Mammals · Diprotodontia · Macropodidae

Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby

Petrogale xanthopus

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It can leap as far as 4 metres between rocks and climb vertical cliff faces and tree trunks, thanks to the rough pads on its hind feet.

Weight

6 kg – 11 kg

Size

48 cm – 65 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

DesertMountainHerbivore Crepuscular Colonial Near Threatened Desert Mountain Mammal

1countries 1parks15same family

Fun facts

It can leap as far as 4 metres between rocks.
It can pause an embryo's development (embryonic diapause) through long droughts.
It can have a joey in the pouch, another out of it and an embryo on hold, all at once.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (marsupial mammal)
Habitat & environment: Steep rocky outcrops and gorges of semi-arid inland Australia (New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland)
Birth weight: Under 0.5 grams at birth
Size at birth: Extremely undeveloped at birth, finishing its development in its mother's pouch over some 194 days
Sexual maturity: Female: 16-18 months
Gestation / incubation: 31-33 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 young (twins rare)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 14.4-18 years in captivity

Sources consulted: ResearchGate (Queensland reproduction growth study); AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Critter Science; Animal Diversity Web; The Animal Facts; Animalia.bio; Wikipedia (Yellow-footed rock-wallaby); Australian Museum

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: All year round in the rocky gorges of the Flinders Ranges and western Queensland, at dawn and dusk, when it comes down from the rocks to drink.

Australia

Loading map…