Macropus agilis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	DIPROTODONTIA	MACROPODIDAE

Scientific Name:

Macropus agilis

Species Authority:

(Gould, 1842)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Agile Wallaby

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2008
Assessor/s:	Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Woinarski, J. & Winter, J.
Reviewer/s:	Lamoreux, J. & Hilton-Taylor, C. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, lack of major threats, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in the lowlands of southern and extreme south-eastern New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea); on Goodenough (Vivigani Plains), Fergusson, and Kiriwina islands (Papua New Guinea); and throughout much of northern Australia (isolated populations occur on North and South Stradbroke Island, Peel, and Groote Islands). The species was introduced to Vanderlin Island. It may also be present on the islands of Normanby and New Ireland, Papua New Guinea (Flannery 1995).
Countries:	Native: Australia; Indonesia; Papua New Guinea
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In New Guinea, it is uncommon in the south-eastern portion of its range, but it is abundant in suitable habitat in the southern, largely uninhabited, part of its range. It is a common species in northern Australia and is widespread (Merchant 2008).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Within Indonesia and Papua New Guinea it occurs in lowland savanna grasslands. In Australia, it is generally found along rivers and streams in open woodland and grassland habitats, but can also occur in areas of coastal sand dunes and inland hilly regions (Merchant 2008). It shelters in dense vegetation. It is gregarious and generally lives in groups of up to ten animals, which may form larger aggregations with other groups (Merchant 2008). In Australia, breeding can take place throughout the year with a single young being born (Merchant 2008).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Within Indonesia and Papua New Guinea it occurs in lowland savanna grasslands. In Australia, it is generally found along rivers and streams in open woodland and grassland habitats, but can also occur in areas of coastal sand dunes and inland hilly regions (Merchant 2008). It shelters in dense vegetation. It is gregarious and generally lives in groups of up to ten animals, which may form larger aggregations with other groups (Merchant 2008). In Australia, breeding can take place throughout the year with a single young being born (Merchant 2008).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species. Within New Guinea, the species is locally threatened by overhunting for meat in the south-eastern part of its range. It is considered to be a pest species over some of its Australian range, where it is largely controlled by shooting and, in the past, directed poisoning campaigns (however, whereas people were actually hired in the past to shoot them in some regions, such as Western Australia, such actions no longer appear required as they are not so abundant). There is an illicit commercial trade in the species in parts of northern Australia.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species. Within New Guinea, the species is locally threatened by overhunting for meat in the south-eastern part of its range. It is considered to be a pest species over some of its Australian range, where it is largely controlled by shooting and, in the past, directed poisoning campaigns (however, whereas people were actually hired in the past to shoot them in some regions, such as Western Australia, such actions no longer appear required as they are not so abundant). There is an illicit commercial trade in the species in parts of northern Australia.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is not known from any protected areas in Indonesia or Papua New Guinea, but it is known to be present in a number of protected areas in northern Australia.

Conservation Actions:

It is not known from any protected areas in Indonesia or Papua New Guinea, but it is known to be present in a number of protected areas in northern Australia.

Citation:	Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Woinarski, J. & Winter, J. 2008. Macropus agilis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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