What is an antilopine wallaroo?
The antilopine wallaroo, also called the antilopine kangaroo, is a large macropod of Australia's tropical north. It lives in grassy woodlands across the Top End, the Kimberley and Cape York.
It is the only large kangaroo that lives mainly in the tropics. Males are reddish-tan and can weigh up to about 50 kilograms, while females are smaller and greyer. Its name comes from its fur, which was thought to resemble that of an antelope.
Antilopine wallaroos live in groups and feed on grasses, mostly in the cooler hours of early morning and evening. During the hot wet season they rest in shade, and they often gather near water.
Kangaroo or wallaroo?
The animal sits between kangaroos and wallaroos. Scientists classify it with the wallaroos, but it looks and behaves much like a kangaroo, so both names are used.
Good places to see antilopine wallaroos include Kakadu and Nitmiluk national parks in the Northern Territory.
Their numbers appear to be declining in parts of the north, possibly because of changes to fire patterns and habitat.
Did You Know?
Unlike most kangaroos, antilopine wallaroos often lick their forearms and pant to keep cool in tropical heat.