Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby
Nature & People
Physical Description
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) is a small, agile creature with thick, brown fur, a rufous rump, a long tail that is brushy towards the tip, a white cheek-stripe and a black stripe on top of the head. A distinguishing feature is the dark hair of its tail.
Where is it Found?
Found in rocky areas of dry forest with a grassy understorey along the Great Dividing Range from south-east Queensland to the Shoalhaven – with separate populations in Victoria – the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby was once more widespread, but is now largely confined to the ranges.
Ecology
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby lives in small family groups, sheltering during the day in caves, crevices and overhangs, and most active at night, coming out to browse on grasses, as well as leaves and fruits of shrubs and trees.
Threats
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is listed as Endangered under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and Vulnerable nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Threats to the species include:
- loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitat
- predation by Foxes and Dogs
- competition with feral Goats
- fire regimes reducing the abundance and diversity of ground forage.
Conservation Measures
Measures to help conserve the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby include:
- educating landholders
- providing information to assist management
- controlling feral predators and feral Goats around colony sites
- retaining rocky habitat and adjacent open forest or grassland areas together with habitat corridors between colony sites
- protecting colony sites from human interference or disturbance.
Did You Know?
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby can climb leaning trees. The pads on the underside of its feet are remarkably spongy and soft, like the sole of a modern running shoe; a huge boon to an animal that leaps rapidly along cliff-faces. The fur of this species was valuable in the late 19th century, and an extensive trade made deep inroads into its populations. By the time hunting ceased the Fox had arrived. Populations have not recovered.
