Macropods of Victoria in Time and Space: A Review

Victoria currently supports nine species of macropods (kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos). Previously, a wave of extinction in the late Pleistocene selected against the macropod megafauna, including huge, short-faced kangaroos. European colonisation brought about a second wave of extinction, which selected against the smallest species that were vulnerable to habitat change and predation by introduced predators. Two members of the Potoroidae, the long-nosed potoroo and long-footed potoroo, still occur in Victoria, occupying habitats with dense understoreys and feeding mainly on hypogeal fungi. Victoria also supports seven members of the Macropodidae. Two of these, the brush-tailed rock wallaby and eastern wallaroo have highly restricted distributions and small populations and are listed as endangered in Victoria. In contrast, the red-necked wallaby and swamp wallaby are widespread and common, and the latter is expanding its range north-westwards. Of the three kangaroo species, the red kangaroo is restricted to the north-west of the state. The eastern grey kangaroo and western grey kangaroo are widespread and common, with extensive overlap in their ranges. Eastern grey kangaroos number over 2 million in Victoria and have reached overabundance in some areas, with negative impacts on animal welfare, threatened wildlife and plant communities.