Identification of Warrumbungle Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby


Identification




The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata is a medium-sized wallaby (Females 5 to 6.5kg, Males 6 to 7.5kg) with distinctive facial markings and a long, thickly-furred tail that becomes slightly brushed towards the tip. Juveniles are more brightly marked than adults. (from NPWS Recovery Plan) The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby has brown fur above, merging into rufous on the rump and grey on the shoulders. The fur on the underside is pale to white. Distinguishing features are the prominent brush-tail, pale cheek stripe and black stripe from the forehead to back of the head. The tail, feet and paws are dark brown to black. (from NPWS Information Sheet)

	The distinctively heavily padded feet and the long balancing tail give the rock-wallaby great agility to escape predators on steep cliffs and in lower branches of trees.

		Distinctive elongated scats
			The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is particularly shy and elusive. Its presence and abundance are indicated by the elongated scats it leaves behind (compared to the more rounded scats of other wallabies and kangaroos). The pellets usually have a coarse appearance as if the grass has been poorly chewed. Scats can be collected and identified by DEC (formerly NPWS) officers.Genetic testing can be used for positive identification of individual rock-wallabies, but it is expensive.

Friends of the Warrumbungle Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby 2004