Meet the Woylie
April 1, 2023 7:11 AM Subscribe
Meet the Woylie, also called brush-tailed bettong or brush-tailed rat kangaroo. It's a small (38cm / 14.9 inches long, not including the tail) nocturnal Australian marsupial. Despite weighing 1300 grams (45.8 oz), it can move about six tonnes of soil every year in its quest for food.
Woylies love digging up and eating underground fungi, with occasional side-snacks of tubers, seeds, insects, and resin exuded from Hakea laurina.
Woylies have been called ecosystem engineers as one single Woylie can move about six tonnes of soil every year in its quest for food. This turning over soil not only spreads the spores of fungi and seeds of other native plants, but provides good beds for the seeds to grow, which keeps the bushland healthy. The digging also helps with the penetration of water into the soil and the retention of water in the soil. As a result of these effects, it also helps with the carbon dioxide absorption of the bushland.
At one time, Woylies lived in 60% of the Australian mainland. Unfortunately, they are severely under threat from feral cats and feral foxes, so there are now programs that breed woylies and release them into very large feral-predator-free fenced enclosures.
Woylies make a historic return to the Northern Territory
Australian Wildlife Conservancy Translocates 56 Woylies to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary
Woylies love digging up and eating underground fungi, with occasional side-snacks of tubers, seeds, insects, and resin exuded from Hakea laurina.
Woylies have been called ecosystem engineers as one single Woylie can move about six tonnes of soil every year in its quest for food. This turning over soil not only spreads the spores of fungi and seeds of other native plants, but provides good beds for the seeds to grow, which keeps the bushland healthy. The digging also helps with the penetration of water into the soil and the retention of water in the soil. As a result of these effects, it also helps with the carbon dioxide absorption of the bushland.
At one time, Woylies lived in 60% of the Australian mainland. Unfortunately, they are severely under threat from feral cats and feral foxes, so there are now programs that breed woylies and release them into very large feral-predator-free fenced enclosures.
Woylies make a historic return to the Northern Territory
Australian Wildlife Conservancy Translocates 56 Woylies to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary
Somebody with good graphics skills please make an illustration of Australia's staggering variety of marsupials, poking their heads out of another's pouch, an endless array of cuteness.
Thanks for posting, I hope their reintroduction goes well!
posted by winesong at 9:18 AM on April 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
Thanks for posting, I hope their reintroduction goes well!
posted by winesong at 9:18 AM on April 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
chariot pulled by cassowaries is quite obviously a shill for Big Australia, trying to convince us that Australia is not in fact a land of terror teeming with deadly snakes, freakish spiders, homicidal sharks etc., but instead a twee fantasy land of tiny, ridiculously adorable, highly industrious marsupials and their mammalian friends. don't fall for the hype sheeple!! these um "woylies" are probably 600 lb blood thirsty monsters.
posted by supermedusa at 10:00 AM on April 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 10:00 AM on April 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
Awww, I want one! (Which I realize is probably part of their problem...)
posted by rpfields at 10:18 AM on April 1, 2023
posted by rpfields at 10:18 AM on April 1, 2023
supermedusa We have deadly snakes, freakish spiders, homicidal sharks AND tiny, ridiculously adorable, highly industrious marsupials and their mammalian friends.
Both. The answer is Both.
Also far more people get killed in car accidents in Australia each year than by snakes/spiders/sharks.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 11:32 AM on April 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
Both. The answer is Both.
Also far more people get killed in car accidents in Australia each year than by snakes/spiders/sharks.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 11:32 AM on April 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
Awww, I want one! (Which I realize is probably part of their problem...)
As far as I know, there's no illicit pet trade in Woylies.
Other animals, yes (birds, reptiles and snakes get smuggled overseas)
but I've never heard of people illegally selling Woylies for pets.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 11:35 AM on April 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
As far as I know, there's no illicit pet trade in Woylies.
Other animals, yes (birds, reptiles and snakes get smuggled overseas)
but I've never heard of people illegally selling Woylies for pets.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 11:35 AM on April 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
chariot pulled by cassowaries I love these posts and appreciate your introducing us to the smol soft furry side of your nation.
posted by supermedusa at 11:54 AM on April 1, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 11:54 AM on April 1, 2023 [6 favorites]
As far as I know, there's no illicit pet trade in Woylies.
YET.
(Just joking of course.)
posted by rpfields at 6:55 PM on April 1, 2023
YET.
(Just joking of course.)
posted by rpfields at 6:55 PM on April 1, 2023
Ya move six tonnes... waddaya get?
posted by tigrrrlily at 11:33 AM on April 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by tigrrrlily at 11:33 AM on April 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Heh, I use can threads. Sorry.
posted by beckybakeroo at 8:48 PM on April 2, 2023
posted by beckybakeroo at 8:48 PM on April 2, 2023
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posted by GenjiandProust at 7:22 AM on April 1, 2023 [3 favorites]