Eastern short-eared rock-wallaby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern short-eared rock-wallaby |
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The eastern short-eared rock-wallaby or Wilkins' rock-wallaby (Petrogale wilkinsi) is a cool type of rock-wallaby that lives in the northern part of Australia's Northern Territory. You can often spot them in amazing places like Kakadu and Litchfield National Park.
For a while, people thought this wallaby was just a group of the short-eared rock-wallaby found in another part of Australia called the Kimberley (Western Australia). But recent studies, looking at their genes and how they look, showed that they are actually a different species. The Wilkins' rock-wallaby is smaller. It also has clearer grey and brown markings on its head and sides. Its legs are more colorful than the western species.
Discovering the Wilkins' Rock-Wallaby
Scientists were studying a group of macropods called Petrogale. This group includes kangaroos and wallabies. They found a new species that looked very similar to another one. This is sometimes called a cryptic species.
The discovery of this new species was published in 2014. It was part of a bigger study about the family tree of rock-wallabies. This new species was named after a European explorer named G. H. Wilkins. He had collected a specimen, which is a sample of an animal, back in 1925. This specimen was later identified as belonging to this new species.
The species has two common names. People call it either Wilkins’ rock-wallaby or the eastern short-eared rock-wallaby.
What Does It Look Like?
The Wilkins' rock-wallaby is a type of Petrogale. This is a varied group of macropods. They are related to kangaroos and other wallabies. At first glance, they look a lot like the short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis).
However, the Wilkins' rock-wallaby has some key differences. It is darker in color overall. Its fur on its legs is brighter. It also has more noticeable stripes on its head and sides. These wallabies weigh between 2.6 and 3.5 kilograms. This makes them smaller than the western species. Scientists also found big differences in their mitochondrial DNA. This strongly showed that they came from different family lines. The main color of their fur is dark brown and grey.
Where Do They Live?
The eastern short-eared rock-wallaby lives in the Top End of the Northern Territory in Australia. This area is known for its unique landscapes.
