Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby

Onychogalea fraenata

3 of Spades

Art by Kesame

http://kesame.deviantart.com

Kesame@gmail.com

Chicago

The bridled nailtail wallaby, also known as the flashjack or waistcoat wallaby, gets its name from a unique nail-like spur extending from the tip of its tail. The ‘nail’ is not used for defense and its actual purpose is unclear. Some believe it is used to help the animal make sharp turns while fleeing by acting as a grounding point for quick changes of direction.

Once common, the flashjack now inhabits less than five percent of its original home range. For almost forty years they were considered to be extinct, until a small surviving population was discovered. Through captive breeding efforts and release programs, the wild population has grown to over 300 animals.

Like most of Australia’s endangered wildlife, the nailtail wallaby faces many challenges which threaten its continued existence. Pressures from introduced predators like feral cats, dogs, and foxes combined with habitat destruction and competition with non-native livestock are pushing many marsupials to the brink of extinction. There is a long road ahead for conservation efforts; controlling pest predator populations, securing protected habitat, and captive breed-and-release programs are critical for the future of the nailtail wallaby and many other Australian species.