Red-necked Pademelon (Thylogale thetis) lives in eastern Australian forests across Eastern Australia and New Guinea. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Red-necked Pademelon
- The red-necked pademelon is confined to a narrow strip of eastern Australia, ranging from extreme south-east Queensland down to central eastern New South Wales. Within this band it lives in forest habitats that border grasslands, where it can find both cover and food. It is a very shy animal that spends daylight hours hidden in the trees and becomes active at dusk, feeding on the grasses that fringe the forest.
- A small macropod, the red-necked pademelon measures 29-62 cm from head to body and 27-51 cm with its tail. Females average 3.8 kg in weight, while males are about twice as heavy at roughly 7.0 kg.
- The pademelon's coat is brown-grey on the back with a creamy underbelly and a striking red-tinged neck and shoulders. Its body length is 29-62 cm and tail 27-51 cm.
- In the northern part of its range the red-necked pademelon reproduces during the autumn and again in spring, while further south the breeding period is confined to the summer months. This seasonal shift matches the differing climate patterns across eastern Australia. Despite these reproductive cycles the species remains stable enough to be listed as not endangered, showing that current population levels are sufficient for its continued survival.
- Dingoes and red foxes do prey on the red-necked pademelon, yet the greatest risk to its future comes from the loss of its forest-grassland habitat caused by land clearance. Because the animal is very shy, spends daylight hidden in temperate forests and only ventures into adjacent grasslands at dusk, removal of these bordering woodlands removes both shelter and feeding ground.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEastern Australia and New Guinea
HabitatEastern Australian forests
DietLeaves and grass
About the Red-necked Pademelon
In the dappled shadows of the Australian rainforest, the red-necked pademelon weaves a silent path, its large brown eyes watchful as it navigates the underbrush with an air of quiet purpose. With each delicate step, its slender legs barely disturb the leaf litter, allowing it to move unseen through its domain, a master of stealth and subtlety. As it pauses to nibble on a tender shoot, the faint rustle of its fur and the soft glow of its reddish-brown neck patch are a fleeting glimpse into the secret life of this enchanting, yet elusive, creature.
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