Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
Biology
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Comprehensive Description
Description
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Distribution
Range Description
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Geographic Range
The range of endangered bridled nail-tailed wallabies has been reduced to 11,470 hectares in the Taunton Scientific Reserve in northeastern Austalia. This reserve is located near the city of Dingo in Central Queensland.
Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )
- Hendrikz, J., P. Johnson. 1999. Development of the bridled nailtail wallaby, Onychogalea fraenata, and age estimation of the pouch young. Wildlife-research, 26(2): 239-249.
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Australia
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Range
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Onychogalea fraenata is named for the white "bridle" line that starts on the center of the neck and goes around the shoulders and ends at the forearms on each side. A black stripe runs dorsally across the whole body.
Males weigh between 5 and 8 kg, whereas females weigh from 4 to 5 kg. The head and body length of this species is 430 to 700 mm, with the tail contributing an additional 360 to 730 mm to the total length.
The genus Onychogalea gets its common name, nail tailed wallabies, from a small, horny spur (3 to 6 mm) at the end of the tail. This "nail" is partially concealed by hair.
Range mass: 4 to 8 kg.
Range length: 790 to 1,430 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
- Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
At one time, Onychogalea fraenata inhabited the semi-arid region of eastern Australia. This region is made up mainly of Acacia shrub land and grassy woodlands. Now it is only found in Taunton National Park although a population has recently been released into Idalia National Park.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; scrub forest
- Lundie-Jenkins, G. 2001. "Recovery plan for the bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) 1997-2001" (On-line). Environment Australia. Accessed June 01, 2004 at http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/bridled-nailtail/index.html.
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Habitat
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Onychogalea fraenata feeds on a diverse selection of forbes, grasses, and woody browse. During observation in Taunton National Park, these foods were selected by the animals: The herbaceous forb Portulaca oleraceae, pigweeds such as Helipterum spp., daisies such as Trianthema triquetra and Zalea galericulata, and grasses such as Sporobolus carolii, Chloris divaricata, Dactyloctenium radulans, and Bothriochloa bladhi.
Plant Foods: leaves
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
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Associations
Ecosystem Roles
Onychogalea fraenata feed on a variety of plants and may affect plant communities in then region.
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Predation
No information on anti-predator adaptations was available for O. fraenata. Native dingoes may be predators of these animals. Exotic carnivores such as red foxes may prey on these animals.
Known Predators:
- European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
- dingos (Canis lupus dingo)
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Known predators
Vulpes vulpes
Canis lupus familiaris
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed February 16, 2011 at http://animaldiversity.org. http://www.animaldiversity.org
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Life History and Behavior
Behavior
Communication and Perception
Very little information was available on communication in O. fraenata. However, some generalizations can be made, based on what we know of mammals in general, and other macropods in particular.
These animals are known to transmit information through scent cues, especially when females are in estrous. Males determine the readiness of females to mate based upon their smell. In addition, there is some visual and tactile communication during mating, based upon chasing behavior and the mating process itself.
Other macropods are known to vocalize, and it is likely that O. fraenata is similar.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic
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Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
Not much information is available regarding the lifespan/longevity of this species. However, individuals in captivity have lived 5.5 years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.5 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 7.4 years.
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproduction
Onychogalea fraenata mates polygynously. Males roam widely, checking nonestrus females briefly by smell. They may accompany estrus females that they encounter for up to a week. Groups of males sometimes accumulate around receptive females. These males follow females roughly in order of body weight, and the largest male appears to defend access to the female.
The main difference between O. fraenata and most other terrestrial macropods is that there is no dominance hierarchy prior to encounter. Because O. fraenata is solitary, males cannot establish dominance relationships until they have encountered one another. However, these animals can recognize dominance from prior encounters, so rather than waste energy on another combat sequence they behave toward one another based upon the hierarchy determined in previousl encounters.
Copulation times may exceed more than ninety minutes, which is longer than most macropods.
During estrus cycles, females increase their home range. They also increase their activity, and are more attractive to males prior to mating. Such features are not unique to this species, but are common in most solitary mammals.
Male that are the largest in size and have the largest home ranges have higher copulatory success. Males and females participate in mate chasing. Because females do not appear to be attempting to evade the males, based on their slow speed and repetitive movements, this appears to be some sort of courtship behavior.
Mating System: polygynous
Onychogalea fraenata has been studied both in captivity and wild. In captivity, these animals breed continuously. Females have an average estrous cycle of 32.6 days and gestation lasts an average 23.6 days. Newborns spend 119 to 126 days in the pouch. Males reach sexual maturity in about 270 days, whereas females reach it in 136 days.
If conditions are suitable in the wild, bridled nailtail wallabies can raise up to three young per year and mate continuously throughout the year.
Breeding interval: Females of this species are capable of producing three offspring per year.
Breeding season: Breeding is not seasonal when conditions are favorable.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average gestation period: 23.6 days.
Range weaning age: 119 to 126 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 136 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 270 days.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous
Average gestation period: 23 days.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 185 days.
Like other macropods, O. fraenata, have extremely altricial young. Young are born excessively underdeveloped, and must complete their delopment inside the mother's pouch, attached to her nipple. Based on the mating system, it is unlikely that there is paretal care provided by males.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; altricial ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Protecting: Female)
- Lundie-Jenkins, G. 2001. "Recovery plan for the bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) 1997-2001" (On-line). Environment Australia. Accessed June 01, 2004 at http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery/bridled-nailtail/index.html.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Justification
History
- 1996Endangered(Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
- 1994Endangered(Groombridge 1994)
- 1990Endangered(IUCN 1990)
- 1988Endangered(IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
- 1986Endangered(IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
- 1982Endangered(Thornback and Jenkins 1982)
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Conservation Status
Onychogalea fraenata is part of a large recovery plan. The number of these wallabies has declined due to competition with domestic animals, habitat destruction, and the introduction of carnivores (mainly foxes and dingos). Onychogalea fraenata has already been successfully reintroduced into the Idalia National Park and there are plans for other reintroductions from animals in captive breeding programs. The species is listed as Endangered by IUCN and is on Appendix I of CITES.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: appendix i
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: endangered
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Status: Endangered
Date Listed: 12/02/1970
Lead Region: Foreign (Region 10)
Where Listed:
Population detail:
Population location: entire
Listing status: E
For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Onychogalea fraenata , see its USFWS Species Profile
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Status
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Trends
Population
The population at the Idalia is about 450 individuals (Lundie-Jenkins and Lowry 2005). There is no estimate for the size of the Avocet population, but it is said to be self-sustaining (Lundie-Jenkins and Lowry 2005). The recovery plan considers the Western Plains Zoo and Scotia populations as “intensively managed predator-free enclosures” (Lundie-Jenkins and Lowry 2005), and these would not be considered self-sustaining in terms of the IUCN criteria.
Population Trend
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Threats
Threats
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Threats
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Management
Conservation Actions
Recommendations from the recovery plan (Lundie-Jenkins and Lowry 2005), include: managing existing bridled nailtail wallaby populations to maintain or increase current population levels; monitoring existing and future translocated populations; further translocations; maintaining captive breeding populations; and greater community and stakeholder education and involvement.
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Conservation
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
This species has little effect on humans.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Because nail-tailed wallabies are only found in national parks, they may be important for ecotourism.
Positive Impacts: ecotourism
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Wikipedia
Bridled nail-tail wallaby
Bridled nail-tail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) is an endangered species of marsupial. It is a small wallaby found in three isolated areas in Queensland, Australia, and whose population is declining. Estimations place the present total population of the species at around 500 individuals.
Contents |
Description
 | This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability. |
The small wallaby is named for its three distinguishing characteristics; a white "bridle" line that runs down from the back of the neck around the shoulders, and the horny spur on the end of its tail. Its common name is in the variant bridled nail-tailed wallaby, and archaically flashjack. The bridled nail-tail wallaby can grow to 1 meter in length, half of which is tail, and weighs 4–8 kg. Females are somewhat smaller than the males.
Key physical features are the bridle markings, a black dorsal stripe and the tail spur. Other markings include stripes on their cheeks, which is often seen in other species of wallabies as well. The tail spur can be 3–6 mm long and partly covered in hair. Its purpose is unclear.
The "nail-tail" is a feature common to two other species of wallabies, the crescent nail-tail wallaby and the northern nail-tail wallaby. While the crescent nail-tail was declared extinct in 1956, the northern nail-tail wallaby still exists in steady populations in northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.
The wallabies are most active during the night-time and dusk periods. Day is usually spent sleeping in hollows near bushes or trees. In modern habitats, nail-tails keep close to the edges of pasture grasses.
These wallabies have a strong reputation as shy and solitary animals. They may occasionally form small groups of up to four to feed together when grazing is in short supply.
The bridled nail-tail wallaby likes to avoid confrontation and has two main ways of avoiding threats – hiding in hollow logs and crawling under low shrubs. If caught in the open, it may try to lie completely still hoping not to be observed.
Joeys are brought up in the mother's pouch. One young is born at a time and availability of food sources determine how often they breed. The gestation period is about 23 days and the joey stays in the pouch for around four months.
History
At the time of European settlement, bridled nail-tail wallabies were common all along the East Australian coastline region to the west of the Great Dividing Range. Naturalists in the 19th century reported that the species ranged from the Murray River region of Victoria through central New South Wales to Charters Towers in Queensland.[2][3]
The species declined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with no confirmed sightings between 1937 and 1973, by which time it was believed to be extinct. After reading an article in a magazine about Australia's extinct species, a fencing contractor reported that there was an extant population on a property near Dingo, Queensland.[4][5]
Recovery efforts
Since its rediscovery, the bridled nail-tail has been the target of private conservation efforts to re-establish viable populations. Captive breeding programs have allowed the establishment of three populations; two in State reserves located at Idalia and Taunton National Parks, and another on a private reserve, Project Kial, located near Marlborough in the Central Queensland region. There are an estimated 400–600 individuals.[4][6]
Major threats to the species are predation by introduced species, namely feral cats and foxes. Protecting habitats from these predators is key to maintaining reserve populations.
Scientific significance
The bridle nail-tail wallaby is of interest to marsupial researchers due to its immune system appearing to possess a hardier constitution than other species of marsupials. In the words of Central Queensland University based marsupial immunologist Lauren J Young, "These wallabies appear to be able to survive parasite infections, viruses and various diseases more readily than other marsupials".[6]
References
- ^ McKnight, M. (2008). Onychogalea fraenata. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as endangered
- ^ J. Gould (1863), The Mammals of Australia, London.
- ^ R. Collet (1887). "On a collection of mammals from central and northern Queensland". Zoologische Jahrbucke (2): 829–940.
- ^ a b G. Gordon and B.C. Lawrie (1980). "The Rediscovery of the Bridled Nail-Tailed Wallaby, Onychogalea fraenata (Gould) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)". Australian Wildlife Research 7 (7): 339–345. doi:10.1071/WR9800339. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR9800339.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
- ^ "Bridled nailtail wallaby". State of Queensland (Environmental Protection Agency). http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/bridled_nailtail_wallaby/. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ a b Dempsey, Shelley (2008). "Animal Magic". Be Magazine (Hardie Grant Magazines for CQUniversity): p. 30
- Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. eds. 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.
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