Yellow-footed Rock-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: Petrogale xanthopus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 29 Jun 2022

Description

The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby is a small, richly coloured wallaby. It is the largest of the 23 described forms of the rock-wallaby genus Petrogale. Adult males and females weigh an average 8 and 6 kg respectively, with occasional males weighing over 11 kg. The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby is one of the most brightly coloured of all Australian mammals and is readily identified by its colouring and patterning. It has a thick, grey-coloured coat with a dark mid-dorsal stripe and white cheek, flank and hip stripes. Its chest and belly are light-coloured and its limbs and ears are a rich golden colour. The tail is long, cylindrical, blunt ended, and characteristically banded dark brown and golden-brown.

Distribution

Formerly more widespread through the ranges of South Australia, western NSW and into south-western Queensland. Thought to have occurred over the entire north-western NSW fold belt from Broken Hill to Tibooburra, including on the Barrier, Scopes, Bynguano and southern Grey Ranges. Now only known from Mutawintji National Park and Mutawintji Nature Reserve, where less than 100 animals were recently counted (July 2003) during annual surveys.

Habitat and ecology

The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby inhabits semi-arid country, occurring on rock outcrops in association with Mulga scrub. The broken country favoured by rock-wallabies provides them with permanent waterholes and shelter sites from summer heat and predators. Furthermore, the agility of the rock-wallabies in this type of country enables them to escape predators more readily when pursued. The habitat also provides a variety of food sources.
The cliffs, rocky slopes and rockfalls on and adjacent to the Gap and Coturaundee Ranges are significant habitat for the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby. It is not yet known the extent to which they browse and graze away from the range or on the escarpment. However, during distributional surveys conducted in 2000 and 2001, Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies were never observed on the flat plains below.
The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby eats a range of herbaceous forbs (e.g. Cyanoglossum), young grasses (e.g. Themeda) and browse (leaves of trees and woody shrubs, e.g. Acacia and Callitris), with the former being dominant in better conditions and the latter becoming more important in dry seasons. In many areas there is an absolute shortage of browse during droughts, due predominantly to over-browsing by exotic herbivores. During winter this species emerges during the day to bask in the sun, feed and groom. In summer they feed before sunrise and after sunset on the slopes and elevated terraces close to the caves in which they shelter.
Droughts are frequent and the rainfall often occurs as localised heavy thunderstorms. Topography is generally low, but rising steeply from the landscape are isolated rocky outcrops, cliffs and ridges of harder rocks. It is on these raised ‘islands’ that the rock-wallabies are found.
The species lives in colonies of up to one hundred individuals. Within each colony, each rockpile is occupied by a small group comprising several females with a larger male and a number of smaller males. Individual animals occupy home ranges of 150 to 200 hectares centred on the rocky areas and overlapping with other members of the colony.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Broken Hill Complex

Threats

Competition from introduced herbivores (particularly feral goats, but also rabbits) for food, water and shelter may prevent any population expansion and recovery. This threat is exacerbated during drought periods. Grazing by sheep, goats and rabbits on areas surrounding the remnant colonies may also prevent recolonisation of previously-inhabited sites.
Predation by feral predators (mainly by foxes, but also cats) limiting the recovery of remnant colonies. Juvenile rock-wallabies are most at risk from these predators.
Isolation of populations in NSW placing the population at risk from stochastic events and genetic introgression.
Hunting for the fur trade was a significant pressure late last and early this century. Large numbers of these attractive wallabies were slaughtered for their skins, resulting in the rapid decline or disappearance of several colonies in South Australia. Whilst this particular threat no longer applies, it had a considerable impact on the abundance and distribution of this species.
Mineral exploration and the subsequent mining has disturbed the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby in some areas. However, rock-wallabies are still present in most mining areas of South Australia that are known to have had colonies, though it is possible that some colonies were exterminated and the localities subsequently recolonised.
Climate change and drought impacting resource availability
Uncertainty of future land management practices, which could limit access or on-ground conservation at the site

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

Control foxes and feral goats and rabbits.
Erect goat exclusion fencing if feasible.
Alteration of prescribed burning and grazing regimes to ensure the enhancement and maintenance of known or potential habitats.
Monitor the population and report major fluxes in population numbers to the Department of Environment and Conservation..
Maintain natural watering points within areas occupied by Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies.
Report any new populations to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Information sources

Dawson, T.J. and Ellis, B.A. (1979) Comparison of the diets of Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies and sympatric herbivores in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 6: 245-54
Lim, L. (1988) Ecology and management of the rare Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus, Gray 1954 (Macropodidae). Aust. J. Ecol. 13(3): 347-49.
Lim, L., Mahood, I. and Siepen, G. (1980) Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. Parks and Wildlife. August 1980: 27-32.
Maynes, G.M. and Sharman, G.B. (1983) Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby. Pp. 217-19 in Strahan, R. (ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Angus and Robertson Publishers, Sydney
Sharman, G.B., Maynes, G.M., Eldridge, M.D.B. and Close, R.L. (1995) Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus. Pp. 391-3 in Strahan, R. (ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. Sydney.