View source for Wallaroo

{{Short description|Category of marsupial}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:Wallaroo_002.jpg|thumb|Common wallaroo ''Osphranter robustus'' at [[Louisville Zoo]]<ref>{{Citation|last=Ltshears|title=English: Wallaroo Macropus robustus at Louisville Zoo|date=2009-10-04|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wallaroo_002.jpg|access-date=2021-05-06}}</ref>]]

'''Wallaroo''' {{IPAc-en|w|Q|l|@|"|r|u:}}<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Chambers Dictionary|publisher=Chambers|year=2003|isbn=0-550-10105-5|edition=9th|chapter=wallaroo}}</ref> is a common name for several species of moderately large [[Macropodidae|macropod]]s, intermediate in size between the [[kangaroo]]s and the [[Wallaby|wallabies]], that are native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. The word "wallaroo" is from the [[Dharug language|Dharug]] ''walaru'' with spelling influenced by the words "kangaroo" and "wallaby".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of WALLAROO|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wallaroo|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref>

== Description ==
Wallaroos are typically distinct species from kangaroos and wallabies.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-03-11|title=What's the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo?|url=https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/wallaby-vs-kangaroo.htm|access-date=2021-05-06|website=HowStuffWorks|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Difference Between a Kangaroo, a Wallaby, and a Wallaroo - Lucky Kangaroos|url=https://luckykangaroos.com/en/difference-kangaroo-wallaby-wallaroo/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=luckykangaroos.com}}</ref> An exception is the [[antilopine wallaroo]], which is commonly  known as an antilopine kangaroo when large, an antilopine wallaby when small, or an antilopine wallaroo when of intermediate size.

== Species ==
Wallaroo may refer to one of several species in the genus ''[[Osphranter]]'':

* The [[common wallaroo]] or wallaroo (''Osphranter robustus'') is the best-known species. There are four [[subspecies]] of the common wallaroo: the eastern wallaroo (''O. r. robustus'') and the euro (''O. r. erubescens''), which are both widespread, and two of more restricted range, one from [[Barrow Island (Western Australia)|Barrow Island]] (the Barrow Island wallaroo (''O. r. isabellinus'')), the other from the [[Kimberley (Western Australia)|Kimberley]] region (the Kimberley wallaroo (''O. r. woodwardi'')).
* The [[black wallaroo]] (''O. bernardus'') occupies an area of steep, rocky ground in [[Arnhem Land]]. At around {{convert|60|to|70|cm|in|0|abbr=in}} in length (excluding tail) it is the smallest wallaroo and the most heavily built. Males weigh {{convert|19|to|22|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, females about {{convert|13|kg|abbr=on}}. Because it is very wary and is found only in a small area of remote and very rugged country, it is little-known.
* The [[Antilopine kangaroo|antilopine wallaroo]] ''(O. antilopinus''),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australian Faunal Directory|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/MACROPODIDAE/names|access-date=2021-05-06|website=biodiversity.org.au|language=en}}</ref> also known as the antilopine kangaroo<ref>{{MSW3 Diprotodontia|pages=63–65|id=11000239}}</ref> or the antilopine wallaby, is a creature of the grassy plains and woodlands and is gregarious, unlike  other wallaroos which are solitary.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wiktionary-inline|wallaroo}}
*{{commonscatinline|Macropus robustus}}

{{Diprotodontia|M.}}

[[Category:Macropods]]
[[Category:Marsupials of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian Aboriginal words and phrases]]
[[Category:Mammal common names]]