The nail-tail wallabies, of
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
''Onychogalea'', are three species of
macropods, all found in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. Related to kangaroos and wallabies, they are smaller species distinguished by a horny spur at the end of their tail. The
northern nail-tail wallaby
The northern or sandy nail-tail wallaby (''Onychogalea unguifera'') is a species of macropod found across northern Australia on arid and sparsely wooded plains. The largest species of the genus '' Onychogalea'', it is a solitary and nocturnal h ...
is still common in the northern part of Australia, the
crescent nail-tail is now
extinct
Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...
, and the
bridled nail-tail is considered rare and
endangered
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...
, with probably fewer than 1100 mature individuals in the wild.
[International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource]
"Onychogalea fraenata"
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008 Nail-tail wallabies are smaller than many other wallabies.
Taxonomy
There are three recognised species of the genus ''Onychogalea'', the nail-tailed wallabies, they are:
* ''
Onychogalea fraenata'', the bridled nailtail, whose range and population has greatly declined since colonisation;
* ''
Onychogalea lunata'', the crescent nailtail, warong, once abundant and widespread across the southwest and centre, the smallest species entered a rapid decline and became extinct;
* ''
Onychogalea unguifera'' the northern species, still extant in the
Kimberley
Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to:
Places and historical events
Australia
Queensland
* Kimberley, Queensland, a coastal locality in the Shire of Douglas
South Australia
* County of Kimberley, a cadastral unit in South Australia
Ta ...
and
Top End
The Top End of Australia's Northern Territory is a geographical region encompassing the northernmost section of the Northern Territory, which aside from the Cape York Peninsula is the northernmost part of the Australian continent. It covers a ...
regions.
Description
A genus of
Macropodidae
Macropodidae is a Family (biology), family of marsupials that includes kangaroos, Wallaby, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons, quokkas, and several other groups. These genera are allied to the suborder Macropodiformes, containing ...
, small and herbivorous species with a shy disposition. The earliest descriptions noted their elegant shape, graceful movements and beautiful markings.
Named for one of their general characteristics, the nail-tailed wallaby has a horny point two or three millimetres wide at the tip of the tail, an almost unknown characteristic for a mammal that has been compared to the bony spur of a
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
's tail.
References
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q429799
Macropods
Marsupials of Australia
Taxa named by John Edward Gray