Nabarlek
Encyclopedia
The Nabarlek also known as the Pygmy Rock-wallaby or the Little Rock-wallaby, is a very small species of macropod found in northern Australia
. It was formerly considered distinct enough to be assigned its own genus, Peradorcas, but it is now considered to belong, like the rest of the rock-wallabies, in the genus Petrogale.
The Nabarlek was, until the discovery of the Monjon
(Petrogale burbidgei) in 1978, the smallest rock-wallaby. It is generally grey with rufous tinges and patches of black around its body, and is a nocturnal, semi-gregarious grazer of grasses and other vegetation. It is classified as near threatened
by the IUCN.
The Nabarlek is found in three distinct population areas: in Arnhem Land
(including Groote Eylandt
); between the Mary
and Victoria Rivers in the Top End
; and the coastal Kimberley region of Western Australia
, including some islands in the Bonaparte Archipelago
. It is also found in Kakadu National Park
.
The Nabarlek is most closely related to the Monjon and to the Short-eared Rock-wallaby
(Petrogale brachyotis).
Three subspecies of the Nabarlek have been recognised:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was formerly considered distinct enough to be assigned its own genus, Peradorcas, but it is now considered to belong, like the rest of the rock-wallabies, in the genus Petrogale.
The Nabarlek was, until the discovery of the Monjon
Monjon
The Monjon , also known as the Warabi and Burbridge's Rock Weasel, is the smallest of the many species of rock-wallaby found in Australia. It is found in areas of the Kimberley region of Western Australia and also on some islands in the Bonaparte Archipelago.The Monjon was described in 1978, having...
(Petrogale burbidgei) in 1978, the smallest rock-wallaby. It is generally grey with rufous tinges and patches of black around its body, and is a nocturnal, semi-gregarious grazer of grasses and other vegetation. It is classified as near threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
by the IUCN.
The Nabarlek is found in three distinct population areas: in Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
(including Groote Eylandt
Groote Eylandt
Groote Eylandt is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northeastern Australia. It is the homeland of, and is owned by, the Anindilyakwa people who speak the isolated Anindilyakwa language)....
); between the Mary
Mary River (Northern Territory)
The Mary River flows in the Northern Territory of Australia and is a site of the Mary River National Park. Its lower reaches form part of the Adelaide and Mary River Floodplains Important Bird Area.-External links:**...
and Victoria Rivers in the Top End
Top End
The Top End of northern Australia is the second northernmost point on the continent. It covers a rather vaguely-defined area of perhaps 400,000 square kilometres behind the northern coast from the Northern Territory capital of Darwin across to Arnhem Land with the Indian Ocean on the west, the...
; and the coastal Kimberley region of Western Australia
Kimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
, including some islands in the Bonaparte Archipelago
Bonaparte Archipelago
The Bonaparte Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of Western Australia in the Kimberley region. The closest inhabited place is Kalumburu located about to the east of the island group....
. It is also found in Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin.Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of , extending nearly 200 kilometres from north to south and over 100 kilometres...
.
The Nabarlek is most closely related to the Monjon and to the Short-eared Rock-wallaby
Short-eared Rock-wallaby
The Short-eared Rock-wallaby is a species of rock-wallaby found in northern Australia, in the northernmost parts of Northern Territory and Western Australia...
(Petrogale brachyotis).
Three subspecies of the Nabarlek have been recognised:
- P. c. concinna - the Top EndTop EndThe Top End of northern Australia is the second northernmost point on the continent. It covers a rather vaguely-defined area of perhaps 400,000 square kilometres behind the northern coast from the Northern Territory capital of Darwin across to Arnhem Land with the Indian Ocean on the west, the...
population; - P. c. canescens - the Arnhem LandArnhem LandThe Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
population; - P. c. monastria - the KimberleyKimberley region of Western AustraliaThe Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
population.