Northern Nail-tail Wallaby
Encyclopedia
The Northern Nail-tail Wallaby (Onychogalea unguifera), also known as the Sandy Nail-tail Wallaby, is a species of macropod found in Queensland
, Western Australia
and Northern Territory
. Unlike the Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby
(O. fraenata), the Northern Nail-tail Wallaby is not a threatened species. The only other member of the genus, the Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby
(O. lunata), is extinct.
The Northern Nail-tail Wallaby by far the largest species in the genus Onychogalea. It is a solitary, nocturnal browser feeding on a variety of foliage. It is a sandy colour, which gave rise to its other common name.
Two subspecies have been defined, but their validity is disputed.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. Unlike the Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby
Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby
Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby refers to Onychogalea fraenata, an endangered species of marsupial. It is a small wallaby found in three isolated areas in Queensland, Australia, and whose population is declining...
(O. fraenata), the Northern Nail-tail Wallaby is not a threatened species. The only other member of the genus, the Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby
Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby
The Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby was a nail-tail wallaby that lived in the woodlands and scrubs of the west and centre of Australia. It had silky fur and, like other nail-tail wallabies, had a horny spur at the tip of its tail. It was the size of a hare and was the smallest nail-tail wallaby at...
(O. lunata), is extinct.
The Northern Nail-tail Wallaby by far the largest species in the genus Onychogalea. It is a solitary, nocturnal browser feeding on a variety of foliage. It is a sandy colour, which gave rise to its other common name.
Two subspecies have been defined, but their validity is disputed.
- O. u. unguifera from the northwestern part of its range;
- O. u. annulicauda from the northeastern part of its range.