Red-necked wallaby

Rotnackenwallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus )

The Rotnackenwallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus ) is a medium sized Känguruart from the group of wallabies. There are two subspecies, M. r. banksianus on the Australian mainland and M. r. rufogriseus to Tasmania. The Tasmanian subspecies is called Bennett Wallaby or Bennett kangaroo.

Features

Rotnackenwallabys reach a body length 92-105 cm. Their tail is about 70 to 75 inches long. The weight of the animals is 14 to 19 kg, with males considerably larger than females. It took its name from the reddish skin in the neck and shoulder area, the rest of the body is gray -brown. The subspecies occurring in Tasmania, the Bennett Wallaby is smaller and has longer hair than that occurring on the Australian mainland subspecies. As with most kangaroo species, the hind legs are much longer and stronger than the front legs, the tail is long and muscular.

The head is relatively small, as with all kangaroos, the ears are comparatively long. A white stripe extends to the upper lip, the muzzle is dark brown in color.

Distribution and habitat

Rotnackenwallabys live in the coastal regions of eastern and southeastern Australia, in the states of Queensland, New South Wales and the island of Tasmania. Habitat of these animals are predominantly eucalypt forests and open grassland adjacent thereto.

Way of life

They are crepuscular in the first place, where they sometimes look in daylight for food. You have no marked social behavior, many animals live solitary, but can also be loose, not close together permanent groups. The food is vegetable, as with all kangaroos and consists of grasses, weeds and saplings.

While animals can propagate to the mainland throughout the year, falling in Tasmania, most births in the months of February and March. The gestation period is around 30 days, the newborn spends his first nine months of life in the mother's pouch and is weaned at 12 to 17 months. As with many kangaroo species can also be with them a delayed birth observed.

Rotnackenwallabys and people

Rotnackenwallabys are common and widespread and include IUCN not an endangered species. There were frequent attempts to locate the animals outside their natural range. So there is a small population on the island Inchconachan in the Scottish Loch Lomond. Another population, but this is now thought to be extinct, it was in the Peak District in Derbyshire, England. Otto Koenig tried to reintroduce 50 copies in Austria. However, the animals died in the winter due to lack of food and liquid.

In Germany Bennett kangaroos are found in the region around Burg Stargard in Mecklenburg, for example. Here escaped in 2001 by a burglary several animals from their enclosure at the local zoo. Three animals could not be recaptured and multiply since in the great outdoors. In addition, hard winter 2009/2010 could not harm them. It should be pointed that are documented from England and Scotland since 1900 Verwilderungen this type. They are usually after some time in a particularly harsh winter perished (eg in the Peak District, Derbyshire, 1963 ).