Onychogalea unguifera — Details

Northern Nail-tail Wallaby learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Distribution

Range Description

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This species is endemic to Australia where it is widespread in the northern part of the country.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
The species is usually found within ecotones between sandy loams and clay. It is found in areas of open woodland with tussock grasslands and shrublands with scattered trees or shrubs (Ingleby and Gordon 2008). It is also found in coastal plains with scattered Melaleuca thickets (Ingleby and Gordon 2008). It is generally a solitary, nocturnal animal.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
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Life History and Behavior

Life Expectancy

Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 5.5 years (captivity)
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2008

Assessor/s
Woinarski, J., Winter, J. & Burbidge, A.

Reviewer/s
Lamoreux, J. & Hilton-Taylor, C. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in some protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History
  • 1996
    Lower Risk/least concern
  • 1996
    Lower Risk/least concern
    (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
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Population

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Population
This species is generally scarce and patchily distributed within its range, though it can be locally abundant. There have been no known population declines in the last few decades.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
There are no known major threats to this species. It is potentially affected by changing fire regimes and pastoralism. It has declined from the southern portions of its range, potentially from fox predation. If foxes move further north, this could pose a risk to the species. The two congeners of this species have suffered under similar threats; one becoming extinct and the other confined to a small population.
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
The species is found in some protected areas, although the preferred habitats of this species are poorly represented in the region's protected areas (Ingleby and Gordon 2008). None of the protected areas in Northern Territory hold high population numbers, and almost all records in Western Australia are from outside of protected areas. The population numbers of this species should be monitored in order to detect any declines early on that might occur, particularly if foxes expand their range northward.
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Wikipedia

Northern nail-tail wallaby

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The northern nail-tail wallaby (Onychogalea unguifera) also known as the sandy nail-tail wallaby, is a species of macropod found in Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory. Unlike the bridled nail-tail wallaby (O. fraenata), the northern nail-tail wallaby is not a threatened species.[2] The only other member of the genus, the crescent nail-tail wallaby (O. lunata), is extinct.

The northern nail-tail wallaby by far the largest species in the genus Onychogalea. It is a solitary, nocturnal browser feeding on a variety of foliage. It is a sandy colour, which gave rise to its other common name.[3]

Two subspecies have been defined, but their validity is disputed.

  • O. u. unguifera from the northwestern part of its range;
  • O. u. annulicauda from the northeastern part of its range.[4]

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 66. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
  2. ^ a b Woinarski, J., Winter, J. & Burbidge, A. (2008). Onychogalea unguifera. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  3. ^ Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 124. 
  4. ^ Gordon, G. (1981). Northern Nailtail Wallaby in The Complete Book of Australian Mammals (ed. Ronald Strahan). Angus & Robertson. p. 204. 
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