Swamp Wallaby
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| Wallabia bicolor (Lesson, 1828) |
The Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) is a small (85 cm 33 in) macropod marsupial of Australia. It is also known as a Black Wallaby or Stinker (in Queensland). It is dark-brown to black above and light yellow to strong rufous-orange below - thus the latin name bicolor.
"Swampees" will eat leaves, grass, young plants and have even been seen eating lantana.
According to Aboriginal people of the Bundjalung Nation, the Swamp Wallaby was considered inedible, due to its smell and taste after cooking.
[edit] Taxonomic debate
J C Merchant places the Swamp Wallaby in the genus Wallabia. Writing in Mammals of Australia, Ronald Strahan (ed), revised edition, Reed New Holland Publishers, Sydney, 1995, Merchant says “A combination of genetic, reproductive, dental and behavioural characteristics set the Swamp Wallaby so far apart from other wallabies that it is classified as the sole living member of the genus Wallabia.” p409. Others point out that the Swamp Wallaby can hybridize with Macropus agilis (agile wallaby) so perhaps should be placed in the genus Macropus.
 Holding a leaf — right before eating it |
 A young swampee holds the "feeding hand" by the pinkie. |
[edit] References
- Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group (2000). Wallabia bicolor. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 70. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
[edit] External links
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