Prosperine Rock Wallaby (Petrogale persephone)

The Prosperine Rock Wallaby (Photograph: P.M. Johnson)


The prosperine rock wallaby has several small populations located in northeast Queensland, Australia, and on a number of Whitsunday group of islands. These areas have been extensively developed by humans; primarily by tourist attractions, urban cities/housing, and agriculture. All of those things greatly disturb the prosperine rock wallaby’s habitat and have contributed to its status of being an endangered species. This is a fairly new species with its first documentation in 1976.

Prosperine rock wallabies prefer rocky areas that are protected by the canopy of a forest. This species likes to be near open woodlands with plenty of grass. A prosperine rock wallaby will use rock crevices and caves for rest and shelter. Prosperine rock wallabies can easily climb a tree; however most of their time is spent on the ground. This animal is shy and tends to live in a colony with other prosperine rock wallabies. Prosperine rock wallabies are not nocturnal and can often be seen enjoying the sun when the weather is cool. There is padding on the hind feet that aide this species in gripping the rocks.

The average measurements of a prosperine rock wallaby are as follows: head and body 560mm, tail 600mm, weight 6.5kg. This species is very large. The fur of a prosperine rock wallaby is gray on the back fading into a lighter grey on the underbelly. There is a white stripe on the cheeks from the nose to under the eyes is present. The tail is grey on the first half and black on the second half. A black coloration is also observed on the feet and paws. The fur is short and thick.

Prosperine rock wallabies enjoy a diet consisting of grass. They find their food in the grassy woodlands in close proximity to their preferred habitat. A prosperine rock wallaby will not go far from the rocks, which makes it all the more important for the food source to be close by.

Information on the breeding habits is sparse probably due to the shy nature of the prosperine rock wallaby and a lack of captive specimen. Breeding appears to be continuous. Females can store their embryos until needed.

Further Information on the Prosperine Rock Wallaby:

Bibliography

Animal Info-Prosperine Rock Wallaby, Massicot, P., 8/8/04, www.animalinfo.org/species/petrpers.htm.

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia, Menkorst, P. and Knight, F. ©2001.