Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis lateralis)
National Status: Vulnerable
State Status: Threatened (WA)
Description:
The Black-flanked Rock-wallaby, also known as the Black-footed Rock-wallaby, is medium sized weighing up to 5 kg (males 4-5kg, females 3-3.8kg), has a head body length of up to 529 mm, and tail length of up to 551 mm. The thick coat is dark brown-grey above and the dark face has a distinctive pale cheek stripe. A white side stripe edges the dark flanks. The forelimbs are sandy above and dark below, and as the name suggests, the hind feet are dark brown to black. The tip of the brownish-grey tail is black and slightly brushy.
Distribution and Habitat:
The Black-flanked Rock-wallaby is a widespread species. Three named subspecies and two races are recognised and occupy a variety of discontinuous habitats from sandstone gorges in the tropical north-west, rocky hills in the central deserts, to rocky islands in the Southern Ocean. Of the subspecies, P. l. lateralis has suffered the largest range decline. With many local and regional populations now extinct only a few isolated populations remain.
Threats:
Predation by the introduced European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is known to have reduced some populations and is presumed to be the main cause of local extinction of most other populations. Predation by feral cats and degradation of habitat may also have contributed to their decline.
General information:
These shy, wary animals venture out in the early evening and at night to open grassy areas close to the protection of their rocky shelters where they feed on grasses, herbs, leaves and occasionally seeds and fruits. During times of drought they may venture further afield and have been reported to be capable of moving up to 4km between rock outcrops. Like other rock-wallabies, they do not need to drink and conserve water by sheltering from the hot summer day-time temperatures in rock crevices or caves. On winter mornings they sun themselves for several hours before retreating to their rocky shelters.
Black-flanked Rock-wallabies commence breeding between 1-2 years of age and can breed throughout the year, although in southern populations there appears to be a peak in spring. The gestation period is about 30 days and young remain in the pouch for six to seven months.