Wallaroo is a common name for several species of moderately large macropods, intermediate in size between the kangaroos and the wallabies. The word "wallaroo" is from the Dharug walaru. In general, a large, slim-bodied macropod of the open plains is called a "kangaroo"; a small to medium-sized one, particularly if it is relatively thick-set, is a "wallaby". Most wallaroos are only a little smaller than a kangaroo and a little bigger than a wallaby, fairly thick-set, and are found in open country. All share a particular habit of stance: wrists raised, elbows tucked close into the body, and shoulders thrown back, and all have a large, black-skinned rhinarium.
The common wallaroo or wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) is the best-known species. There are four subspecies of the common wallaroo: the eastern wallaroo (O. r. robustus) and the euro (O. r. erubescens), which are both widespread, and two of more restricted range, one from Barrow Island (the Barrow Island wallaroo (O. r. isabellinus)), the other from the Kimberley region (the Kimberley wallaroo (O. r. woodwardi)).
The black wallaroo (Osphranter bernardus) occupies an area of steep, rocky ground in Arnhem Land. At around 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 inches) in length (excluding tail) it is the smallest wallaroo and the most heavily built. Males weigh 19 to 22 kg (42 to 49 lb), females about 13 kg (29 lb). Because it is very wary and is found only in a small area of remote and very rugged country, it is little-known.
Osphranter antilopinus is the exception among the wallaroos. It is, essentially, the far northern equivalent of the eastern grey and western grey kangaroos. Like them, it is a creature of the grassy plains and woodlands and is gregarious, whereas the other wallaroos are solitary. Because of this difference, it is sometimes called the antilopine kangaroo.[1]
References
- ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). "Order Diprotodontia". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 63–65. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
External links
The dictionary definition of wallaroo at Wiktionary
Media related to Macropus robustus at Wikimedia Commons
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