wallaroo
{{Short description|Category of marsupial}}
{{other uses}}
File:Wallaroo_002.jpg{{Citation|last=Ltshears|title=English: Wallaroo Macropus robustus at Louisville Zoo|date=2009-10-04|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wallaroo_002.jpg|access-date=2021-05-06}}]]
Wallaroo {{IPAc-en|w|Q|l|@|"|r|u:}}{{Cite book|title=The Chambers Dictionary|publisher=Chambers|year=2003|isbn=0-550-10105-5|edition=9th|chapter=wallaroo}} is a common name for several species of moderately large macropods, intermediate in size between the kangaroos and the wallabies, that are native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. The word "wallaroo" is from the Dharug walaru with spelling influenced by the words "kangaroo" and "wallaby".{{Cite web|title=Definition of WALLAROO|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wallaroo|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}
Description
Wallaroos are typically distinct species from kangaroos and wallabies.{{Cite web|date=2008-03-11|title=What's the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo?|url=https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/wallaby-vs-kangaroo.htm|access-date=2021-05-06|website=HowStuffWorks|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Difference Between a Kangaroo, a Wallaby, and a Wallaroo - Lucky Kangaroos|url=https://luckykangaroos.com/en/difference-kangaroo-wallaby-wallaroo/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=luckykangaroos.com}} An exception is the antilopine wallaroo, which is commonly known as an antilopine kangaroo when large, an antilopine wallaby when small, or an antilopine wallaroo when of intermediate size.
Species
Wallaroo may refer to one of several species in the genus Osphranter:
- The common wallaroo or wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) is the best-known species. There are four subspecies of the common wallaroo: the eastern wallaroo (O. r. robustus) and the euro (O. r. erubescens), which are both widespread, and two of more restricted range, one from Barrow Island (the Barrow Island wallaroo (O. r. isabellinus)), the other from the Kimberley region (the Kimberley wallaroo (O. r. woodwardi)).
- The black wallaroo (O. bernardus) occupies an area of steep, rocky ground in Arnhem Land. At around {{convert|60|to|70|cm|in|0|abbr=in}} in length (excluding tail) it is the smallest wallaroo and the most heavily built. Males weigh {{convert|19|to|22|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, females about {{convert|13|kg|abbr=on}}. Because it is very wary and is found only in a small area of remote and very rugged country, it is little-known.
- The antilopine wallaroo (O. antilopinus),{{Cite web|title=Australian Faunal Directory|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/MACROPODIDAE/names|access-date=2021-05-06|website=biodiversity.org.au|language=en}} also known as the antilopine kangaroo{{MSW3 Diprotodontia|pages=63–65|id=11000239}} or the antilopine wallaby, is a creature of the grassy plains and woodlands and is gregarious, unlike other wallaroos which are solitary.
References
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External links
- {{wiktionary-inline|wallaroo}}
- {{commonscatinline|Macropus robustus}}
{{Diprotodontia|M.}}
Category:Marsupials of Australia