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Species: Parma wallaby (Macropus parma)

Use: Observations of behavior of the parma wallaby in captivity in zoos and in a wildlife reserve to further interpret the cause and effect of specific behaviors. In addition, a clear definition of these behaviors will assist with potential trapping for a genetics study in New South Wales, Australia.

Authors: Adrienne Miller and Russell Menard, Roger Williams Park Zoo

Methods: Opportunistic sampling in captive North American collections and daily observation sessions at the Yengo Gardens Wildlife Reserve, New South Wales, Australia

Publications/Presentations: Adrienne Miller (2003). Parma Wallaby (Macropus parma) Resource Manual. Roger Williams Park Zoo; Providence, RI (in prep).

Behavioral Repertoire

LOCOMOTIONmovement from one point to another
Independent –appears to be self-motivated and not influenced by the presence of another animal

Hop: bipedal (using rear feet only) movement forward, forearms tucked up against chest
Hide: moving into shelter or cover
Jump: To jump over an object or individual
Walk: quadrapedal walk, using all four limbs to travel forward, on rare occasions independent movement of the rear legs is noted.

Interactive –appears to be influenced by the presence of another animal

Approach: approaching another animal or object at a walk or a hop
Avoid: moving away from another animal or object at a walk or a hop
Chase: hopping after another animal, motive appears aggressive in both males and females, or sexually related in males
Chase Train: several individuals following each other at a hop, motive unknown, no apparent aggression
Flee: suddenly and quickly moving away from another animal or object, probable perceived threat, bipedal
Follow: following another, non-aggressive
Stiff-legged Walk: quadrapedal walk on tips of feet and tail, usually associated with approach to another animal or object

COMMUNICATION – sounds or movements made in apparent communication with others or in response to the presence of others, always interactive

Cluck: soft click sound from throat, often directed by dam to joey
Cough: loud exhale sound from chest
Foot Stomp: using one or both feet to stomp ground, often a fast double stomp at start of movement forward, a response to a perceived threat, appears to be an alarm call to others
Hiss: quick exhale from throat, directed at another animal, usually aggressive
Quiver: rapid vibration of head and upper body, usually in association with uncertainty, possibly a submissive gesture
Tail wag: moving tail tip or entire tail from side to side, usually associated with agitation from a perceived threat or sexual arousal

ACTION – an action performed by an individual that is not movement or sexual activity
Independent - does not require the presence of another individual

Bolus: regurgitation of a bolus, visibly retching
Bite: biting a body part of self
Chew: chewing action, often follows a bolus
Cloaca Drag: dragging cloaca along ground
Crouch, Alert: bent forward, forepaws on ground, alert to surroundings, often scanning
Crouch, Rest: bent forward, forepaws on ground, resting
Defecate: passing feces
Drink: consuming a liquid, usually water
Eat: consuming item, usually grass or browse
Ear Flick: quick movement of ears, either single or simultaneous
Forage: manipulating food item with forepaws, usually browse
Groom: cleaning self, can involve scratching with forepaws, rear syndactyl toe and licking
Head Shake: shaking of head from side to side
Lie: being recumbent, little or no weight on elbows or feet
Manipulate: actively touching an item not interpreted as food
Paw: scratching ground, pulling at item, usually grass, with forepaws
Recline: sitting with weight on lower back, rear legs and tail forward, back against supporting object, position of females during birthing
Rest: being recumbent with weight on elbows
Sit, Alert: upright with weight on rear legs and tail, forepaws not in contact with ground, alert to surroundings
Sit, Rest: upright with weight on rear legs and tail, forepaws not in contact with ground, little response to surroundings
Scratch: itching or scratching self, apparent response to irritation
Skin shake: quick movement of skin over muscle, usually a response to skin irritation
Sniff: nose raised, breathing in air
Scan: actively looking around
Sleep: apparent sleeping
Stand, Alert: upright, weight on rear legs, forepaws off ground, little or no weight on tail, alert to surroundings
Stand, Rest: upright, weight on rear legs, forepaws off ground, little or no weight on tail, little response to surroundings
Stretch, Recumbant: brief elongation of entire body while recumbent
Stretch, Stand: brief elongation of entire body while in a stand, nose pointed upward
Urinate: passing urine
Yawn: opening mouth wide and inhaling, then exhaling

Interactive - requires the presence of another individual

Bite Other: biting a body part of another
Grab: using forepaws to grab a body part, other than the pelvis, of another
Grooming: manipulating or licking body part of another, usually associated only between dam and joey
Nose: using the nose to inspect the body of another, other than genital area, often nose to nose
Slap: using the forepaws to slap or hit another
Supplant: causing another to move, usually related to competition for food or sex
Touch: direct contact, usually of forepaw, with another
Wrestle, Aggressive: using forepaws to wrestle or box with another, using tail for balance, aggressive, often between two males
Wrestle, Play: using forepaws to wrestle or box with another, using tail for balance, motive apparently play, possible practice for aggressive wrestle, often between two juveniles

REPRODUCTIVE – behaviors that are most generally associated with sexual activity

Chest Lay: laying chest on head of another, male behavior toward female, often follows a head box or head rub
Copulation: successful breeding, penetration
Erection: penis is erect
Forearm Flick: rapid pawing of the air by the forelimb simultaneously, associated with frustrated male arousal
Head Box: using the forepaws to slap or box the head of another, male behavior only, usually done to a female
Head Rub, Choice: rubbing the head on chest or neck area of another animal, apparently by choice
Head Rub, Directed: directing another to rub its head on chest or neck area of animal doing the directing, usually performed by a male to a female
Interrupt: sexual behavior halted by presence of another, usually a male
Masturbatory: manipulating on object (often a stick or small log) with forepaws in a matter that suggests head boxing and directed head rub, drawing object up against torso and attempting to mount or mounting
Mount: male mounting another from the rear
Mount, Misdirected: male mounting another from any direction other than the rear
Nose to Genitalia: nose to genitalia of another, frequently first reproductive step, usually male
Nose to Pouch: nose to the pouch of another, frequently sniffing, usually male
Object Rub: rubbing chest, head or urogenital area on an object other than another animal
Pelvis Grab: using forepaws to grab or hold the pelvis of another, usually done to a female by a male
Pouch Clean: female cleaning her own pouch, no joey apparent, often first sign of approaching birth
Sniff Urine: inspecting the recent urination of another, usually male only

DAM AND JOEY – behaviors specific to joey development or interactions between dam and joey

Attempt to Enter: unsuccessful attempt by joey to enter pouch, due to anything other than rejection of dam
Pouch Entry: successful entry of pouch by joey
Pouch Groom: dam grooming joey while within the pouch
Forelimb Out: forelimb observed protruding from pouch opening
Head Out: head observed protruding from pouch opening
Locomotion: joey moving around dam or environment
Movement: pouch movement
Nurse: joey nursing from outside of pouch
Out of Pouch: entire body of joey out of the pouch
Play: perceived play activity, often involving chasing and wrestling, between joey and dam or another joey
Rear Limb Out: rear limb observed protruding from pouch opening
Reject: dam prohibits joey’s entry to pouch by pushing with forelimbs or repositioning
Tail Out: tail observed protruding from pouch opening

REFERENCES
Coulson, G. 1989. Repertoires of social behavior in the Macropodoidae. In Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-kangaroos, Editors G. Grigg, P. Jarman and I. Hune. Surray Beatty & Sons Pty Limited, New South Wales, Australia.
Dabek, L. 1991. Mother-young Relations and Behavioral Development of the Young in Captive Matschie’s Tree Knagaroo (Dendrolagus matshiei), University of Washington, Master of Science thesis submission.
Ord, T., C.S. Evans and D.W.Cooper. 1999. Nocturnal Behavior of the Parma Wallaby, Macropus parma (Marsupialia: Macropodoidae), Australian Journal of Zoology, 47, pgs. 155-167.

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