Lake Mackay hare-wallaby facts for kids
The Lake Mackay hare-wallaby (also called the central hare-wallaby or kuluwarri) was a small macropod that lived in central Australia. Sadly, this animal is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists. Scientists don't know much about it because only one skull has ever been found.
Quick facts for kids Lake Mackay hare-wallabyTemporal range: Recent
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Lagorchestes
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| Species: |
asomatus
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Contents
What Kind of Animal Was It?
The Lake Mackay hare-wallaby belonged to the macropod family. This family includes kangaroos, wallabies, and other hopping animals. It was part of a larger group called Diprotodontia, which also includes possums, gliders, koalas, and wombats.
A Glimpse into History
We know about the Lake Mackay hare-wallaby from just one animal. An explorer and geologist named Michael Terry found it in 1932. This happened between Mount Farewell and the northern part of Lake Mackay in the Northern Territory.
Only the skull of this animal was kept. This skull is the only real proof scientists have that the Lake Mackay hare-wallaby existed. However, some Aboriginal people have also shared stories about seeing this animal.
How It Looked and Behaved
Aboriginal people described the Lake Mackay hare-wallaby as having soft, long, grey fur. Its feet had especially long fur on top. It had a short, thick tail and hopped like a kangaroo.
The Lake Mackay hare-wallaby was about the same size as a boodie or a rabbit. Most people said it usually had only one baby at a time, but a few reported two.
Its Home and Habits
The Lake Mackay hare-wallaby found shelter in areas with Triodia, which is also known as spinifex grass. They would rest in shallow dips under clumps of spinifex. Sometimes, they made nests lined with grass. They might even have dug short burrows, similar to the Rufous hare-wallaby.
Aboriginal people sometimes called them "stupid" or "deaf." This was because when they were hunted, they often wouldn't leave their shelter. This made them easy to catch.
What It Ate
The Lake Mackay hare-wallaby was said to eat grass leaves and seeds. It also enjoyed the fruit of the desert quandong plant.
Why Did It Disappear?
Several things likely caused the Lake Mackay hare-wallaby to become extinct.
New Predators
One big problem was new predators like feral cats and foxes. These animals were brought to Australia by people. They hunted the hare-wallabies, which were not used to such dangerous predators. Feral cats are thought to have been a major reason for their decline.
Competition for Food and Shelter
Another issue was the introduction of rabbits to central Australia. Rabbits competed with the Lake Mackay hare-wallabies for food and places to live. This made it harder for the wallabies to find enough resources.
Fires and Human Activity
Droughts in central Australia during the 1900s led to many bushfires. These fires destroyed the wallabies' homes and food sources.
Human activities also played a part. Large clumps of grass, which the Lake Mackay hare-wallabies used for shelter, were removed for Australia's farming industry. Without this cover, the wallabies became easy targets for eagles, foxes, and cats.
Where It Lived and the Climate
The Lake Mackay hare-wallaby lived in the central and western deserts of Australia. It was last seen sometime between the 1940s and 1960s. Stories from Aboriginal people say it was in the Tanami Desert until the late 1940s. It was also in the Gibson Desert until the early 1960s.
These deserts have sandy plains and dunes with spinifex grass. The soil is mostly sandy clay with salt and special grasses and shrubs. These plants, like spinifex and mulga, provided shelter for the wallabies. They used the leafy shrubs to hide their burrows, especially when it was hot. These plants were also a main source of food.
The climate in the Australian desert is usually dry. Even though summer months can bring rain, it's not always reliable. The Tanami Desert has a "warm, dry monsoonal climate." The average rainfall is about 479mm. Rain tends to increase from September to February and is lowest in July. The hottest temperatures are in December, and the coolest are in June and July. Because there isn't much water, droughts are very common. Also, new animals brought into the area have changed the plants that grow there.
Helping Other Hare-Wallabies
In 2001, there was a project to bring back two other types of hare-wallabies. These were the mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus) and the merrnie (Lagostrophus fasciatus). These species had become extinct on the Australian mainland due to habitat problems over 200 years.
At the time, there were only about 250 L. hirsutus in zoos or special care. Scientists moved 34 wallabies to the Shark Bay area of the Peron Peninsula. This project aimed to learn how to reintroduce animals in the future. They tracked the wallabies in their new home. Sheep and cattle, which could have affected the study, were removed from the area.
The study showed that these wallabies could adapt to different types of habitats. This is good news for future reintroduction efforts. It means that future projects won't need to find areas with very dense plants, which is helpful because Australia has seen a decrease in vegetation.
See also
In Spanish: Kuluwarri para niños
