Mammals
Banded Hare-Wallaby
Lagostrophus fasciatus · also called banded hare-wallabies
Sheltering beneath dense island scrub, a banded hare-wallaby represents the last living branch of an entire subfamily of macropods, its entire natural existence now confined to just two small islands off the coast of Western Australia.
Overview
The banded hare-wallaby, Lagostrophus fasciatus, is the sole surviving member of an entire macropod subfamily, native to grassland and coastal habitat on two small islands off Western Australia. Its status as a genuine evolutionary relic with no other close living relatives, complete disappearance from mainland Australia, and extremely restricted natural range make it one of the most irreplaceable and conservation-critical marsupials found anywhere on Earth.
The last of its kind, twice over
Beyond being an individually endangered species, the banded hare-wallaby represents the final surviving branch of its entire evolutionary lineage, meaning its loss would erase not just a species but an entire unique chapter of the kangaroo family’s history.
Status
Endangered, restricted to two small natural islands off Western Australia, with conservation efforts working to establish additional populations at predator-free sites.
Banded Hare-Wallaby: common questions
Why is the banded hare-wallaby considered such an evolutionary relic?
This species is the sole surviving member of an entire subfamily of macropods, meaning every one of its closest relatives has already gone extinct, making the banded hare-wallaby a genuinely unique living link to a branch of the kangaroo family found nowhere else.
Why does the banded hare-wallaby only live on two islands?
This species disappeared entirely from mainland Australia following European settlement, largely due to predation by introduced foxes and cats, surviving only on two small islands off Western Australia that these introduced predators never reached.
Is anything being done to help the banded hare-wallaby recover?
Yes, this species has been the focus of conservation efforts to establish additional populations at predator-free island and fenced mainland sites, aiming to reduce its dangerous reliance on just two natural island populations for its entire species' survival.
How can you identify a banded hare-wallaby?
This species has faint dark banding across its back, a feature reflected directly in its common name, along with a generally compact build that distinguishes it from other small wallaby species found across Australia.