Lagorchestes hirsutus
rufous hare-wallaby

Rufous hare-wallabies historically had a widespread distribution throughout the arid and semi-arid parts of western Australia and southern Northern Territory until the 1930’s. Currently, they are only found on the islands of Dorre and Bernier in Shark Bay off the coast of Western Australia. They occur throughout each island, but are more abundant in the southern ends of both. A few small populations exist on the mainland in captive settings and in experimental reintroduction sites in the Tanami Desert and southern Shark Bay. Small wild populations did exist in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory; however, bush fires and introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation wiped them out in the 1990’s. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Short and Turner, 1992; Wildscreen, 2006)

Mainland habitats for rufous hare-wallabies were primarily in the Tanami Desert, which has a warm, dry monsoonal climate and is semi-arid. Drought is a common feature which makes rainfall the main factor in primary productivity. In comparison, current island habitats have a warm, dry Mediterranean climate. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Langford, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Short and Turner, 1992; Wildscreen, 2006)

Rufous hare-wallabies required mosaics of burnt and unburnt patches of spinifex grassland to survive in the Tanami Desert. The dominant species are mature Triodia pungens and Plectrachne schinzii. The various stages of fire succession, and the ecotones they created, provided adequate shelter and food supply. Patchiness, degree of senescence, diversity of food and vegetation, hummock size, and habitat structure were important factors influencing suitable and unsuitable areas. The degree of connectivity and accessibility of each of these aspects was important as well. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Langford, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Short and Turner, 1992; Wildscreen, 2006)

Bernier and Dorre islands have four main types of habitat: sand plain (Triodia species) grasslands, sand plain heath, consolidated dunes, unconsolidated dune/beach, and travertine heath. Rufous hare-wallabies occur throughout these habitats, but favor consolidated dunes, beaches, and both heath habitats. They shelter in scrapes, often under Triodia plurinervata or Thryptomene micrantha, or in single opening burrows. They will run out and escape in a zig zag pattern if flushed. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Langford, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Short and Turner, 1992; Wildscreen, 2006)

The name Lagorchestes means “dancing hare.” Hare-wallabies do resemble hares in appearance and behavior. However, like all wallabies, they have larger hind legs than hares, a thinner, hunched body, smaller forelimbs, and a long, thin tail. They are both quadripedal and bipedal, hopping on strong hind legs or maneuvering on all fours. Their fur is long, soft, and thick. Their ventrum and hindquarters are a sandy, buff color while the back and head are grey-rufous. They have long pointed ears, large black eyes, short whiskers, and darker colored paws. The species name hirsutus refers to the fact that their fur gets longer towards their back, giving them a shaggy appearance. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Gibson et al., 1994; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993c; Wildscreen, 2006)

Males and females are identical in color, with females generally being larger in size. Females range from 0.78 to 1.9 kg while males range from 1.24 to 1.8 kg. The length from tip of nose to base of tail for females is 36 to 39 cm, and tail length is 24 to 30.5 cm. Male head/body length is 31 to 36 cm, and tail length is 26 to 27 cm. They both stand roughly 30 cm high. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Gibson et al., 1994; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993c; Wildscreen, 2006)

There are four recognized sub-species, L. h. bernieri, L. h. dorreae, L. h. hirsutus, and an unnamed subspecies. Lagorchestes hirsutus bernieri is the Bernier Island sub-species, it has noticeably paler fur and shorter ears. Lagorchestes hirsutus dorreae is the Dorre Island sub-species, its fur is far redder than the mainland species and its skull is narrower between the orbits. Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus is extinct, and the unnamed subspecies is extinct in the wild and critically endangered. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Gibson et al., 1994; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993c; Wildscreen, 2006)

There is little known about lifespan in rufous hare-wallabies.

Rufous hare-wallabies are nocturnal. They emerge from their burrows and scrapes after sunset, with males emerging earlier than females. The majority of activities, feeding, interacting, grooming, etc. occur early in the night. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993d; McLean et al., 1993)

Rufous wallabies are solitary and tend to avoid confrontation. When they do interact, it is generally non-aggressive. In captivity, there is some evidence of a social hierarchy in both males and females, with the male hierarchy involving access to females and food. In the wild however, densities are so low that hierarchies are unlikely to be important. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993d; McLean et al., 1993)

Home Range

Limited field data suggests males have a large home range that includes the smaller home ranges of many females. In the Tanami Desert the wallabies home range included dense spinifex cover of T. pungens, open caliche areas, and fire boundaries between mature spinifex and recently burnt areas. Most activity occurs in the boundary areas. The dense spinifex is used for cover while moving and daytime shelters (squats). The open areas are more intensively used for feeding because they have more diversity and abundance of food. Patterns of habitat use are seasonal and based on rainfall. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993d; McLean et al., 1993)

Rufous hare-wallabies primarily use body language and vocalizations to communicate with each other. They are generally non-aggressive and avoid confrontation. Two females will often sniff each other then leave, a male may mark his territory by spraying a tree with urine, alarmed wallabies will give a loud squeak and then hiss as they run for cover. Even though they are nocturnal, they can still use posture and movements for visual communication, especially during female and male interaction. (Lundie-Jenkins, 1993d; McLean et al., 1993)

Rufous hare-wallabies are granivorous and herbivorous. They eat mainly seeds, fruits, grasses, sedges, and succulent shrubs and herbs. They alter their feeding habits and diet in response to changes in their environment, primarily seasonal changes in rainfall. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993b; Pearson, 1989; Wildscreen, 2006)

Monocots are their staple diet (44 to 65%), along with seeds and succulent fruits when they are available. Rufous hare-wallabies prefer the stems and leaves of perennial grasses such as Eragrostis falcata, E. speciosa and Aristida browniana, and the seeds from T. pungens, E. falcata, and Aristida holathera. The plant material of T. pungens was avoided unless conditions were very poor. Leaves and stems from sedges like Cyperus conicus, C. bulbosus, C. concinnus, Fimbristylis caespitosa, and Bulbostylis species were a less favored alternative, comprising 15 to 32% of the diet. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993b; Pearson, 1989; Wildscreen, 2006)

Dicots, hardy perennials, and occasional insects are chosen in drier, poorer conditions. The plant material of Goodenia virgata, Neobassia astrocarpa, and Stackhousia intermedia, and the seeds and fruit of Cassytha filiformis were extensively used as a secondary diet. They are flexible enough to utilize the nectar rich flowers of Grevillea juncifolia if necessary. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993b; Pearson, 1989; Wildscreen, 2006)

The sandy buff and grey-rufous pelt colorations of rufous hare-wallabies allows them to blend in well with their arid, desert like climates. Short burrows, with an average length of 105 m and depth of 30 m, are dug for protection from heat and predators during the day. They also shelter in small scrapes hidden by spinifex clumps or other bushes. The major threat to Lagorchestes hirsutus comes from feral cats and introduced red foxes. Dingos (Canis familiaris dingo) prey on these wallabies, but to a lesser extent. (Gibson et al., 1994; Langford, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, 1993a; Lundie-Jenkins, Corbett, and Phillips, 1993; Short and Turner, 1992)

Rufous hare-wallabies are herbivores, feeding on a wide variety of plant species, and may play a role in altering the distribution and abundance of such species by grazing, browsing, and digging burrows. There is competition between hare wallabies and introduced rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) because of similar size, metabolic requirements, and overlaps in habitat and diet. Diet overlap and competition is highest when conditions are poorest. Rufous hare-wallabies are also prey to co-occurring carnivores, such as dingos, red foxes, and domestic cats. (Lundie-Jenkins, Corbett, and Phillips, 1993; Pearson, 1989)

There are no known adverse effects of Lagorchestes hirsutus on humans.

Lagorchestes hirsutus were once so abundant that they were an important food source for aboriginal people in Australia. Current populations are too low to sustain any type of harvest. (Langford, 2006; Wildscreen, 2006)

Small yearly fires by aborigines promoted regeneration of plants fed upon by hare wallabies and created a patchwork of habitats for them to live in. The absence of these fires causes a build up of brush, which feeds uncontrollable summer bush fires. Livestock grazing, competition with introduced rabbits, predation by exotic feral cats and red foxes, and loss of habitat due to fragmentation and clearing has decimated rufous hare-wallaby populations on the mainland. Island populations are relatively stable, but susceptible to catastrophic events and population fluctuations. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Langford, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, Corbett, and Phillips, 1993; Short and Turner, 1992; Wildscreen, 2006)

Rufous hare-wallabies are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, listed in Appendix 1 of CITES, and endangered in Endangered Species Protection Act. Conservation measures are being taken to maintain current wild populations and to breed the ones in captivity. The Mala Recovery Plan was designed to maintain the status of island populations and to improve the status of the mainland population to vulnerable within 10 years. It also hopes to maintain existing captive populations, create three self-sustaining wild populations on the mainland with predator control, or make them predator free, secure island populations with appropriate management techniques, raise public awareness and support for the plight of this species, clarify taxonomy, and develop effective management and translocation prescriptions. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Langford, 2006; Lundie-Jenkins, Corbett, and Phillips, 1993; Short and Turner, 1992; Wildscreen, 2006)

Common names for Lagorchestes hirsutus include rufous hare-wallaby, mala, western hare-wallaby, and spinifex rat. Prior to the 1930’s this was one of the most abundant and wide spread macropodids in Australia. Now it is one of the rarest and most limited in its distribution. ("Australian Wildlife Conservancy", 2006; Dept. of Conservation and Land Management, 2006; Langford, 2006; Wildscreen, 2006)