THE DANCING MALA WALLABY

Mrs Mala is a tiny kangaroo or to be precise, a Rufous-hare Wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus) who lives on one of two remote islands off the coast of Western Australia, near Shark Bay.

She lives where food can be scarce and cut off from any medical facilities, so like other macropodids, her Designer has wisely given her special family planning ability so that she can control her pregnancies. (Now that would be handy!) Gestation lasts 124 days but the interval between joeys can be shortened to produce 3 in one year, or when there’s not much food in the cupboard an embryo can be put on hold – unattached to the uterine wall (embryonic diapause) – or even aborted if necessary.                              

Good times or bad, mum and dad like to kick up their heels in a lively dance.

*Special thanks to Year 5/6 - 2012, Beechwood Public School, NSW, Australia



Joey on the milkbar

 

Acknowledgements:
wikipedia.com                                                                                                                                                             environment.gov.au                                                                                                    umich.edu                                                                                   

Photocredits:
aqob.com.au
sharkbay.org                                                                                                                                                                     en.wikipedia.org
Wildlife Fact File