Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby

Onychogalea fraenata

Australia's Threatened Species Category

Endangered

Listed since: 16/12/2016

IUCN's Threatened Species Category

Vulnerable

Listed since: 1/03/2016

Population trend: Stable

Other names: Bridled Nailtail Wallaby

Priority Species? No

The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.

Description

All four wild populations of the Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby are in reserve systems; Taunton National Park (Scientific), Idalia National Park, Scotia Sanctuary, and Avocet Nature Refuge. The Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby occurs in woodland, particularly in Brigalow scrub, preferring areas with the most fertile soil. They shelter beneath shrubs, in large grass tussocks, and inside hollow logs. Bridled Nail-tail Wallabies have a distinctive 'bridle' of white around the shoulder blades, which begins as a white stripe bordered by black at the back of the neck.

Threats

Reasons suggested for the decline of the Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby include competition with domestic herbivores (notably sheep), habitat alteration, and predation by introduced predators, especially the�Fox. There is strong evidence to support the hypothesis that the introduction of domestic grazing, especially sheep, is the major cause of decline of the species with clearing of native vegetation for agriculture and stock probably also played a role in the decline. Bridled Nail-tail Wallabies were also killed in large numbers by pastoralists in the early 1900s.