The Proserpine Rock-wallaby is a medium-sized marsupial with a head and body length of 500– 640 mm, tail length of 580–734 mm for males (slightly smaller for females), and an adult weight of 4.3–10.2 kg for males and 3.5–8 kg for females (EHP 2018, Nolan 2007 cited in DERM 2010). It has dark grey body fur with a light mauve tinge. The backs of the ears are dark brown to black, the head has a cream stripe running along the upper lip and face to the level of the ear, while the chest and belly are a light grey to dirty cream colour. The tail is long and mostly black in colour with the base a rich rufous brown and a lighter upper surface of the tail. Like all rock-wallabies, the toe nails on the hind feet are reduced to short stout hooks and the soles of the hind feet have thick fleshy pads, which aid grip when moving over rocks.
Proserpine Rock-wallaby |
Petrogale persephone
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Petrogale persephone
In addition; anthropogenic climate change is also a likely long term threat as habitat availability and distribution change in response to changes in climate (Clancy Close 1997 cited in DAWE 2020) including drought and extreme weather events.
Climate change projections show that southern Australia is likely to experience harsher fire weather (CSIRO 2015); and in 2019 20; following years of drought (DPI 2020); catastrophic bushfire conditions resulted in extensive bushfires across eastern Australia.
Increased temperature and Timing current Climate change projections show that Australia s change to precipitation Confidence inferred climate will get hotter and drier; with time in patterns drought predicted to increase over southern Consequence moderate Australia (CSIRO 2015).
Such changes in climate Trend increasing are likely to cause forest decline; with drought Extent across the entire stress leading to plant mortality (Choat et al. range 2012).
Given the species extremely specific habitat requirements; including reliance on refuges and riparian vegetation beach scrub during drought (DERM 2010); and its limited distribution; climate change is likely to be a significant threat to the species (Clancy Close 1997 cited in DAWE 2020).
Understand of the effects of climate change on the subspecies; and whether any effects can be ameliorated.
Bushfire Increased severity and Timing current Although the Proserpine Rock wallaby inhabits frequency of bushfire Confidence known rainforest; bushfires have the potential to burn habitat during drought and particularly the drier Consequence major island locations.
Due to the limited distribution Trend increasing of the species; fire events could destroy entire Extent across the entire subpopulations (Close 2001 Schaper Nolan range 2000 Winkel 1997b all cited in DAWE 2020).
Physical damage to the habitat and individuals of the threatened species must be avoided during and after fire operations.
Bushfire Increased severity and Timing current Although the Proserpine Rock wallaby inhabits frequency of bushfire Confidence known rainforest; bushfires have the potential to burn habitat during drought and particularly the drier Consequence major island locations.
Impacts are likely to be changes to and loss of habitat and food resources; and extreme weather events such as increasing occurrence and severity of drought (WWF Australia 2008 Pearson 2013).
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