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Common Name: Black-flanked Rock-wallaby

Scientific Name: Petrogale lateralis

 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Diprotodontia

Family: Macropodidae

Genus: Petrogale

Species: P. lateralis

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The Black-flanked Rock-wallaby has a lot of different characteristics that many people may not know about.

 

Black-flanked Rock -wallabies are found in most parts of West Australia. They have black and grey coloration to blend in with their surroundings. They also have short, woolly fur that is mainly located around the base of the tail, which is used for balancing themselves on rocks which they hop on with their highly textured soles on their feet to prevent slipping. Also Black- flanked Rock-wallabies don’t reach maturity until 1-2 years of age.

Nearly 70 Black-flanked Rock-wallabies are left in most parts of West Australia. Their whole population is also near threat. Some predators like foxes, fiseral cats, sheeps, goats, rabbits, and harmful fires cause their population to decrease.

 

Most Black-flanked Rock-wallabies eat fruit, leaves, and a variety of different herbs, but rarely ever drinks water.

Some interesting facts about Black -flanked Rock-wallabies are that their females go through an embryonic dispause, which is the development of the embryo to temporarily stop until the environment is fit for the development to complete.

Author: A.J. O
Published: February 2011

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Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrogale_lateralis
Collier’s Encyclopedia 23 USA to Zworykin
http://www.naturefoundation.org.au/

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Photo Credit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-flanked_Rock-wallaby

 

 

 

 

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