Spectacled Hare-wallaby
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| Spectacled Hare-wallaby[1] Fossil range: Recent[2] |
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| Lagorchestes conspicillatus Gould, 1842 |
The Spectacled Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) is a species of macropod found in Australia. It is the only hare-wallaby not to belong to the threatened or extinct categories, but it is nevertheless classified as near threatened.[3]
The Spectacled Hare-wallaby is found across northern Australia in tropical tussock or spinifex habitats. It can be found from Queensland to Western Australia. It is a solitary, nocturnal herbivore, and is considerably larger than its relatives. It is coloured grey-brown with golden tips and an orange circle around its eye, from which it gets its name.[4] It builds its nests among the tough vegetation. When disturbed it hops off in a zigzag manner. The young are produced singly at any time of the year and become sexually mature at about a year old.[5]
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[edit] Threat and status
The subspecies L. conspicillatus conspicillatus is restricted to Barrow Island, Western Australia, but was once found throughout the Montebello Islands. Predation by introduced species and development on the island have led to a vulnerable status. L. conspicillatus leichardti, the mainland subspecies, does not have a threatened status. However, concern exists regarding the disappearance from arid parts of its far northern range. Reintroduction to former habitats has been proposed, following the related Western Shield projects.[6]
[edit] Fossil record
A Spectacled Hare-wallaby fossil was discovered in Queensland dating up to 11,000 years ago from the early Holocene.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 63. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ a b http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=40152&is_real_user=1
- ^ a b Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group (1996). Lagorchestes conspicillatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
- ^ Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, 108.
- ^ Whitfield, Philip (1998). The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Animals. New York: Marshall Editions Development Limited, pg 28.
- ^ Burbidge, Andrew A (2004). "4. Mammals", Threatened animals of Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management, 64. ISBN 0 7307 5549 5. “Vulnerable. 'Montebello Renewal', a Western Shield project, is eradicating feral cats and rats ...”
[edit] External links
- Lagorchestes conspicillatus leichhardi (mainland subspecies, includes photo)
- Spectacled Hare-wallaby at Australian Museum
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