Clever girl? An observation of innovative prey handling by a dingo (Canis dingo)

Predators often exhibit highly intelligent and adaptable hunting techniques to subdue large prey; however, these events are rarely captured. Here I report an infrequently seen occurrence of a dingo (Canis dingo) utilising waves on the eastern beach of K’gari (Fraser Island) to entrap, tire and deliberately drown an adult swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). This behaviour highlights an adaptive technique for innovative prey handling by a single dingo to achieve an outcome that would usually take two or more animals under normal conditions.

Speciation in the genus Cloacina (Nematoda: Strongylida): species flocks and intra-host speciation

SUMMARYSequences of the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 + ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were employed to determine whether the congeneric assemblages of species of the strongyloid nematode genus Cloacina, found in the forestomachs of individual species of kangaroos and wallabies (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), considered to represent species flocks, were monophyletic. Nematode assemblages examined in the black-striped wallaby, Macropus (Notamacropus) dorsalis, the wallaroos, Macropus (Osphranter) antilopinus/robustus, rock wallabies, Petrogale spp., the quokka, Setonix brachyurus, and the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor, were not monophyletic and appeared to have arisen by host colonization. However, a number of instances of within-host speciation were detected, suggesting that a variety of methods of speciation have contributed to the evolution of the complex assemblages of species present in this genus.

Carrion consumption by the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

Macropodids are predominantly herbivores and their dentition reflects their foraging strategy. The swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) is considered to be a generalist browser, consuming a wide diversity of plants, from forbs, shrubs, grasses and sedges. However, there is some evidence that swamp wallabies are opportunists. Here, I document the consumption of the wing of a dead seabird by a swamp wallaby, the first detailed case of this species consuming carrion, and discuss other records of animal consumption in the Macropodiformes.

A method for age estimation in the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

We investigated molar progression as an index of age in the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) by examining a small sample of known-age specimens. We demonstrate a strong relationship between age and molar index in W. bicolor [log10(age, in days) = (MI + 4.6864)/2.2179, R2 = 0.93], which will facilitate more detailed investigation of this species.

Camera traps provide insight into factors influencing trap success of the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor

Trapping programs for mammals often have low capture success, which is known to be influenced by a range of environmental factors, in addition to aspects of the traps themselves. However, the behavioural responses to traps by the target species are largely unknown. We simultaneously set camera traps and soft-walled double-layered traps for swamp wallabies, Wallabia bicolor, and used images from the camera traps to investigate responses by the target species. Wallabies mostly visited traps after sunset, with the number of visits declining steadily through the night. Visits to traps were more frequent during crescent and new moon phases and when the moon was set. In the majority (59%) of these visits, wallabies did not enter the traps. In some cases wallabies consumed only the bait outside the trap, or the trap door had been closed, usually by other swamp wallabies or bobucks, Trichosurus cunninghami, but in many cases (28% of visits) we could not discern why wallabies failed to enter. When wallabies did enter traps, just 14% of visits resulted in successful capture, with non-captures mainly occurring because wallabies reached in to obtain bait without triggering the trap.