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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Repertoire of Social Behaviours of Agile Wallabies, Macropus agilis.

S.C. Stirrat and M. Fuller

Australian Mammalogy 20(1) 71 - 78
Published: 1998

Abstract

The repertoire of social behaviours of the Agile Wallaby, Macropus agilis, was compiled from observations of free-ranging and captive animals in the vicinity of Darwin, Northern Territory. Behaviours were divided into general, maternal, agonistic and sexual contexts. A larger repertoire of behaviours was recorded from captive wallabies but most of these behaviours, except subtle acts like Flehmen and sexual vocalisations, were also seen in free-ranging individuals. The social behaviours of M. agilis are similar to those of other species in the subgenus Prionotemnus. Macropus agilis performed tail-lashing (in sexual, agonistic and general contexts) and males did not use sustained tail support during fights, features which distinguish Prionotemnus from the other subgenera of Macropus. Macropus agilis gave a foot-thump flight signal but also tapped their feet when aware of a potential threat. More complex sexual and agonistic acts which occur in Whiptail Wallabies (Macropus parryi), Euros (Macropus robustus) and Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) were not observed in M. agilis.

https://doi.org/10.1071/AM97064

© Australian Mammal Society 1998

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