Black-striped Wallaby - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Macropus dorsalis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 08 Feb 2022

Description

The Black-striped Wallaby is a small to medium-sized wallaby, grey-brown in colour with a narrow black stripe running down the centre of the back. It is smaller and more colourful than the more common Red-necked Wallaby, with rust-red patches on the shoulders, arms and upper legs and prominent white cheek- and hip-stripes. It also has a distinctive gait, hopping with a hunched or crouched stance.

Distribution

From the Townsville area in Queensland to northern NSW where it occurs on both sides of the Great Divide. On the north west slopes of NSW it occurs in Brigalow remnants to south of Narrabri. On the north coast it is confined to the upper catchments of the Clarence and Richmond Rivers.

Habitat and ecology

Preferred habitat is characterised by dense woody or shrubby vegetation within three metres of the ground. This dense vegetation must occur near a more open, grassy area to provide suitable feeding habitat.
On the north west slopes, associated with dense vegetation, including brigalow, ooline and semi-evergreen vine thicket.
On the north coast, closely associated with dry rainforest but also occur in moist eucalypt forest with a rainforest understorey or a dense shrub layer.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Clearing, fragmentation and isolation of habitat for agriculture and forestry.
Predation by feral and wild dogs.
Overgrazing of habitat by domestic stock.
Grazing of habitat by feral goats and rabbits.
Predation by foxes.
Weed species such as Prickly pear and Lantana degrading habitat quality.
Illegal killing by poisoning or shooting.
Risk of local extinction because populations are small and isolated.
Risk of high frequency fires in small reserves (e.g. national parks, Travelling Stock Reserves, remnants on private land) and increased pressure to burn in small remnants to control weeds or protect assets.
Need to better understand how or if native or introduced predators impact Black-striped Wallaby abundance in the long-term.
Predation by feral cats.
Habitat fragmentation through clearing and loss of connectivity.
Loss of grazing habitat and dependence and conflict on agricultural land from grazing on farms and Travelling Stock Reserves (TSR’s).
Predation by wild dogs of which Black-striped Wallaby are a preferred prey species.
Lack of knowledge of the species in NSW limiting the ability to ensure viable populations.
Lack of information on the threat of predation and the effectiveness of management actions
Lack of knowledge of habitat use across the landscape in north-western part of range, including population dynamics and use of small remnants with limited connectivity.
Loss of individuals from collisions with vehicles due to their habitat being significantly fragmented and animals having to negotiate roads and tracks.
Climate change with increased fire events and changes in rainfall impacting the structure and quality of habitat, particularly in fragmented landscapes.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Undertake control of predatory foxes, dogs and feral cats. Control competing feral grazing animals such as goats and rabbits.
Manage known and potential habitat to maintain mosaic of dense understorey vegetation and open areas.
Reduce or prevent grazing of habitat by domestic stock.
Control weeds in areas of known and potential habitat.
Protect known and potential habitat from clearing, fragmentation and isolation.
Reconnect patches of known and potential habitat with wide, densely vegetated corridors.
Monitor populations with shelter or feeding habitat occurring on private land.
Report any instances of illegal killing to the DEC.

Information sources

Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Uni Press, Melbourne.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Fauna. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
Strahan, R. (ed.) (1995) The Mammals of Australia. (Australian Museum and Reed Books, Sydney)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	North of Gunnedah
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	North of Mt Neville Nature Reserve
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	West of Kyogle
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None

Images

Black-striped Wallaby
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Nature conservation

Threatened species