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Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata)

The bridled nailtail wallaby is a medium-sized, nocturnal to partly diurnal macropod of central Queensland. It is endangered and depends on connected habitat edges between brigalow scrub and grassy eucalypt woodland, so clearing, loss of shelter and disturbance on development sites can have a direct impact.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Breeding season

Breeding can occur in every month, but late spring and summer are the main period when pouch young and young at foot are observed. Activity is mainly nocturnal, so daytime clearing can still affect animals sheltering in vegetation and logs.

Months are January to December. Breeding is possible throughout the year, so the absence of peak young observations outside late spring and summer does not indicate an absence of breeding.

  • Breeding: Breeding occurs throughout the year. Pouch young and young at foot are more often observed from late spring through summer.
  • Young: Pouch young and young at foot are reported more often in late spring and summer. The supplied documents do not provide a fixed pouch duration or weaning date.
  • Foraging and local movement: Animals are mainly nocturnal and use habitat edges between dense brigalow regrowth or scrub and open woodland. During drought they forage further into open pasture.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest from late spring through summer because pouch young and young at foot are more frequently present. Clearing at any time can also remove daytime shelter used by adults and dependent young.

Identification

This is a distinctive, medium-sized wallaby with a dark dorsal stripe and white body markings. It is usually encountered alone around habitat edges, particularly where dense low vegetation meets open woodland or pasture.

The bridled nailtail wallaby has a white line running from the centre of the neck along each shoulder to behind the forearm. It also has white cheek stripes, a black stripe along the back and a small horny nail, about 3 to 6 mm long, partly hidden by hair at the end of the tail.

Adult size: Head and body about 70 cm; total length about 125 cm.

Weight: Females usually 4 to 5 kg; males usually 5 to 6 kg, with males reported up to 8 kg.

Identification: Similar species and sexing

At Taunton, the main similar species is the larger black-striped wallaby. Bridled nailtail wallabies are generally solitary, whereas black-striped wallabies are more gregarious, and the bridled species has conspicuous white bridle markings. The bridled nailtail wallaby also has a distinctive gait.

Sexes can be difficult to distinguish at a distance. Males have external genitals and females have a pouch.

Identification: Field signs

Look for tracks, scats and scrapes during daytime searches, particularly along the edge of brigalow regrowth and open woodland. Scats are more cylindrical than those of the black-striped wallaby.

Daytime searches may locate animals resting beneath shrubs or other shelter. Baited camera traps and spotlight surveys can help confirm identity, especially where direct observations are brief or lighting is poor.

Hair collected from an appropriate hair-sampling device can be identified for this species. No species-specific call, nest, slough or den sign is described in the supplied documents.

Distribution: Former and current range

The former range extended across inland eastern Australia, but the species is now highly restricted. The remaining wild population and established conservation populations are centred on central Queensland and selected managed sites.

Historically, the species occurred west of the Great Dividing Range from north-western Victoria, possibly into eastern South Australia, through central New South Wales and north to Charters Towers in Queensland.

The known significant remnant population described in the recovery plan was at Taunton National Park, now Taunton National Park (Scientific), near Dingo in central Queensland. A few sightings were recorded on properties within about 20 km of the park.

The survey guidelines also identify introduced populations at Idalia National Park in central Queensland and Scotia Sanctuary in western New South Wales.

Distribution: Bioregional context and population

The recovery program identifies biodiversity benefits in the Brigalow Belt and Mulga Lands biogeographic regions. The supplied documents do not provide a separate current population estimate for each site.

Taunton reserve: About 11,470 ha.

Historical population estimate: About 1,200 to 1,500 animals in the early 1990s, before a decline during drought.

Later wild estimate: About 400 to 700 individuals were reported in the husbandry manual.

Trend: The Taunton population declined during drought and was thought to be increasing again in the cited survey guideline material.

Known stronghold: Taunton National Park (Scientific), near Dingo, central Queensland.

Habitat: Vegetation communities

Bridled nailtail wallabies use dry inland vegetation with both cover and access to productive ground forage. The most preferred habitat is the transition between dense acacia vegetation and open grassy eucalypt woodland.

The species historically occupied Acacia shrubland and grassy woodland in semi-arid eastern Australia. At Taunton, it occurs in open grassy eucalypt woodland dominated by poplar box, dense brigalow forest, transitional vegetation between woodland and forest, and very dense brigalow regrowth.

The preferred habitat is a narrow transitional band between dense Acacia scrub and open grassy eucalypt woodland. Habitat with fertile soil and a mixture of open eucalypt forest, woodland and brigalow scrub supports the remaining population.

Habitat: Structure and site conditions

Suitable sites have low shrubs, young brigalow regrowth, grass and fallen or hollow logs at wallaby height, together with open ground for feeding. Shelter availability appears to constrain movements.

Historical accounts associate the species with hot, dry, stony, semi-arid country and low mountain ranges. A historical elevation of about 100 to 600 feet was reported, but the supplied documents do not give a current elevation limit.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The bridled nailtail wallaby is a herbivore that feeds mostly on ground-layer plants and low browse. It forages alone at night, with feeding ranges centred on habitat edges where food and shelter occur close together.

The diet includes grasses, forbs, chenopods, browse from shrubs and small trees, and possibly tubers. Forbs and malvaceous plants are preferred when available.

Food selection changes with conditions. Wallabies eat mainly forbs during good seasons, more grass when forbs are scarce, and more browse when pasture availability is low. During very dry periods, false sandalwood, Eremophila mitchelli, forms a large part of the diet.

  • Important recorded food plants include pigweeds and Portulaca oleracea, Helipterum daisies, Trianthema triquetra, Zalea galericulata, Sporobolus caroli, Chloris divaricata, Dactyloctenium radulans and Bothriochloa bladhii.
  • Other recorded food groups include sedges, chenopods, malvaceous plants and young, less fibrous plant growth.

Foraging habitat: Foraging area and method

Core nocturnal feeding ranges are centred on the ecotone between pasture or open woodland and young brigalow regrowth. Animals feed on leaves and stems of herbaceous plants, bushes and small shrubs.

Mean home ranges at Taunton were about 25 ha for females and 60 ha for males. During drought, animals forage further into open pasture as local food availability falls.

Female mean home range: About 25 ha at Taunton.

Male mean home range: About 60 ha at Taunton.

Feeding period: Mainly at night, with some activity during the day.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Bridled nailtail wallabies can breed throughout the year. Breeding habitat needs nearby food and low, dense shelter where females and young can remain concealed during daylight.

Breeding is continuous, with a mean oestrous cycle of 36.2 days and a mean gestation period of 23.6 days. Pouch young and young at foot are more often observed from late spring through summer.

The supplied documents do not state a confirmed litter size, age at maturity or wild lifespan. Captive individuals have lived for 5 to 10 years.

Breeding season: Throughout the year, with more pouch young and young at foot observed from late spring through summer.

Oestrous cycle: Mean 36.2 days.

Gestation: Mean 23.6 days.

Litter size: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Age at maturity: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Lifespan: Captive individuals have lived 5 to 10 years; wild lifespan is not stated.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

Breeding and young-rearing areas are likely to be within the same edge habitat used for feeding and daytime shelter. Retain connected strips of young brigalow regrowth, low shrubs, grass and fallen logs beside open woodland.

Females shelter alone, so a site should retain multiple separate shelter opportunities rather than one isolated patch of cover.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter types

Daytime shelter is a defining habitat requirement. Wallabies use low vegetation and logs, with hollow logs strongly preferred where available.

Recorded shelter sites include low shrubs, young brigalow regrowth, Carissa ovata thickets and hollow logs. Animals rest in shade during the day and may use shelter under bushes.

Adults strongly preferred hollow logs over other shelter types when hollow logs were available. Dense vegetation at wallaby height appears to be particularly important.

  • Retain hollow and fallen logs within habitat edges and avoid moving, burning or burying them during site preparation.
  • Retain connected low brigalow regrowth, shrub thickets and grass cover beside open woodland.
  • Check shelter features during daytime searches before clearing, including shrubs, thickets, fallen logs and hollow logs.

Sheltering habitat: Movement between shelter and forage

Shelter availability appears to constrain movements, and core feeding ranges are centred on the boundary between dense cover and open ground. Clearing a narrow edge strip can therefore remove both refuge and access to nearby food.

During drought, animals move further into open pasture to forage, increasing their exposure away from dense cover.

Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation

The species has undergone a major range contraction and remains exposed to the combined effects of habitat loss, drought, introduced predators and competition for food. Clearing controls should focus on retaining habitat edges, shelter and movement links.

The species declined as its former range was lost, and it now depends on a small number of remnant or managed populations. Clearing open woodland, brigalow regrowth, shrub thickets or fallen logs can remove feeding and shelter resources.

Fragmenting the transition between dense acacia scrub and open grassy woodland can reduce access to both food and refuge. The recovery program promotes retention of remnant vegetation in the Brigalow Belt and Mulga Lands.

  • Map and avoid clearing habitat edges between brigalow scrub or regrowth and open eucalypt woodland.
  • Retain hollow logs, fallen timber, low shrubs and grass cover within and beside the clearing footprint.
  • Treat connected habitat within about 25 ha female and 60 ha male home-range scales as potentially relevant to movement and impact assessment, rather than assessing isolated vegetation patches only.

Threats: Predators, competition and drought

Predation by feral cats is documented for this species, and introduced predator populations are identified as a recovery research and management issue. Competition with black-striped wallabies and domestic cattle affects dietary resources.

Drought reduces pasture availability, increases reliance on browse and forces wallabies further into open pasture. This can increase exposure to predators and reduce access to shelter.

  • Control or manage feral predators in accordance with the approved site and conservation program before and during works.
  • Assess grazing pressure from cattle and other large herbivores where works occur near suitable habitat.
  • Avoid removing browse and ground forage during dry conditions unless the impact has been assessed and authorised.

Threats: Fire, roads and hydrology

The supplied species accounts do not quantify the effects of roads, altered drainage or particular fire regimes on bridled nailtail wallabies. These issues should still be assessed where they could remove brigalow edge habitat, shelter or food plants, or increase access for predators.

Any proposed fire, drainage or road works near occupied habitat should be assessed against the documented requirements for connected shelter, ground forage and movement between cover and open feeding areas.

Survey methodology: 1. Habitat assessment and stratified design

Survey this species where works may affect open eucalypt woodland, brigalow scrub, or the transitional edges between dense acacia vegetation and grassy woodland. Surveys should be stratified by habitat type and focus on shelter, tracks, scats, scrapes and nocturnal activity.

Complete a desktop assessment and field inspection before selecting survey sites.

Stratify survey effort by plant community and by habitat features, especially transitional vegetation between dense brigalow or other acacia scrub and open grassy eucalypt woodland.

Target areas with fertile soils, shrubs, grass cover, young brigalow regrowth, hollow logs and other low shelter.

Use the guideline effort for a subject area of up to 5 hectares; for larger areas, replicate surveys within each relevant habitat type or plant community.

Primary habitat: Open eucalypt forest and woodland, brigalow scrub, and habitat edges with shrubs, grass and fallen logs.

Survey area basis: The guideline specifies a subject site of 5 hectares or less, with replication for larger areas.

Survey methodology: 2. Daytime searches for habitat and signs

Search during daylight for suitable shelter and feeding habitat, including open eucalypt woodland, brigalow scrub, young regrowth, low shrubs and fallen or hollow logs.

Search systematically for tracks, scats and scrapes, and record their location, substrate, condition and apparent age.

Inspect likely daytime shelter sites, including shrubs, thickets, hollow logs and other cover, for resting wallabies.

Treat cylindrical scats, solitary shelter use and the species' distinctive gait as useful identification features where the black-striped wallaby is also present.

Daytime activity: Wallabies generally rest during the day in shade provided by bushes and shrubs.

Identification issue: At Taunton, the bridled nailtail wallaby overlaps with the black-striped wallaby and is distinguished by its white bridle markings, solitary behaviour, smaller body size and more cylindrical scats.

Survey methodology: 3. Daylight resting surveys

Conduct diurnal searches for wallabies resting in suitable shelter, using the habitat assessment to select search areas.

Search the ecotone between dense acacia vegetation and open grassy woodland, where core feeding ranges and shelter habitat are concentrated.

Approach quietly and avoid disturbing animals before they can be identified and recorded.

Activity pattern: The species is nocturnal and partly diurnal.

Preferred shelter: Low shrubby bushes, young brigalow regrowth, Carissa ovata thickets and hollow logs are recorded shelter types.

Survey methodology: 4. Spotlighting and camera traps

Conduct spotlight surveys on foot or from a vehicle through suitable habitat, particularly along habitat edges and near known shelter.

Use nocturnal survey conditions that allow the observer to detect eye shine and confirm the white bridle markings, body form and behaviour without pursuing the animal.

Deploy baited camera traps where direct observation is difficult or where presence needs confirmation.

Position cameras near likely movement routes, shelter edges and feeding areas, and retain time, date, location, bait and deployment details in the survey record.

Best activity period: The species feeds mainly at night and is nocturnal or partly diurnal.

Camera use: Baited camera traps may assist with confirming presence and identity.

Survey methodology: 5. Hair and other supplementary detection

Use hair-sampling devices where suitable and where the required approvals and handling arrangements are in place.

The survey guideline identifies the species as capable of positive identification from a hair sample, provided a reasonable sample is available.

Use hair evidence as supplementary confirmation and retain chain-of-custody, location and sample-condition information.

Hair identification: Bridled nailtail wallaby hair can be positively identified under the guideline.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Apply a stratified design and survey every relevant habitat type; replicate effort where the project area exceeds 5 hectares.
  • Use the species-specific methods in combination rather than relying on a single observation or sign search where the species could be affected.
  • Record survey dates, start and finish times, weather, moon and visibility conditions, observers, method, area searched, transect or route, camera locations, effort and all detections.
  • Map records, suitable habitat, shelter features, disturbance areas and the proposed retention or relocation areas.
  • Have records verified by an appropriately experienced ecologist where identification is uncertain, particularly where black-striped wallabies are present.
  • Submit confirmed records and relevant negative survey results to the relevant state or territory wildlife database, and provide records to the project approval authority where required.
  • Report the survey design and effort against the 5 hectare guideline basis, and explain any departures or access limitations.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Avoid disturbance to the narrow habitat edges and shelter features used by this species. Plan works around the species' nocturnal activity and year-round breeding, and obtain the approvals required for an EPBC Act listed species.

  • Retain the transitional vegetation between dense acacia or brigalow scrub and open grassy eucalypt woodland wherever practicable.
  • Retain low shrubs, young brigalow regrowth, grass cover, Carissa ovata thickets, hollow logs and other features used for daytime shelter.
  • Keep retained habitat connected to nearby suitable vegetation and avoid creating isolated strips or removing the shelter that links feeding areas with resting sites.
  • Set site-specific no-go areas and buffers around occupied shelter, important habitat edges and confirmed records, because the supplied documents do not specify a standard buffer distance.
  • Avoid unnecessary clearing of fertile alluvial flats and other areas that support open woodland, brigalow and productive ground-layer food plants.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and project planning

Listing: Endangered under the EPBC Act.

Breeding: Breeding occurs throughout the year, with pouch-young and young-at-foot more often observed in late spring and summer.

  • Check whether the action may significantly affect the EPBC Act listed endangered species and refer the action under the EPBC Act where required.
  • Check Queensland and any other relevant state or territory wildlife, clearing, threatened species and animal handling requirements before works begin.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies retained habitat, survey methods, exclusion areas, spotter catcher responsibilities, stop-work triggers, release sites, injury response and reporting.
  • Stage clearing so that occupied habitat is retained until the fauna spotter catcher has completed the required checks and any approved relocation or rescue action.
  • Schedule noisy or high-risk work to avoid the main nocturnal feeding period where practicable, while recognising that the species can also be active during the day.
  • Do not assume that a site is free of wallabies because no animal was seen during one visit.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

  • Complete the approved pre-clearance survey using habitat searches, sign searches, daylight resting surveys and, where needed, spotlighting or cameras.
  • Mark retained brigalow and woodland edges, shelter shrubs, thickets, hollow logs, fallen timber, rocks and other habitat features on plans and on the ground.
  • Inspect the work area immediately before clearing for animals sheltering in vegetation, logs or other cover.
  • Install exclusion fencing only where it will guide animals towards retained habitat and will not trap them between machinery, roads or fencing lines.
  • Check fencing daily for trapped or injured fauna and provide gates or escape points where the fauna management plan requires them.
  • Brief machinery operators, supervisors and fauna spotter catchers on the species' appearance, solitary behaviour, shelter use and stop-work procedures.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and spotter catcher coordination

Clear in small, controlled stages with a fauna spotter catcher present and able to direct machinery. Stop work whenever a wallaby, dependent young, occupied shelter or unexpected habitat risk is found.

  • Complete a daily pre-start inspection of the work area, exclusion fencing, access routes, retained habitat and known shelter features.
  • Keep the fauna spotter catcher in direct communication with the operator and supervisor during vegetation removal and ground disturbance.
  • Work from the cleared edge towards retained habitat only where this direction is approved in the fauna management plan and gives animals a safe route to cover.
  • Use low-speed, staged clearing and pause machinery whenever the spotter catcher needs to inspect vegetation, logs, debris or ground cover.
  • Do not allow machinery to enter a marked no-go area, retained habitat patch or release area.
  • Avoid night clearing unless it is specifically approved and supported by a species-appropriate fauna management procedure.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat feature handling

  • Inspect shrubs, young brigalow regrowth, Carissa ovata thickets and fallen or hollow logs before they are removed or moved.
  • Retain hollow and fallen logs in retained habitat wherever practicable, and move any approved salvage carefully to an agreed nearby habitat area under fauna spotter catcher direction.
  • Check rocks, dense ground cover, soil depressions and debris for sheltering animals before disturbance.
  • Do not burn, chip or bury habitat features until they have been inspected and the fauna spotter catcher has cleared the area.
  • Keep retained habitat edges intact rather than leaving isolated shelter remnants without adjacent feeding habitat.
  • Record each occupied or potentially occupied feature that is retained, moved or removed.

During habitat disturbance: Response to a wallaby or dependent young

Handling risk: The husbandry guidance states that the species is easily stressed and sensitive to new surroundings and human presence.

Release habitat: Suitable habitat includes shelter near feeding areas, especially the edge between dense acacia vegetation and open grassy woodland.

  • Stop the relevant machinery immediately and establish a quiet exclusion area if a bridled nailtail wallaby is seen.
  • Allow the animal to move to nearby retained habitat without pursuit where it can leave safely.
  • Do not catch, handle or relocate the animal unless the person is authorised under the applicable permit and the fauna management plan.
  • If capture is authorised, minimise pursuit and handling time, use appropriate equipment and place the animal in a dark, secure container to reduce stress and capture myopathy risk.
  • Check for pouch young or young-at-foot before any adult is moved, and manage dependent young under the direction of the authorised fauna professional.
  • Release a healthy animal only into nearby suitable retained habitat identified in the fauna management plan, with shelter and feeding habitat available.
  • Take an injured animal promptly to a veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer, using the approved wildlife rescue pathway.
  • Do not relocate an animal across roads, into unsuitable open ground or to an unapproved release site.

During habitat disturbance: Stop-work triggers and records

  • Stop work if a wallaby is found in the disturbance area, if dependent young may be present, if a shelter feature is occupied, or if machinery enters a no-go area.
  • Stop work if exclusion fencing traps fauna or prevents safe movement to retained habitat.
  • Record the time, location, animal condition, identification evidence, photographs where appropriate, action taken, permit or authority used, release site and personnel involved.
  • Notify the project environmental officer and approval authority of any injury, death, unauthorised handling, unapproved relocation or breach of the fauna management plan.
  • Keep daily records of cleared area, habitat features inspected, machinery activities, spotter catcher attendance, detections and incidents.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance work must confirm that no animals remain in the disturbance footprint and that retained habitat and movement routes remain functional. Monitor the outcome where the project affects occupied habitat or a known population.

  • Complete a final daylight inspection of the cleared footprint, debris piles, remaining shrubs, logs and access tracks before the area is handed back to construction.
  • Check exclusion fencing, pits, trenches and other structures for trapped fauna during works and until they are removed or made safe.
  • Inspect retained habitat edges for damage, new barriers, excessive dust, weeds and loss of shelter.
  • Confirm that all approved release sites remain accessible and have not been disturbed by later construction activities.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and controls

  • Continue spotlighting, camera trapping or sign searches where monitoring is required by an approval, fauna management plan or recovery action.
  • Use the same survey locations and methods where practicable so that post-work results can be compared with pre-work records.
  • Maintain exclusion fencing, fauna ramps, covers and other controls until the environmental officer confirms that they are no longer needed.
  • Investigate any new wallaby record, injured animal, mortality or change in shelter use and adjust works accordingly.

After habitat disturbance: Reporting and offsets

  • Submit confirmed records, incidents, mortality data and monitoring results to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and to the approval authority where required.
  • Provide a completion report that maps cleared and retained habitat, occupied features, fauna responses, release locations, monitoring results and any non-compliance.
  • Implement any approved offset, habitat protection or contribution to recovery actions in accordance with the EPBC Act approval and state requirements.
  • Include the species in the project's lessons-learned review where works affected brigalow, woodland edges or shelter logs.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore habitat structure and food plants

Rehabilitation should recreate the combination of shelter and productive ground-layer feeding habitat used by the species. Establish habitat edges, retain structural cover and manage introduced predators, weeds, grazing and fire so the site remains suitable over time.

Recorded food groups: Forbs, grasses, browse and, during dry periods, browse such as false sandalwood are recorded dietary components.

Preferred arrangement: Core feeding ranges are centred on the ecotone between pasture and young brigalow regrowth.

  • Re-establish a mosaic of open grassy eucalypt woodland, brigalow or other acacia scrub, and a gradual transitional edge between them.
  • Plant or encourage native ground-layer food plants recorded in the species' diet, including forbs, grasses, sedges and browse species suited to the local site.
  • Use local provenance plants where available and protect new plantings from grazing, trampling and weed competition.
  • Retain or reinstate low shrubs, young brigalow regrowth, Carissa ovata thickets and other dense cover at wallaby height.
  • Do not create a uniformly dense plantation or a completely open pasture, because the species uses both shelter and adjacent feeding areas.

Rehabilitation actions: Reinstate shelter and safe movement

Shelter use: Hollow logs are strongly preferred where available, and low shrubs, young brigalow regrowth and thickets are also used.

  • Leave suitable fallen and hollow logs in place or reinstate salvaged logs in retained and rehabilitated habitat.
  • Retain rocks, dense shrubs, grass cover and other low shelter features where they occur naturally on the site.
  • Use nest boxes only if a site-specific assessment identifies a shortage of natural shelter and an approved management plan supports their use; the supplied documents do not prescribe a nest-box design or density for this species.
  • Maintain connected movement routes between shelter, feeding areas and nearby retained habitat, without directing animals towards roads or active work areas.

Rehabilitation actions: Manage threats and measure success

  • Control invasive weeds that reduce native food plants or alter shelter structure.
  • Manage feral cats and other introduced predators in accordance with approved, humane control programmes and relevant permits.
  • Manage grazing so that ground-layer food plants and shelter are retained, especially during drought.
  • Use a fire regime that protects brigalow regrowth, shelter patches and native food plants, and obtain ecological fire advice for the local community.
  • Monitor vegetation establishment, shelter availability, weed cover, predator activity, wallaby signs, camera detections and use of restored habitat.
  • Set success measures in the rehabilitation plan, including survival of plantings, retention of logs and shrubs, connected habitat edges, no persistent weed dominance and confirmed use by bridled nailtail wallabies where recolonisation or occupancy is an objective.
  • Review monitoring results and replant, repair fencing, replace lost logs or adjust grazing, predator or fire management when success measures are not met.

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