Kangaroos and Wallabies

A subfamily of smaller, more ancient marsupials is called rat-kangaroos. Some scientists classify the ratkangaroos in a separate family, the Potoroidae. These animals are omnivorous, eating a variety of foods.

The musky rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) is the smallest member of the kangaroo family, with a head-body length of only about 10 in (25 cm) plus a furless tail (the only one in the family) of about 5 in (12.7 cm). This species also has front and hind feet closer to the same size than any other member of the family. It eats some insects along with grasses and other plants. The potoroos (Potorous species) are about twice as large as the musky rat-kangaroos and display a more advanced leaping ability.

The desert rat-kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris) was first seen in southern Australia in 1843, but not again until 1931. Consequently, little is known about it. Similarly, the northern rat-kangaroo (Bettongia tropica) of Queensland was observed in the 1930s, but not again until 1971. It has huge hind feet, which cover half the length of its body. Both are endangered species.

The bettong, also called the woylie or brush-tailed rat-kangaroo (Bettongia penicillata), has a prehensile tail, which it uses to carry the dry grasses used in building a nest. Woylies were quite common over southern Australia, but as human populations have increased, it has become extirpated over most of its original range. Similarly threatened is the boodie or short-nosed ratkangaroo (B. lesueur). The only kangaroo that digs burrows, where it gathers in a family group, it is now restricted to several islands in western Australia's Shark Bay. Unlike the other members of the kangaroo family, the boodie never uses its front feet while walking.

Clearly, many of the smaller members of the kangaroo are endangered and even nearing extinction. Apparently, they are vulnerable to even small changes in their habitat. The great kangaroos, on the other hand, appear to be thriving as long as their habitats remain protected and hunting for their skin and meat is conducted on a sustainable basis.