#flash jack

Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata)-

Also called a merrin or a flash jack (don’t look that up, or do- nsfw), it is characteristically named after a nail/spur like tip on its tail, possibly for more grip/traction. There are two other wallaby species that share the same spur- the Northern (common) and Crescent (extinct) nail-tail wallabies.

These small marsupials are found along the Eastern coast of Australia and were once thought to be extinct in the 1930s, and was rediscovered 40 years later. The species’ range was then put under the protection of private reserves and conservation projects to repopulate their numbers. They are now considered vulnerable.

Though a primarily solitary species, these wallabies are sometimes found grazing in groups. They are nocturnal, but they do like to sunbathe. In the night, they feed on succulents and soft leaved plants. 

A unique trait to the bridled nail-tails is that they seem to have a more aggressive immune system than other macropods, allowing them to survive parasites, infections, viruses and other diseases.