Eastern Hare-wallaby
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes leporides), once also known as the Common Hare Wallaby, is an extinct species of wallaby
that was native to southwestern Australia
. It was first described by John Gould
in 1841.
The eastern Hare wallaby was a small macropod
, slightly larger and more slender than its surviving relative the Rufous Hare Wallaby. It had a body length of about 50 centimeters and a 33 centimeter long tail. Its fur color varied from black through brown to yellow with a grayish-white belly.
, Victoria
and the Murray River
region of South Australia
. It was common in the level country between the Murray and Darling
rivers, as well as the Liverpool Plains
.
Its preferred habitat consided of open plains and grassland
s.
or a tussock. If approached too closely, it would bound off at great speed. One wallaby was chased by dog
s for 500 metres and suddenly doubled back and came back within 6 metres of John Gould and leapt over his head; it could jump 1.8 metres high. .
The cause of its extinction remains uncertain, as it died out before intensive agriculture was introduced throughout its distribution and before the red fox
became common in its habitat. Several causes of its extinction have been suggested, including trampling of its grassland habitat by cattle
and sheep, changed burning regimes, or predation by introduced cats.
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
that was native to southwestern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was first described by John Gould
John Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
in 1841.
Description
Macropod
Macropods are marsupials belonging to the family Macropodidae, which includes kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, pademelons, and several others. Macropods are native to Australia, New Guinea, and some nearby islands. Before European settlement of Australia, there were about 53 species of...
, slightly larger and more slender than its surviving relative the Rufous Hare Wallaby. It had a body length of about 50 centimeters and a 33 centimeter long tail. Its fur color varied from black through brown to yellow with a grayish-white belly.
Distribution and Habitat
This species once inhabited the interior of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
region of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It was common in the level country between the Murray and Darling
Darling River
The Darling River is the third longest river in Australia, measuring from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth, New South Wales. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is long, making it the longest river system in Australia.The...
rivers, as well as the Liverpool Plains
Liverpool Plains
The Liverpool Plains is a geographical area and Local Government Area in the North West Slopes, New South Wales.The Shire was formed on 17 March 2004 by the amalgamation of Quirindi Shire with parts of three other shires: Parry, Murrurundi and Gunnedah.- Main towns :* Quirindi* Ardglen*...
.
Its preferred habitat consided of open plains and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s.
Ecology and Behaviour
Very little is known about this wallaby today. It was a strictly nocturnal animal which led a solitary lifestyle. During the day it sat still in a well-formed 'seat', usually in the shelter of a saltbushAtriplex nummularia
Atriplex nummularia is a species of saltbush known by the common names old man saltbush, bluegreen saltbush, and giant saltbush. It is native to Australia, occurring in Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland...
or a tussock. If approached too closely, it would bound off at great speed. One wallaby was chased by dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s for 500 metres and suddenly doubled back and came back within 6 metres of John Gould and leapt over his head; it could jump 1.8 metres high. .
Extinction
The last known specimen of this species was a female collected in August 1889 in New South Wales. There were no further sightings of this species, even though researchers well into the 1930s were still uncertain of its extinction.The cause of its extinction remains uncertain, as it died out before intensive agriculture was introduced throughout its distribution and before the red fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
became common in its habitat. Several causes of its extinction have been suggested, including trampling of its grassland habitat by cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and sheep, changed burning regimes, or predation by introduced cats.