Eastern Hare-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: Lagorchestes leporides

Conservation status in NSW: Extinct

Commonwealth status: Extinct

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

The Eastern Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes leporides) once also known as the Common Hare-wallaby, is an extinct species of wallaby that was native to southeastern Australia.

The Eastern Hare-wallaby was a small macropod, slightly larger and more slender than its surviving relative the Rufous Hare-wallaby. It had a body length of about 50 cm and a 33 cm long tail. Its fur color varied from black through brown to yellow with a grayish-white belly.

The last known specimen of this species was a female collected in August 1889 in New South Wales. There were no further sightings of this species, even though researchers well into the 1930s were still uncertain of its extinction.

Distribution

This species once inhabited the interior of New South Wales, Victoria and the Murray River region of South Australia. It was common in the level country between the Murray and Darling rivers, as well as the Liverpool Plains.

Habitat and ecology

The Eastern Hare-wallaby preferred habitat that consisted of open plains and grasslands.
It was a strictly nocturnal animal which led a solitary lifestyle. During the day it sat still in a well-formed 'seat', usually in the shelter of a saltbush or a tussock. If approached too closely, it would bound off at great speed.

Threats

The cause of the Eastern Hare-wallabys' extinction remains uncertain, as it died out before intensive agriculture was introduced throughout its distribution and before the red fox became common in its habitat. Several causes of its extinction have been suggested, including trampling of its grassland habitat by cattle and sheep, changed burning regimes, or predation by introduced cats.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

The species is presumed extinct. No conservation management actions are currently planned for NSW.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

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Eastern Hare-wallaby
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Nature conservation

Threatened species