Species Osphranter rufus (Desmarest, 1822)
Red Kangaroo
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown (not in MNHP), W of the Blue Mts, NSW.- Kangurus laniger Gaimard, P. 1823. Sur une nouvelle espèce de Kanguroo lanieux (Kangurus lanigeri). Bulletin des Sciences, par la Société Philomathique de Paris 1823: 138-139 [138].
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown (not in MNHP), Port Macquarie, NSW. - Kangurus griseolanosus Quoy, J.R.C. & Gaimard, P. 1825. Notice sur les mammifères et les oiseaux de la Baie de Chiens-Marins et de la Nouvelle-Galles Sud; sur leurs moeurs et leur distribution géographique. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Paris 5: 476-491 [482].
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown (not in MNHP), Blue Mts, NSW. - Macropus lanigerus Gray, J.E. 1825. The Class Mammalia. pp. 1-3 in Griffith, E., Smith, C.H. & Pidgeon, E. (eds). The Animal Kingdom, arranged in conformity with its organisation, by the Baron Cuvier, member of the Institute of France, &c. With additional descriptions of all the species hitherto named, and of many not before noticed. London : G.B. Whittaker. [this work was originally issued in parts between 1825–1835] [plate only on p. 49].
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Bathurst Plains, NSW. - Kangurus lanosus Gray, J.E. 1827. In Griffith, E., Smith, C.H. & Pidgeon, E. (1825–1835). The Animal Kingdom arranged in conformity with its organisation, by the Baron Cuvier, member of the Institute of France, &c. with additional descriptions of all the species hitherto named, and of many not before noticed. London : G.B. Whittaker Vol. 5. [Vol. 5 subtitled Synopsis of the species of the Class Mammalia, as arranged with reference to their organisation, by Cuvier, and other naturalists. With specific characters, synonyma &c. &c] [202] [as of Gaimard, in synonymy].
- Kangurus lanosus Gray, J.E. 1843. List of the Specimens of Mammalia in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xxviii 216 pp. [publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84] [88] [nom. nud., as of Gaimard].
Secondary source:
Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122 [53]. - Macropus (Osphranter) pictus Gould, J. 1861. Mammals of Australia. London : J. Gould Vol. 1 text to pl. 26. [Date published 1 May 1861: publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84 Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Mem. Aust. Mus. 6: i–xii 1–122] [nom. nud.; error, see Gould, J. 1863. The Mammals of Australia. Vol. 1 Introduction xxix. London : J. Gould].
- Macropus ruber Crisp, E. 1862. On the situation, form, and capacity of the gall-bladder in the Vertebrata; on its absence in certain animals; and on the colour of the bile. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1862: 132-139 [135] [errore pro M. rufa].
- Macropus (Boriogale) magnus Owen, R. 1874. On the fossil mammals of Australia — Part VIII. Family Macropodidae: Genera Macropus, Osphranter, Phascolagus, Sthenurus and Protemnodon. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 164: 245-287 pls 20-27 [247].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 85.1.3.5 skull, far north of SA. - Macropus rufus dissimulatus Rothschild, W. 1905. Note on Macropus rufus Desm., with description of a new subspecies. Novitates Zoologicae 12: 508.
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1939.2777 ♂ skin & skull, shipped from North-West Australia (=Gascoyne River, WA).Type locality references:
Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122. - Macropus rufus occidentalis Cahn, P. 1906. Eine neue Form des Roten Riesenkänguruh (Macropus occidentalis). Zoologischer Beobachter 47: 381 [381].
Type data:
Status unknown, SMF ♀, Murchison river, WA.Type locality references:
Cahn, P. 1907. Zoologische Beobachter der Zoologische Garten. 48. pp. 3-4.Secondary source:
Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122. - Macropus rufus dissimulator Lydekker, R. 1906. II. Mammalia. In, Sharp, D. (ed.). The Zoological Record being records of zoological literature relating chiefly to the year 1905. London : Zoological Society of London Vol. 42. [Mamm. 47] [errore pro M. rufus dissimulatus Rothschild, 1905].
- Macropus rufus pallidus Schwarz, E. 1910. Die Grossen Känguruhs und ihre geographischen Formen. Novitates Zoologicae 17: 86-108 [89].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 4.1.2.3 ♂ skin & skull, Shaw River, WA.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122 [52]
Generic Combinations
- Megaleia rufa (Desmarest, 1822). —
Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122 [52] - Osphranter rufus (Desmarest, 1822). —
Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [164-165]
Distribution
States
New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia
IBRA
NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Daly Basin (DAB), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Yalgoo (YAL)
Ecological Descriptors
Desert sand dunes, folivore, hummock grassland, low open woodland, nocturnal, terrestrial, tussock grassland.
General References
Andrew, M.H. & Lange, R.T. 1986. The spatial distributions of sympatric populations of kangaroos and sheep: examples of dissociation between these species. Australian Wildlife Research 13: 367-373
Bailey, P. & Best, L.A. 1992. A red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, recovered 25 years after marking in north-western New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy 15: 141
Baker, M.W. de C. & Croft, D.B. 1993. Vocal communication between the mother and young of the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus, and the red kangaroo, M. rufus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 41: 257-272
Barker, R.D. & Caughley, G. 1994. The distribution and abundance of kangaroos (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). Australian Mammalogy 17: 73-84
Bayliss, P. 1985. The population dynamics of red and western grey kangaroos in arid New South Wales, Australia, II. The numeric response function. Journal of Animal Ecology 54: 127-135
Bayliss, P. 1985. The population dynamics of red and western grey kangaroos in arid New South Wales, Australia. I. Population trends and rainfall. Journal of Animal Ecology 54: 111-125
Beal, A.M. 1986. Responsiveness of the parotid salivary gland of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) to mineralocorticoids. Journal of Experimental Biology 120: 309-324
Cairns, S.C., Pople, A.R. & Grigg, G.C. 1991. Density, distributions and habitat associations of red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus in South Australian pastoral zone. Wildlife Research 18: 377-402
Cairns, S.C. & Grigg, G.C. 1993. Population dynamics of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) in relation to rainfall in the South Australian pastoral zone. Journal of Applied Ecology 30: 444-458
Caughley, G., Brown, B. & Noble, J. 1985. Movement of kangaroos after a fire in mallee woodland. Australian Wildlife Research 12: 349-353
Caughley, G. & Grigg, G.C. 1982. Numbers and distribution of kangaroos in the Queensland pastoral zone. Australian Wildlife Research 9: 365-371
Clegg, S.M., Hale & Moritz, C. 1998. Molecular population genetics of the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus): mtDNA variation. Molecular Ecology 7: 679-686
Coulson, G. 1996. A safe and selective draw-string trap to capture kangaroos moving under fences. Wildlife Research 23: 621-627
Croft, D.B. 1981. Behaviour of red kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest, 1822) in northwestern New South Wales, Australia. Australian Mammalogy 4: 5-58
Croft, D.B. 1991. Home range of the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus. Journal of Arid Environments 20: 83-98
Dawson, T.J. 1973. Thermoregulatory responses of the arid zone kangaroos, Megaleia rufa and Macropus robustus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 46A: 153-169
Dawson, T.J. & Ellis, B.A. 1994. Diets of mammalian herbivores in Australian arid shrublands: seasonal effects on overlap between red kangaroos, sheep and rabbits and on dietary niche breadths and selectivities. Journal of Arid Environments 26: 257-271
Denny, M.J.S. 1982. Adaptations of the red kangaroo and euro (Macropodidae) to aridity. pp. 179-183 in Barker, W.R, & Greenslade, P.J.M. (eds). Evolution of the Flora and Fauna of Arid Australia. Frewville, Adelaide : Peacock Press vii 392 pp.
Edwards, G.P., Croft, D.B. & Dawson, T.J. 1994. Observations of differential sex/age class mobility in red kangaroos (Macropus rufus). Journal of Arid Environments 27: 169-177
Edwards, G.P., Croft, D.B. & Dawson, T.J. 1996. Competition between red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and sheep (Ovis aries) in the arid rangelands of Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 21: 165-172
Edwards, G.P., Dawson, T.J. & Croft, D.B. 1995. The dietary overlap between red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and sheep (Ovis aries) in the arid rangelands of Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 20: 324-334
Ellis, B.A., Russell, E.M., Dawson, T.J. & Harrop, C.J.F. 1977. Seasonal changes in diet preferences of free-ranging red kangaroos, euro and sheep in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 4: 127-144
Freudenberger, D. & Hacker, R.B. 1997. The effect of temporary closure of watering points on grazing intensity of red and grey kangaroos with related observations on feral goats. Rangeland Journal 19: 157-165
Frith, H.J. 1964. The mobility of the red kangaroo Megaleia rufa. CSIRO Wildlife Research 9: 1-19
Frith, H.J. & Calaby, J.H. 1969. Kangaroos. Melbourne : Cheshire 209 pp.
Ganslosser, U. & Wilhelm, P. 1986. Sex- and age-dependent differences in frequencies of social interactions between captive red kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest, 1822). Zoologischer Anzeiger 216: 58-71
Jarman, P.J. 1994. The eating of seedheads by species of Macropodidae. Australian Mammalogy 17: 51-63
Johnson, C.N. 1983. Variations in group size and composition in red and western grey kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest) and M. fuliginosus (Desmarest). Australian Wildlife Research 10: 25-31
Johnson, C.N. 1983. Variations in group size and composition in red and western grey kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest) and M. fuliginosus (Desmarest). Australian Wildlife Research 10: 25-31
Johnson, C.N. & Bayliss, P.G. 1981. Habitat selection by sex, age and reproductive class in the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 8: 465-474
King, D.R., Norbury, G.L. & Eliot, G.J. 1997. The efficacy of Finlayson troughs as a means of repelling kangaroos from water and altering grazing pressure in pastoral areas. Rangeland Journal 19: 57-69
Kirkpatrick, T.H. 1970. Studies of Macropodidae in Queensland. 8. Age estimation in the red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa (Desmarest)). Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Science 27: 461-461
McCarthy, M.A. 1996. Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) dynamics: Effects of rainfall, density dependence, harvesting and environmental stochasticity. Journal of Applied Ecology 33: 45-53
McLaughlin, A. 1992. Red kangaroos can set back range regeneration. Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia 4 33: 62-65
Muths, E. 1996. Milk composition in a field population of red kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest) (Macropodidae, Marsupialia). Australian Journal of Zoology 44: 165-175
Muths, E. & Hinds, L.A. 1996. Circulating levels of prolactin and progesterone in a wild population of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) (Marsupialia, Macropodidae). General and Comparative Endocrinology 101: 317-322
Myers, K., Bailey, P.J. & Dudzinski, M.L. 1976. The effects of a severe drought on the morphology of the adrenal glands and others indices of health in the red kangaroo Megaleia rufa (Desmarest) in North-Western New South Wales. Australian Journal of Ecology 1: 289-302
Needham, A.D., Dawson, T.J. & Hales, J.R.S. 1974. Forelimb blood flow and saliva spreading in the thermoregulation of the red kangaroo, Megaleia rufa. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 49A: 555-565
Newsome, A. 1995. Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus. pp. 353-355 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.
Norbury, G. & Norbury, D. 1992. The impact of red kangaroos on the rangelands. Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia 4 33: 57-61
Norbury, G.L., Norbury, D.C. & Hacker, R.B. 1993. Impact of red kangaroos on the pasture layer in the Western Australian arid zone. Rangeland Journal 15: 12-23
Norbury, G.L., Norbury, D.C. & Oliver, A.J. 1994. Facultative behaviour in unpredictable environments: mobility of red kangaroos in arid Western Australia. Journal of Animal Ecology 63: 410-418
Norbury, G.L. & Norbury, D.C 1993. The distribution of red kangaroos in relation to range regeneration. Rangeland Journal 15: 3-11
Osawa, R. & Woodall, P.F. 1992. A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestine in five macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). I. Allometric relationships. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 91-98
Osawa, R. & Woodall, P.F. 1992. A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestine in five macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). II. Relationship with feeding habits and fibre content on the diet. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 99-113
Pass, M.A. & Brown, A.S. 1991. Liver function in normal koalas and macropods. Australian Veterinary Journal 67: 151-152
Poole, W.E., Sharman, G.B., Scott, K.J. & Thompson, S.Y. 1982. Composition of milk from red and grey kangaroos with particular reference to vitamins. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 35: 607-615
Priddel, D. 1986. The diurnal and seasonal patterns of grazing of the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the western grey kangaroo, M. fuliginosus. Australian Wildlife Research 13: 113-120
Priddel, D. 1986. The diurnal and season patterns of grazing in the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the western grey kangaroo, M. fuliginosus. Australian Wildlife Research 13: 113-120
Priddel, D. 1988. Habitat utilisation by sympatric red kangaroos Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos M. fuliginosus, in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 413-421
Priddel, D., Shepherd, N. & Ellis, M. 1988. Homing by the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). Australian Mammalogy 11: 171-172
Priddel, D., Shepherd, N. & Wellard, G. 1988. Home ranges of sympatric red kangaroos Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos M. fuliginosus, in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 405-411
Priddel, D., Wellard, G. & Shepherd, N. 1988. Movements of sympatric red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, in western New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 339-346
Russell, E.M. 1973. Mother-young relations and early behavioural development in the marsupials Macropus eugenii and Megaleia rufa. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 33: 163-203
Russell, E.M. & Harrop, C.J.F. 1977. The behaviour of red kangaroos (Megaleia rufa) on hot summer days. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 40: 396-426
Sharman, G.B., Frith, H.J. & Calaby, J.H. 1964. Growth of the pouch young, tooth eruption and age determination in the red kangaroo, Megaleia rufa. CSIRO Wildlife Research 9: 20-49
Sharman, G.B. & Calaby, J.H. 1964. Reproductive behaviour in the red kangaroo, Megaleia rufa, in captivity. CSIRO Wildlife Research 9: 58-84
Shepherd, N.C., Hopwood, P.R. & Dostine, P.L. 1988. Capture myopathy: two techniques for estimating its prevalence and severity in red kangaroos, Macropus rufus. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 83-90
Tiver, F. & Andrew, M.H. 1997. Relative effects of herbivory by sheep, rabbits, goats, and kangaroos on recruitment and regeneration of shrubs and trees in eastern South Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology 34: 903-914
Watson, D.M. & Dawson, T.J. 1993. The effects of age, sex, reproductive status and temporal factors on the time-use of free-ranging red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) in western New South Wales. Wildlife Research 20: 785-801
Wilhelm, P. & Ganslosser, U. 1989. Sequential organisation of social behaviour in captive adult and juvenile Macropus rufus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). Australian Mammalogy 12: 5-14
Woo, G.C. & Sivak, J.G. 1985. The refractive state of the eye of the kangaroos Macropus giganteus and M. rufus. Australian Journal of Zoology 33: 313-315
Common Name References
ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Red Kangaroo)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-Feb-2023 | MACROPODIDAE | 15-Apr-2024 | MODIFIED | |
| 29-Nov-2016 | MACROPODIDAE | 14-Nov-2016 | MODIFIED | |
| 05-Nov-2010 | 05-Nov-2010 | MOVED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |