It is hard to guess what a Rufous hare-wallaby weights. But we have the answer:
An adult Rufous hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus) on average weights 1.41 kg (3.12 lbs).
The Rufous hare-wallaby is from the family Macropodidae (genus: Lagorchestes). They can live for up to 8 years. When reaching adult age, they grow up to 34.2 cm (1′ 2″). Usually, Rufous hare-wallabys have 1 babies per litter.
As a reference: An average human weights in at 62 kg (137 lbs) and reaches an average size of 1.65m (5′ 5″). Humans spend 280 days (40 weeks) in the womb of their mother and reach around 75 years of age.
The rufous hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus), also known as the mala, is a small macropod found in Australia. It was formerly widely distributed across the western half of the continent but is now confined to Bernier Island and Dorre Island Islands off Western Australia. Although once widespread in the central and western deserts, predation by feral cats and foxes, and destructive wildfires, caused the last wild population on mainland Australia to go extinct in the early 1990s. It is currently classified as vulnerable. Mala prefer spinifex sandplain habitat, the animals build burrows under large spinifex hummocks. The burrows are tunnel-like structures with a spinifex roof. This provides a cool refuge during the heat of the day. In summer, they are likely to dig deeper burrows to withstand searing desert temperaturesThe rufous hare-wallaby has rufous-grey fur and is the smallest hare-wallaby, weighing just 800-1600 grams. It is a solitary nocturnal herbivore that feeds on herbs, leaves and seeds. It is currently being reintroduced to mainland Australia, notably in the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory. In July 2019, the first reintroductions into the Newhaven wildlife sanctuary were conducted, with the release of 30 individuals into the 9,400 hectare, feral predator-free area.
Animals of the same family as a Rufous hare-wallaby
We found other animals of the Macropodidae family:
- White-striped dorcopsis bringing 5.5 kilos (12.13 lbs) to the scale
- Common wallaroo bringing 25.99 kilos (57.3 lbs) to the scale
- Tasmanian pademelon bringing 5.85 kilos (12.9 lbs) to the scale
- Lowlands tree-kangaroo bringing 8.47 kilos (18.67 lbs) to the scale
- Black-striped wallaby bringing 11.23 kilos (24.76 lbs) to the scale
- Macleay’s dorcopsis bringing 2.78 kilos (6.13 lbs) to the scale
- Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroo bringing 7.98 kilos (17.59 lbs) to the scale
- Small dorcopsis bringing 1.89 kilos (4.17 lbs) to the scale
- Black wallaroo bringing 17 kilos (37.48 lbs) to the scale
- Spectacled hare-wallaby bringing 2.82 kilos (6.22 lbs) to the scale
Animals with the same weight as a Rufous hare-wallaby
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Lagorchestes hirsutus:
- Pichi with a weight of 1.49 kilos (3.28 lbs)
- Indian giant flying squirrel with a weight of 1.68 kilos (3.7 lbs)
- European pine marten with a weight of 1.3 kilos (2.87 lbs)
- Southern three-banded armadillo with a weight of 1.32 kilos (2.91 lbs)
- Chinese hare with a weight of 1.61 kilos (3.55 lbs)
- Marsh rabbit with a weight of 1.36 kilos (3 lbs)
- Woylie with a weight of 1.22 kilos (2.69 lbs)
- Greater glider with a weight of 1.26 kilos (2.78 lbs)
- Hainan hare with a weight of 1.52 kilos (3.35 lbs)
- Bristle-spined rat with a weight of 1.3 kilos (2.87 lbs)
Animals with the same litter size as a Rufous hare-wallaby
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (1) as a Rufous hare-wallaby:
- Brown titi
- Urial
- Hawaiian monk seal
- California mouse
- Aye-aye
- Chinese pangolin
- Red acouchi
- Sharpe’s grysbok
- Australian sea lion
- Broom hare
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Rufous hare-wallaby
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Rufous hare-wallaby:
- European mole with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Yuma myotis with an average maximal age of 8.75 years
- Lesser short-nosed fruit bat with an average maximal age of 8 years
- American pika with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Florida mouse with an average maximal age of 7.33 years
- Red-legged sun squirrel with an average maximal age of 8.83 years
- Mexican mouse opossum with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Moonrat with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Yellow-bellied marmot with an average maximal age of 8 years
- Cape gray mongoose with an average maximal age of 8.67 years