Feral cat (Felis catus) predation confirmed for Rothschild’s rock-wallaby (Petrogale rothschildi) in the Pilbara
Hannah Anderson A , Brooke Richards A , William Ross B and Russell Palmer A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Locked Bag 104, Bentley, WA 6983, Australia.
B NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0909, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: russell.palmer@dbca.wa.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 44(1) 169-172 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM20069
Submitted: 4 December 2020 Accepted: 6 May 2021 Published: 18 June 2021
Abstract
Rothschild’s rock-wallaby (Petrogale rothschildi) is endemic to the Pilbara and Ashburton regions of Western Australia. This large species of rock-wallaby is currently not recognised as threatened but is poorly known. Feral cats are a serious threat to many mainland Australian mammals, including some species of rock-wallaby, however their impact on P. rothschildi is largely unknown. Here we provide the first account of feral cat predation on Rothschild’s rock-wallaby, which was confirmed via genetic analysis. Common rock rats were abundant at the time and are the primary prey for cats, suggesting this was an incidental predation event by this highly opportunistic predator.
Keywords: feral cats, incidental predation, Petrogale rothschildi, Pilbara, Rothschild’s rock-wallaby.
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