropodidae). It is the smallest and rarest representative of the mountain kangaroos .
features
Standing black mountain kangaroos reach a height of 0.8 to 1 meter and a weight of 13 to 22 kilograms, with the males becoming significantly larger than the females. This means that they only reach around two thirds of the size of the common mountain kangaroo . The coarse and shaggy fur is dark brown, almost black in color in the males, the females are lighter, more grayish. As with most kangaroos, the hind legs are significantly longer and stronger than the front legs, and the tail is long and muscular. The head is characterized by the relatively small ears, the black muzzle is hairless.
distribution and habitat
Black mountain kangaroos are only found in Arnhem Land in the Australian Northern Territory , where they mostly live in mountainous regions. The majority of their distribution area is in the Kakadu National Park . Their habitat includes both eucalyptus forests and open heathland.
Way of life
These animals are very shy and difficult to observe, making them some of the least explored kangaroos. They should be predominantly twilight-active and rest during the day as well as in the middle of the night. They live solitary, their food is purely vegetable and consists mainly of grasses. After a gestation period of 31 to 36 days, the female usually gives birth to a single young that spends its first few months in the mother's pouch.
threat
The black mountain kangaroo was already considered extinct because it was not sighted between 1914 and 1969. Today a small population lives in a limited range. But since this is hardly populated, the population should be stable. The IUCN lists the species as " near threatened ".
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Information at Animal Diversity Web
- Macropus bernardus onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 11, 2009.