Mammals
Western Grey Kangaroo
Macropus fuliginosus · also called stinker, mallee kangaroo
Grazing in a loose mob across open mallee scrub, a western grey kangaroo carries a distinctively strong musky scent that has earned the species a blunt nickname, one of the clearer ways to tell it apart from its close relative the eastern grey kangaroo.
Overview
The western grey kangaroo, Macropus fuliginosus, is a large grazing marsupial native to grassland and forest habitat across a broad range spanning southern Australia. Its distinctively strong musky odour, close association with mallee scrub and woodland habitat, and largely separate range from the eastern grey kangaroo make it one of the more easily distinguished large kangaroo species found anywhere in Australia.
A kangaroo you can identify by scent
While its size and grazing habits closely mirror the eastern grey kangaroo, the western grey kangaroo’s noticeably stronger musky odour offers one of the more distinctive, if unglamorous, ways to tell the two closely related species apart in the field.
Status
Least Concern, remaining abundant and widespread across suitable grassland and forest habitat throughout southern Australia.
Western Grey Kangaroo: common questions
Why is the western grey kangaroo nicknamed the stinker?
This species produces a notably strong, musky body odour, particularly in males, distinctive enough to have earned it the informal nickname stinker among some Australians, a scent considerably more pronounced than that of several other kangaroo species.
How can you tell a western grey kangaroo from an eastern grey kangaroo?
This species occupies a largely separate range from the eastern grey kangaroo, meeting only in a narrow overlap zone, and can also be distinguished by its stronger musky scent and slightly darker coat compared with its eastern relative.
Why is the western grey kangaroo also called the mallee kangaroo?
This species is closely associated with mallee scrub and open woodland habitat in addition to grassland, a strong habitat preference that is reflected directly in one of its alternate common names used across parts of southern Australia.
Does the western grey kangaroo live in groups?
Yes, this species forms grazing groups called mobs, similar to other large kangaroo species, a social structure that offers collective vigilance against predators while the group feeds together across open grassland.