Woodward's wallaroo
The Black wallaroo (Osphranter bernardus) is a species of macropod that lives in a small mountainous area in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. It is classified as near threatened, mostly due to its limited distribution. A large proportion of the range is protected by Kakadu National Park.
The Black wallaroo is a smaller member of the kangaroos and wallabies, and the smallest of the wallaroos. The male's fur color is uniformly black or dark brown and has yellowish coloration at the forearm, the female is a mid-grey color and has dark brown to black at the ends of the limbs and tail. The species is identifiable by a body form that is rotund and muscular and ears that are oval in shape and relatively short.
Black wallaroos are found in the restricted area of eastern Arnhemland, from the South Alligator River to Narbalek, and occur within this range at Mt Brockman and Nourlangie Rock. They inhabit woodlands, rainforest over sandstone, and sandy plains dominated by a variety of grasses. The soil of the habitat is very shallow and interspersed with bare rock surfaces, typically sandstone.
Black wallaroos are nocturnal animals that do not gather in groups. They hide from predators and extremes of weather at the rocky escarpments or caves and will rapidly seek these whenever they are disturbed. During the day they stay in their shelters until emerging at night to forage. Black wallaroos are usually seen alone, or as a male and female pair with perhaps one larger young. They may also be seen in the company of others of the genus, such as the Antilopine kangaroo and the Common wallaroo, especially when gathering to drink at waterholes. Black wallaroos are very shy and will attempt to flee an observer by seeking their refuge at a nearby hill or sandstone escarpment, and if pursued demonstrate great agility in leaping to ledges or descending to the ground. They also seek respite from the sun beneath escarpments or in the shade of large trees, only venturing away from these to forage for grasses and herbs or access water at a nearby location.
Black wallaroos are herbivores (graminivores). They eat mainly grasses and shrubs.
The breeding season of Black wallaroos usually takes place throughout the year and depends on the availability of food resources. After the gestation period of 31-36 days, females give birth to a single young. After about 6 months the young is ready to leave the mother’s pouch, however, it will stay around the mother and return to suckle for many months more.
Since Black wallaroos live in a very small protected area they may suffer from the change of fire patterns which can destroy their habitat.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Black wallaroo total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List.