Wallaroo

The Wallaroo, Macropus robustus is the widest spread species of the Kangaroo family.  There are several sub species, including the Euro, Macropus robustus erubescens.

The Eastern Wallaroo, Macropus robustus robustus is found right up the Eastern section of the Australian continent. The Wallaroos are well adapted to hilly areas, and they are common in many parts of Australia’s Great Dividing Range, and its foot hills.  The Lake Quarry Conservation Park in Queensland has both the Eastern Wallaroos and their close cousins the Euro.  This park also has the tracks of stampeding dinosaurs, but no actual dinosaurs have been seen there recently.

Low Nitrogen Diet

Wallaroos, as well as Euros recycle some of their waste Nitrogen, so they can live on low protein food like the Spinifex grass that is common in this park.

Size

The Eastern Wallaroo males can be as heavy as 50 Kg(110 pounds), but the females are only about half this weight.

Mobs

Wallaroos do not tend to form such large mobs as the Red and Grey Kangaroos, and it is not unusual to see either a single Wallaroo,or just two.

Colour

The Eastern Wallaroo ranges from light grey to black, but do not have as much red in their coat as the Euros.

Range

The Wallaroos tend to be much less nomadic than the Red and Grey Kangaroos, staying in one area, sheltering from the hot sun in caves, overhanging rocks or the shade of rocks, conserving their water.  They are much less dependent on free water than the larger Kangaroos, getting most of their moisture from the vegetation they eat.

Digging for Water

The Wallaroo is one of the animals which will dig for water.  The Red and Grey Kangaroos have expanded their numbers through the provision of water for grazing sheep and cattle, but the Wallaroos were less affected by this.

The main food the Wallaroos eat is grass.