39.

Sharman’s Rock Wallaby

Petrogale sharmani

French: Wallaby de Sharman / German: Sharman-Felskdnguru / Spanish: Ualabi rupestre de Sharman

Other common names: Mt Claro Rock Wallaby, Sharman's Rock-wallaby

Taxonomy. Petrogale sharman: Eldridge & Close, 1992,

Mount Claro, north-eastern Queensland, Australia.

A member of the lateralis / penicillata group of species (which includes also P. rothschildi, P. lateralis, P. purpureicollis, P. penicillata, P herbert, P. inornata, P. assimilis, P mareeba, P. godmani, P. coenensis). Formerly regarded as a race of P. assimilis and earlier of P. inornata. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Australia, Seaview and Coane Ranges, W of Ingham, NE Queensland.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 43-53 cm (males) and 43.5-47.8 cm (females), tail 44.-5-53.2 cm (males) and 43.5-54 cm (females); weight 3-3—4-7 kg (males) and 3.4-8 kg (females). Coloration varies with rock substrate. Gray-brown dorsally, paler sandy brown ventrally; arms, legs, and base oftail also pale. Paws and feet darker than limbs. Pale cheek stripe and pale patch on face between eyes. Faint dorsal head stripe and axillary patch occasionally present. Tail darkening to almost black distally, with slight brush. Moults in autumn to predominantly gray on back and flanks, then progressively browner through year. Diploid chromosome numberis 20.

Habitat. Rocky outcrops, boulder piles, rocky slopes and gullies, cliffs, and gorges within open forest and grassy woodland.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely to be similar to the Allied Rock Wallaby (P. assimilis).

Breeding. Poorly known. Females produce a single young and appear to breed continuously. Young spend c.6-5 months in the pouch and are weaned 2-3 monthslater. Males reach sexual maturity at c¢.20 months.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal in summer, crepuscular or partially diurnal in other months. Shelters during day among rocks or within boulder piles. Moves off the rocks in late afternoon or early evening to feed in surrounding forest/woodland. In cooler months may sit on rocks to bask in the sun, especially in late afternoon or early morning.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Poorly known. Likely to be similar to the Allied Rock Wallaby. Colonies may contain up to 40 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Sharman’s Rock Wallaby is patchily distributed within a highly restricted range (only approximately 200,000 ha). Only ten populations are currently known, and there are likely to be fewer than 1000 mature individuals. Several populations occur in protected areas. The species may be threatened by habitat degradation as a consequence of cattle grazing and altered fire regimes. Competition with feral goats and predation by domestic/feral cats (Felis catus) are also potential threats. Additional research on species abundance, general ecology, and the impact of potential threats is urgently required.

Bibliography. Bell et al. (1989), Close & Bell (1990), Eldridge (1997, 2012c), Eldridge & Close (2008g), Eldridge, Johnson et al. (2008), Sharman et al. (1989), Spencer (1991), Winter, Burnett & Martin (2008h), Woinarski et al. (2014az).