Hybridization between tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) populations from Western and South Australia

Populations of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) occur in southwest Western Australia and on five Australian offshore islands, four in Western Australia and one in South Australia. The South Australia and Western Australia populations have probably been isolated from each other for 50,000-100,000 years. Studies have shown that there are morphological and genetic differences between these populations. Attempts at mating individuals from Garden Island (Western Australia) with individuals from Kangaroo Island (South Australia) indicate that while the two populations can hybridize in captivity and F1 hybrids of both sexes are fertile, a barrier to successful reproduction between these two populations is in the initial stages of development.