Nail-tail wallaby

Short nail kangaroo ( Onychogalea fraenata ) Illustration by John Gould

The nail kangaroos ( Onychogalea, Eng. Nailtail Wallabies ) are a marsupial genus of the family of kangaroos. They owe their name to a nail-like spur on the tail end. The genus includes two living and one extinct species:

• Short nail kangaroo ( Onychogalea fraenata )
• Moon nail kangaroo ( Onychogalea lunata ) †
• Northern nail kangaroo ( Onychogalea unguifera )

Features

With a weight of 3 to 9 kg include the nail kangaroos to smaller kangaroo species. As with most kangaroos, the hind legs are much longer and stronger than the front legs. The tail is long and muscular, the nail-like spur on the tail end, which is partially obscured by fur is pressed while jumping into the ground, making a leverage effect. The fur of these animals is included at the top or gray in color, the underside is whitish. Often white stripes on the shoulders or waist are available.

Dissemination and lifestyle

Earlier nail kangaroos were common almost all over Australia, today they are forced back into the northern regions of the continent. They inhabit different habitats, from dry steppe to open forests. Little is known about the habits of these animals. They are crepuscular and nocturnal and sleep during the day in shallow nests or among the lush vegetation. They live mostly solitary, but close sometimes in search of food with other animals together. Their diet consists of grasses and herbs, like all kangaroos they have a multi-chambered stomach for better utilization of indigestible plant food.

Endangering

Nail kangaroos have been severely affected by the arrival of Europeans in Australia affected. The moon nail kangaroo is middle of the 20th century died out, the short nail kangaroo also thought to be extinct before a population was found in the 1970s, which was placed under protection and run out of the breeding and reintroduction programs. Only one species, the Northern Nail kangaroo, is still relatively frequent.