BRIDLED NAIL-TAIL WALLABY

The Bridled nail-tail wallaby is a small marsupial and a member of the kangaroo family (Macropodidae). It has a compact body with long hind legs, a long tail with a distinctive white tip, and a short snout. The fur coloration is greyish-brown with a dark stripe running from the back of the head to the shoulders, resembling a bridle, hence the name “bridled” nail-tail wallaby. The average adult size is around 40-60 cm in length, and they weigh between 2-5 kilograms.

The Bridled nail-tail wallaby is endemic to Australia and historically had a broader distribution. However, it is now limited to a small range in central Queensland. It inhabits open grasslands, woodlands, and shrublands with a mix of grasses and low vegetation, which provide suitable foraging habitat.

Bridled nail-tail wallabies are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the night and early morning. They are generally solitary animals and have excellent agility and jumping abilities. They are also known for their distinctive behavior of thumping their hind feet when alarmed, which serves as a warning to other individuals in the vicinity.

The diet of bridled nail-tail wallabies primarily consists of grasses, herbs, and other vegetation. They are selective feeders, choosing the most nutritious parts of plants. Due to their relatively small size, they can access food sources that larger herbivores may not be able to reach.

Female Bridled nail-tail wallabies have a well-developed pouch in which they carry and nurse their young, called joeys. After a gestation period of around 30-35 days, a tiny, undeveloped joey is born. The joey climbs into the pouch, where it continues to develop and nurse from its mother for several months before gradually spending more time outside the pouch.

Conservation status in NSW is now listed as Extinct

Commonwealth status: Endangered

The Bridled Nailtail Wallaby was believed to be extinct for much of the 20th century, until the chance discovery of a surviving population in 1973.

Threats that contributed to the decline of the Bridled nailtail wallaby include:

    Hunting in the early 1900s for its fur and because it was considered a pest

    Clearing of native vegetation as land was developed for agriculture and stock pasture

    Habitat loss, modification and degradation through continued vegetation clearing, drought, changing fire regimes and introduction of weeds such as buffel grass

      Predation by introduced predators such as dogs, foxes and feral cats

  Competition with introduced stock (mainly sheep) and rabbits.