Rothschild's rock wallaby

The wallaby can go for long periods without water.
The species is almost unstudied and known from only a few populations.
The species is endemic to a small stretch of coastline.
In captivity it has lived about 10 years.
It can leap across steep cliffs and hide in crevices.
The wallaby is nocturnal and feeds on grasses and shrubs.
The main threat is predation by introduced cats and foxes.
Rothschild’s rock-wallaby lives on rocky islands and the coast of Western Australia.
Young develop in the mother’s pouch.
The colour is grey-brown with a lighter belly.

Age

Rothschild's rock wallabies typically live for ten to fifteen years, although the maximum recorded lifespan is nineteen years, with a theoretical lifespan ranging from five years and ten months to twelve years and five months. The age of sexual maturity in the species ranges from one year and six months to two years and four months. The young’s eyes open between four months and five months and one week of age. The "infant" stage begins when a very small offspring immediately moves to its mother's pouch, where it feeds on milk and grows, with this stage lasting from one day to seven months. Following the infant stage is the "juvenile phase after rapid growth," during which the young animal learns to jump on rocks and feed independently, a period lasting from seven months to two years. The "adult" stage commences at two years of age and continues for ten years, during which the animal is capable of reproduction and lives independently among rocks.

Phenotype

Rothschild's rock wallabies possess powerful hind limbs that allow for long jumps across uneven terrain, and strong hind legs are characteristic of the species for jumping on rocks and cliffs; the young experience rapid growth, with large hind feet and a long tail which aids in balance during jumps; adult rothschild's rock wallabies have short, dense fur that is grey-brown in color, providing camouflage among stones.

Physiology

Rothschild's rock wallabies measure in body length from 45 to 65 centimeters and weigh from 2.2 to 5.2 kilograms; the young have a body length from 1 to 15 centimeters and a body mass from 0.5 to 300 grams, while the stage of rapid growth shows a body length from 20 to 50 centimeters and a body mass from 400 grams to 2 kilograms; adult individuals have a body length from 50 to 65 centimeters and a body mass from 3.2 to 5.2 kilograms.

Habitat

Rothschild's rock wallabies inhabit elevations from 10 meters to 400 meters above sea level and are found in tropical savannas with hot temperatures and uneven rainfall, featuring abundant grass and trees, as well as deserts and dry shrublands that are very hot and dry with infrequent rainfall. The species occupies terrestrial landscapes including ravines and rocky outcrops. The climate varies, being very hot and nearly dry with minimal rainfall, extremely dry with rare rainfall resembling a desert, very hot and dry with high daytime temperatures and cold nights and almost no rain, hot with virtually no precipitation, and experiencing heavy rains in the summer months while having almost no precipitation in the winter.

Shelter

Rothschild's rock wallabies inhabit rocky outcrops and do not have a permanent or long-term shelter. The species utilizes grasses for shelter, which serves multiple purposes including breeding, resting, and protection from the sun. Rothschild's rock wallabies do not have a fixed shelter.

Geography

Rothschild's rock wallabies are found within the biogeographical region of Australasia.

Feeding

Rothschild's rock wallabies consume plants that grow near rocks, including grass, leaves, shoots, and occasionally fruits, primarily during early mornings or evenings; the species obtains food by nipping at grass and leaves. Their diet consists of grasses, leaves, plant shoots, flowers, young shoots and seedlings, and nectar. The daily food requirement ranges from 150 grams to 350 grams. Rothschild's rock-wallabies employ a foraging strategy that includes searching for and obtaining food through grazing.

Reproduction

Rothschild's rock wallabies inhabit and develop on land, away from bodies of water, and their young develop in the pouch or mouth of a parent on land. The female carries the offspring in her pouch or mouth on land. Gestation lasts one month, and the female gives birth to a single tiny offspring that crawls into the pouch and remains there for several months. A litter has one individual, and reproduction can occur at any time of year. The interval between reproductions is from 8 months to 1 year. Maturity occurs from 1 year 6 months to 2 years 4 months. Eggs or young develop in a nest built on the ground or close to it, and nests are also found on rocks, cliffs, or rocky outcrops. Reproduction always involves fertilization without generation change, which is termed homogamy.