Whiptail Wallaby
Macropus Parryi
The Whiptail Wallaby is also known as the Blue Flier and Pretty-Face wallaby, it is easy to see why this is so, it is truly a beautiful looking animal.The coat is light brownish to grey, and white underneath with a light brown stripe from the neck to the shoulder, it has a white stripe on the hip and also on the upper lip.The female becomes sexually mature at about 18-24 months old, males will rarely have the opportunity to mate untill they reach 2-3 years, due to the dominant male of the group keeping other males at bay.
Breeding takes place all year round. After a gestation period of 34-38 days one young are born and stays in the pouch for about 37 weeks, they continue to suckle form mum untill they are about 15 months old.
They are social animals and live in groups of up to 50, being females, males and young.The Whiptail is most abundant in Northern NSW and southern Queensland, it is also found further north as far as Cooktown. Whiptail Wallabies feed mainly on grasses, ferns and native small plants from late afternoon till early night, sleeps, and starts eating again at dawn into early morning. Daytime is spent mainly sleeping.
Preferred habitat is undulating or hilly county with open forest and grassy under storey.
Head and body length can vary quite a lot depending on are, average measurement for males 93cm. females 76cm.
Tail length average, males 96cm. females 79cm.
Adult weight in males 14-26 kg. females 7-15kg
Reference: The Australian Museum."The National Photographic index of Australian Wildlife."
The Australian Museum. 1996. "The Complete book of Australian Mammals."
Ronald Strahan. "Encyclopedia of Australian Animals"
Updated May 10, 2012
© WIRES Northern Rivers 2004-2012