Macropus fuliginosus
western gray kangaroo

This species of kangaroo is found in the southern part of the continent of Australia including southern Queensland, southern New South Wales, and western Victoria. In addition, it is found on Kangaroo Island off of the southern coast of Australia.

Western grey kangaroos are capable of using several different types of habitats. They can be found in woodlands, open forests, coastal heathland, and open grassland areas. They have also been found near city areas and on golf courses. These kangaroos prefer areas with heterogeneous habitats, because these areas are the most likely to meet their requirements for food and cover.

This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, whereby males are larger than females. Western grey kangaroos vary in color from light brown to reddish shades of dark brown. They have a pale throat, chest and abdomen. The muzzle is distinctly different from other kangaroo species in that it is covered with much finer hair. These kangaroos can grow to be as large as 7 ft. tall. The tail is used as a balance in locomotion. Tail length ranges from 425-1000mm in males and 438-815mm in females. Muscle mass makes up approximately 80% of the body weight for this species.

Western grey kangaroos have lived to be upward of 20 years old in captivity. However, the maximum lifespan of these kangaroos in the wild is approximately 10 years.

Western grey kangaroos form social groups called "mobs" consisting of kangaroos living in small family groups with an adult female as the matriarch, other group member females, and young. A daughter often remains close to her mother even after giving birth to a joey of her own. Males compete for dominance of the social groups, with the strongest male becoming the head of a mob. A dominant male kangaroo resides with the mob when females are fertile but separates from the mob in winter when breeding females are unlikely to come into oestrus. During breeding, young males may form single-sex groups that exist seperately from the mobs. Mature males may form loose associations with other males which are not long lasting and vary from year to year. Western grey kangaroos may have home ranges that are as large as 550ha.

Western grey kangaroos eat grasses, forbs, leaves, tree bark, and shrubby browse. They use microorganisms in an organ called the cecum to digest the cellulose of plants. This kangaroo requires very little water and is able to survive on plants high in fiber. Western grey kangaroos spend between 6 and 10 hours grazing per day, mostly at dawn and dusk. In captivity, these kangaroos are often fed a pelleted grain or hay.

The dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) preys upon the western grey kangaroo. Healthy large males are usually not preyed upon by the dingo because of their size. However, young and old age classes are vulnerable to predation by the dingo.

The western grey kangaroo controls vegetation growth by feeding on grasses and forbs.

Crops and pasteurs may be damaged by western grey kangaroos through their foraging in these areas.

Tourists enjoy viewing this species of kangaroo on golf courses and in national parks. Australian kangaroo meat is marketed throughout the world as a quality game meat.

Despite the crop damage from this kangaroo species, it is a protected species and is controlled exclusively by the state faunal authorities. In 1987, there was an estimated population of 1.7 million western grey kangaroos. Permits to harvest the western grey kangaroo are issued in areas where this species interferes with successful agricultural operations or management programs to rehabilitate vegetation communities.

There are two subspecies of western grey kangaroo, Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus on Kangaroo Island, and Macropus fuliginosus melanops on mainland Australia.

The western grey kangaroo has a tolerance to fluoroacetate, which is a poison present in many legumes in southwestern Australia.