Wallaroo/wɒləˈruː/[2] is a common name for several species of moderately large
macropods, intermediate in size between the
kangaroos and the
wallabies. The word "wallaroo" is from the
Dharugwalaru, and not a
portmanteau of the words "kangaroo" and "wallaby", as is commonly assumed.[3]
Description
Wallaroos are typically distinct species from kangaroos and wallabies.[4][5] An exception is the
antilopine wallaroo, which is commonly known as an antilopine kangaroo when large, an antilopine wallaby when small, or an antilopine wallaroo when of intermediate size.
Species
Wallaroo may refer to one of several species in the genus Osphranter:
The
common wallaroo or wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) is the best-known species. There are four
subspecies of the common wallaroo: the eastern wallaroo (O. r. robustus) and the euro (O. r. erubescens), which are both widespread, and two of more restricted range, one from
Barrow Island (the Barrow Island wallaroo (O. r. isabellinus)), the other from the
Kimberley region (the Kimberley wallaroo (O. r. woodwardi)).
The
black wallaroo (O. bernardus) occupies an area of steep, rocky ground in
Arnhem Land. At around 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 inches) in length (excluding tail) it is the smallest wallaroo and the most heavily built. Males weigh 19 to 22 kg (42 to 49 lb), females about 13 kg (29 lb). Because it is very wary and is found only in a small area of remote and very rugged country, it is little-known.
The
antilopine wallaroo(O. antilopinus),[6] also known as the antilopine kangaroo[7] or the antilopine wallaby, is a creature of the grassy plains and woodlands and is gregarious, unlike other wallaroos which are solitary.