The largest of the Rock-wallabies, Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies stand at 90-100cm tall, with males weighing an average of 8kgs and females 6kgs. They are one of the most brilliantly-coloured rock-wallabies, with brown and yellow rings on their tail, yellow paws, grey fur covering their body, and a white belly with white stripes on their cheeks, hips and abdomen.

Diet

Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies are a herbivorous species, feeding on herbaceous flowering plants, tender young grasses and tree and saltbush browse.

Social organisation and Reproduction

Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies live in colonies of up to 100 individuals, consisting of smaller groups with a dominant male, females and sub-dominant males. Dominant males will fight for females, and will mate with as many females as possible. Gestation lasts for approximately 31 days, after which a single joey is born and makes its way to the pouch. The joey will develop in the pouch for 6-7 months, and after leaving the pouch, will remain in a cave or crevice while the mother forages. Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies reach sexual maturity at approximately 18 months old.

Why are they endangered?

• Competition for food with feral herbivores, for example goats and cattle
• Predation by feral animals
• Geographic isolation
• Mining, damaging habitat
• Consequences of 1800-1900s hunting, reducing numbers and genetic diversity