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Animal profile

Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby

Petrogale xanthopus

MammaliaSteep rocky ranges, gorges and boulder piles in semi-arid countryNear Threatened

Field profile

The yellow-footed rock-wallaby is a strikingly marked macropod with orange-yellow limbs and a ringed tail. It lives on steep rock and rests in shaded crevices through the heat of the day. Colonies are small and isolated, and the species declined heavily under commercial hunting for its pelt.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2026-06-13

Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby

Rock-wallabies climb on grip, not claws

A rock-wallaby's hind feet are short and broad with thick, roughened pads and reduced claws. Traction comes from friction against rock rather than from hooking into it, which is what lets them cross near-vertical faces at speed.

Read with evidence →

Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby | Daily Animal Facts