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Short-eared Rock Wallaby
Petrogale brachyotis
-16.3256, 128.799
Field Notes
Description:
Short-eared Rock Wallabies "have ears that are not more than half the length of their heads, hence their name. The [fur] is uniform in color [on the back] and can have variable whitish margins. [Fur] color ranges from light grey and almost white in western populations to dark grey and brown in eastern populations. They have an extremely long, bushy, and thickly-haired tail which is used primarily for balancing. Short-eared rock wallabies have a well-padded hind foot, with the [black] sole being roughly granulated. This characteristic gives these animals a secure grip on rocky surfaces, which is their primary habitat." (http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Petrogale_brachyotis/ ) Females have a pouch which is a distinct characteristic of marsupials (see pic 1 for a brief look at the stretched looking opening).
Habitat:
On the rocky cliff edges of Lake Argyle, East Kimberley (see pic 6). Lake Argyle "[and Lake] Kununurra Ramsar Site comprises an extensive system of artificial freshwater reservoirs, with their associated permanent wetlands, formed by damming the Ord River in the eastern part of the Kimberley Region of northern Western Australia. The reservoirs include Lake Argyle and Lake Kununurra. There are numerous endemic plants and a rich fauna. The 1,500 km2 (580 sq mi) site was designated a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on 7 June 1990, making it Ramsar Site 478." (Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakes_Argyle_and_Kununurra_Ramsar_Site )
Notes:
These pics were taken while kayaking on Lake Argyle. Very privileged to see two separate sightings of joeys! (see pics 2 and 5, pic 3 with a female).
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