Petrogale mareeba, Eldridge & Close, 1992

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Macropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 630-735 : 717-718

40.

Mareeba Rock Wallaby

Petrogale mareeba

French: Wallaby de Mareeba / German: Mareeba-Felskanguru / Spanish: Ualabi rupestre de Mareeba

Other common names: Mareeba Rock-wallaby

Taxonomy. Petrogale mareeba Eldridge & Close, 1992 ,

Mungana , west of Chillagoe , north-east Queensland, Australia.

A member of the lateralis / penicillata group of species (which includes also P. rothschildi, P. lateralis , P. purpureicollis , P. penicillata , P herberti , P inornata , P assimilis , P. sharmani , P. godmani , P. coenensis ). Formerly regarded as a race of P. assimilis and earlier of P. inornata . Hybridizes with P. godmani . Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Queensland from Mitchell River and near Mt Carbine (where it forms a hybrid zone with Godman’s Rock Wallaby, P. godmani ) W to Mungana and Undara, S to Burdekin River; W limit uncertain.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 46-60 cm (males) and 42.5-50 cm (females), tail 43— 59 cm (males) and 41:2-50.5 cm (females); weight 3.4-6.6 kg (males) and 2.1-5.1 kg (females). Coloration varies with rock substrate. Typically gray-brown dorsally, but varies from light brown to almost black, paler ventrally; arms, legs, and base of tail also pale. Pale cheek stripe, faint dark axillary patch and indistinct dark dorsal head stripe occasionally present. Paws and feet darker than limbs. Tail darkens distally, with slight brush, and with pale tail tip of variable length in some individuals. Moults in autumn to predominantly gray on back and flanks, then progressively browner through year. Diploid chromosome number is 18.

Habitat. Rocky outcrops, boulder piles, rocky slopes and gullies, cliffs, and gorges within open forest, grassy woodland, and sometimes vine thickets.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely to be similar to the Allied Rock Wallaby (FP. assimilis ).

Breeding. Poorly known. Females produce a single young and appear to breed continuously. Young spend c.6-5 months in the pouch and are weaned 2-3 months later. Males reach sexual maturity at 20-24 months.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal in summer, crepuscular or partially diurnal in other months. Shelters during day among rocks or within boulder piles. Moves off the rocks in late afternoon or evening to feed in surrounding forest/woodland. In cooler months may sit on rocks to bask in the sun, especially in late afternoon or early morning.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Poorly known. Likely to be similar to the Allied Rock Wallaby. Colonies may contain up to 50 individuals. Forages mostly solitarily or in pairs, although aggregations of up to eight individuals have been reported at abundant food source.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Mareeba Rock Wallaby is relatively common throughout its range. Although no serious threats to this species are known, it is potentially threatened by habitat degradation as a consequence of cattle grazing and altered fire regimes. Predation by domesticferal cats may be a problem. Additional research into its general ecology and the impact of potential threats is required.

Bibliography. Bell et al. (1989), Blumstein & Daniel (2003a), Close & Bell (1990), Eldridge (1997), Eldridge & Close (1992, 1997 2008e), Eldridge, Johnson et al. (2008), Hodgson et al. (2004), Sharman etal. (1989), Winter, Burnett & Martin (2008g), Woinarski et al. (2014av).

Figures

34. Purple-necked Rock Wallaby (Petrogale purpureicollis), 35. Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale penicillata)

Distribution. NE Queensland from Mitchell River and near Mt Carbine (where it forms a hybrid zone with Godman’s Rock Wallaby, P. godmani ) W to Mungana and Undara, S to Burdekin River; W limit uncertain.