Habitat: It usually lives close to dried up riverbeds and the surrounding areas. They graze on the grasses found in this very hot and inhospitable climate enduring temperatures over 40 Celsius regularly.

Threats: In some regions, agile wallabies occur in such large numbers and their feeding means some farmers consider them as crop pests.

Information: The river sand wallaby is relatively common in its home of the far north of Australia. They are widespread throughout North Eastern Western Australia, Northern Territory, northern and eastern Queensland and also occur in southern New Guinea. Another member of the genus Marsupialia, this is a medium sized wallaby with males attaining almost twice the size of the females. It is a light sandy colour all over with a white cheek stripe and a distinct white hip stripe.

Social Behaviour: As with many other medium to large Macropods they are gregarious, it lives in small groups, consisting mainly of females, sharing the same feeding and resting areas. Such groups are not necessarily related, however it is thought that young animals separate quickly from three females. Groups of over 100- animals have been noted in Cape York Peninsula at the end of the dry season (Directors observation).

Breeding: Breeding can occur throughout the year and the gestation period is an average 29 days, the birth takes place after this very brief pregnancy, the development of the animal continues in the pouch for the next 4 months or so until the young joey is strong enough to be independent, although it will still return for a drink of milk for many months after. It is very rare for a macropod to have twins but this does occur in Macropus agilis.

Projects: ESB

Map: Red = Locations Found 825