Western Brush Wallaby
Encyclopedia
The Western Brush Wallaby (Macropus irma), also known as the Black-gloved Wallaby, is a species of wallaby
found in southwestern Western Australia
. The main threat towards it seems to be predation by the introduced Red Fox
(Vulpes vulpes). The IUCN lists it as Least Concern
, as it remains fairly widespread and the population is believed to be stable or increasing, as a result of fox control programs.
The Western Brush Wallaby is a deep grey colour with distinctive white colouring around the face, arms and legs (although it does have black gloves as its alternative common name implies). It is an unusually diurnal
macropod that grazes on grass and other plants.
Little is known about the behavior of the Western Brush Wallaby, however much of their behavior is consistent with that of other members of the Macropodidae family.
. The wallabies will consume most species of plants, with the Carpobrotus edulis, Cynodon dactylon
, and Nuytsia floribunda being the common dietary items. They are active mainly at dawn and dusk , resting during the hottest part of the day .
. They prefer tall open forests that supply good grazing . They particularly favor open, seasonally damp flats with low grasses and open scrubby brushes. This type of open habitat contributes to the speediness of the animal as it moves low to the ground .
In the 1970s, the population of this species began to decline as the population of the Red Fox dramatically increased. The Red Foxes particularly targeted the juvenile wallabies as soon as they left the pouch. According to a survey taken in 1970 and then in 1990 in the Jarrah Forests
of the Darling Range , the population declined from 10 individuals per 100 kilometers to 1 per 100 kilometers. Starting in the 1990s fox control measures were put into place and since then the population has increased and is now stabilized. Currently there are about 100,000 animals. Due to this recovery the Western Brush Wallaby been moved from the IUCN Near Threatened list to the Least Concern list.
Although fox control measure has helped the population stabilize considerably, due to habitat clearing for farming the population is still fragmented and their range greatly reduced .
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:...
found in southwestern Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The main threat towards it seems to be predation by the introduced 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...
(Vulpes vulpes). The IUCN lists it as Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
, as it remains fairly widespread and the population is believed to be stable or increasing, as a result of fox control programs.
The Western Brush Wallaby is a deep grey colour with distinctive white colouring around the face, arms and legs (although it does have black gloves as its alternative common name implies). It is an unusually diurnal
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
macropod that grazes on grass and other plants.
Taxonomy
The Western Brush Wallaby is less commonly referred to as the Kwoora or the Black-gloved Wallaby . The Western Brush Wallaby is classified in the subgenus Notamacropus . Jay Gould contributed the alternate name M. manicatus in 1852.Behavior
Little is known about the behavior of the Western Brush Wallaby, however much of their behavior is consistent with that of other members of the Macropodidae family.
Characteristics
The Western Brush Wallaby's head and body length usually falls around 1200 mm. Their tail length, which ranges from 540-970 mm, is proportionally long to their smaller body size. The Western Brush Wallaby weighs anywhere from 7.0-9.0 kg. Their coloring consists of a pale to mid gray coat with a distinct white facial stripe. Other distinct features include black and white ears, black hands and feet, and crest of black hairs on the tail .Diet
The Western Brush Wallaby is a herbivore, more specifically a crepuscularCrepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
. The wallabies will consume most species of plants, with the Carpobrotus edulis, Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon , also known as Dūrvā Grass, Bermuda Grass, Dubo, Dog's Tooth Grass, Bahama Grass, Devil's Grass, Couch Grass, Indian Doab, Arugampul, Grama, and Scutch Grass, is a grass native to north and east Africa, Asia and Australia and southern Europe...
, and Nuytsia floribunda being the common dietary items. They are active mainly at dawn and dusk , resting during the hottest part of the day .
Reproduction
Although decades of research has been done in regards to the reproductive behavior of the Western Brush Wallaby, their habits are relatively unknown. Research indicates that young are usually born some time from April to May. After birth, the young enter the lactation period until October or November .Distribution & Habitat
The Western Brush Wallaby is found in southeast Western Australia from Kalbarri all the way down to Cape Arid , particularly centralized near the Swan RiverSwan River
Swan River may refer to:Australia* Swan River Canada* Swan River * Swan River, Manitoba * Swan River Airport * Swan River United States...
. They prefer tall open forests that supply good grazing . They particularly favor open, seasonally damp flats with low grasses and open scrubby brushes. This type of open habitat contributes to the speediness of the animal as it moves low to the ground .
Population & Conservation Status
The Western Brush Wallaby were very common during the early days of settlement . Soon after the settlement of Western Australia, it became popular to trade wallabies commercially for their skins .In the 1970s, the population of this species began to decline as the population of the Red Fox dramatically increased. The Red Foxes particularly targeted the juvenile wallabies as soon as they left the pouch. According to a survey taken in 1970 and then in 1990 in the Jarrah Forests
Jarrah Forest
Jarrah Forest is an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia region in Western Australia.-Location and description:The ecoregion stands on the 300m high Yilgarn block inland plateau and includes wooded valleys such as those of Western Australia's Murray River and the Helena River near...
of the Darling Range , the population declined from 10 individuals per 100 kilometers to 1 per 100 kilometers. Starting in the 1990s fox control measures were put into place and since then the population has increased and is now stabilized. Currently there are about 100,000 animals. Due to this recovery the Western Brush Wallaby been moved from the IUCN Near Threatened list to the Least Concern list.
Although fox control measure has helped the population stabilize considerably, due to habitat clearing for farming the population is still fragmented and their range greatly reduced .