Onychogalea Gray 1841

The nail-tail wallabies, of genus Onychogalea, are three species of macropods, all found in Australia. Related to kangaroos and wallabies, they are smaller species distinguished by a horny spur at the end of their tail. The northern nail-tail wallaby is still common in the northern part of Australia,^[1] the crescent nail-tail is now extinct,^[2] and the bridled nail-tail is considered rare and endangered, with probably fewer than 1100 mature individuals in the wild.^[3] Nail-tail wallabies are smaller than many other wallabies.^[4]

Taxonomy

There are three recognised species of the genus Onychogalea, the nail-tailed wallabies, they are:^[5]

• Onychogalea fraenata, the bridled nailtail, whose range and population has greatly declined since colonisation;
• Onychogalea lunata, the crescent nailtail, warong, once abundant and widespread across the southwest and centre, the smallest species entered a rapid decline and became extinct;
• Onychogalea unguifera the northern species, still extant in the Kimberley and Top End regions.

Description

A genus of Macropodidae, small and herbivorous species with a shy disposition. The earliest descriptions noted their elegant shape, graceful movements and beautiful markings.^[6] Named for one of their general characteristics, the nail-tailed wallaby has a horny point two or three millimetres wide at the tip of the tail, an almost unknown characteristic for a mammal that has been compared to the bony spur of a lion's tail.^[7][6]

References