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Tammar Wallaby
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Macropus eugenii
CLASS: na
ORDER: na
FAMILY: na
GENUS: na
SPECIES: na
LIFESPAN: 11 to 13 years
COLOR/PATTERN: Dark gray-brown coat with white lips, throat, chest, stomach and a light strip along the sides of the head.
HABITAT: na
RANGE: Southern and southwestern coastal areas of Australia and offshore islands.
LENGTH: under 18 inches; tail less than 13 inches
WEIGHT: 12 to 16 pounds
REPRODUCTION: na
DIET: Bark, leaves & grass
ACTIVE: na
STATUS: Tammar Wallabies are not listed on the US Endangered Species List nor on CITES. It is listed by IUCN as Lower Risk (near threatened). Listed in Western Australia as endangered.
NOTES:
- Tammars are the smallest of all wallabies, taking their name from the tamma thickets they inhabit.
- They are marsupials (pouched mammal) that spend the day at rest under dense vegitation and emerge to eat after dark.
- Though several may eat together, they do not form large groups.
- Tammars are the only known mammal able to survive in its dry habitat by drinking seawater when fresh water is not available.
- Their kidneys are extreemely efficient.
- In extreme temperatures, tammars lick their forearms to get cooler.
- Tammars are the first kangaroo species to be sighted by European explorers. The crew of a Dutch ship stranded near Wallaby Islands discovered them in 1629. The captain noted they resembled “hopping cats”.
- Captain Cook officially discovered the kangaroos when he landed in Australia 140 years later.
- Tammars are an important part of Aboriginal culture.
Last Update:Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 08:50:00
