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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | 20000-30000, 25000 |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Vulnerable |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
Malleefowl live in semi-arid shrublands and low woodlands, usually dominated by mallee eucalypts and/or acacias (Benshemesh 2007). They require a sandy substrate and abundant leaf litter for breeding. While they can be highly fecund, with a clutch size of 15–20 (Priddel and Wheeler 2005), rainfall is critical to fecundity and survival (Benshemesh 2007). They are opportunists and feed on seeds, particularly legumes, flowers and fruits of shrubs, herbs, invertebrates, tubers and fungi (Benshemesh 2007). Its "nest" is a mound, comprising an inner core of leaf-litter buried under a thick layer of sand. It may lay over 30 eggs in a season but, on average, each breeding pair produces 8-10 chicks each year (Frith 1959).
Range:
Malleefowl occur in scattered locations across much of southern mainland Australia from the Great Dividing Range in the east to the west coast (Benshemesh 2007). Most of the highest quality habitat in both eastern and western Australia has been cleared for agriculture. The largest remaining contiguous area of habitat is east of the Western Australian wheatbelt, including the Great Western Woodlands, Murchison bioregion, and the Great Victoria Desert stretching into South Australia. The best and maximum estimates are based on Malleefowl Recovery Team data (J. Benshemesh unpublished).
Conservation:
Conservation Actions Underway
Much of the remaining habitat is in protected areas. Listed as threatened under appropriate legislation, including as a National Threatened Species Strategy priority. Past declines have prompted the production of a national research plan (Orsini and Hall 1995) and recovery plan (Benshemesh 2007). The species is the focus of many non-government conservation groups (e.g. the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group and the Malleefowl Preservation Group) (Bode and Brennan 2011). National monitoring standards have been established and annual counts of active mounds are carried out at over 60 sites (Benshemesh 2004). Reserves have been declared, some on private lands, and some habitats have been fenced to exclude stock. Goats, rabbits and foxes have been partially controlled at some sites. Further habitat has been secured, protecting links between isolated populations, and wildfire response plans prepared. Community initiatives have been a major force in identifying and supporting research opportunities, and on-the-ground project implementation and management have been successful (S. Dennings in litt. 2004). Captive breeding is allowing population supplementation (G. Baker in litt. 2005). Adaptive management to determine the role of predators and control regimes is ongoing.Conservation Actions Proposed
Develop effective means of stopping catastrophic fire. Determine optimal levels of feral animal and competing herbivore reduction. Develop a climate change adaptation strategy. Cease all further habitat clearance. Control fire, particularly on extreme fire danger days. Control targeted feral animal and competing herbivore. Maintain or establish habitat corridors between fragments (Benshemesh 1999). Establish long term conservation covenant agreements to secure privately owned natural vegetation (Benshemesh 1999). In reserves, close or fence off artificial water supplies and remove livestock (Benshemesh 1999). Foster communication with grazers and farmers about Malleefowl requirements (Benshemesh 1999). Minimise the amount of grain spilt on roadsides that pass through suitable habitat and erect warning signs where fatalities are likely to occur (Garnett et al. 2011). Monitor populations in at least 10 sites in each state and assess the size and distribution of populations in fragments and remote regions (Benshemesh 1999). Carry out further research into the species's ecology and demography (Benshemesh 1999), especially the minimum population size for subpopulation persistence (Garnett et al. 2011). Conduct genetic analysis to detect areas of disjunction between subpopulations (Benshemesh 1999). Investigate the effect of agrochemicals on fertility (Benshemesh 1999).
Much of the remaining habitat is in protected areas. Listed as threatened under appropriate legislation, including as a National Threatened Species Strategy priority. Past declines have prompted the production of a national research plan (Orsini and Hall 1995) and recovery plan (Benshemesh 2007). The species is the focus of many non-government conservation groups (e.g. the Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group and the Malleefowl Preservation Group) (Bode and Brennan 2011). National monitoring standards have been established and annual counts of active mounds are carried out at over 60 sites (Benshemesh 2004). Reserves have been declared, some on private lands, and some habitats have been fenced to exclude stock. Goats, rabbits and foxes have been partially controlled at some sites. Further habitat has been secured, protecting links between isolated populations, and wildfire response plans prepared. Community initiatives have been a major force in identifying and supporting research opportunities, and on-the-ground project implementation and management have been successful (S. Dennings in litt. 2004). Captive breeding is allowing population supplementation (G. Baker in litt. 2005). Adaptive management to determine the role of predators and control regimes is ongoing.Conservation Actions Proposed
Develop effective means of stopping catastrophic fire. Determine optimal levels of feral animal and competing herbivore reduction. Develop a climate change adaptation strategy. Cease all further habitat clearance. Control fire, particularly on extreme fire danger days. Control targeted feral animal and competing herbivore. Maintain or establish habitat corridors between fragments (Benshemesh 1999). Establish long term conservation covenant agreements to secure privately owned natural vegetation (Benshemesh 1999). In reserves, close or fence off artificial water supplies and remove livestock (Benshemesh 1999). Foster communication with grazers and farmers about Malleefowl requirements (Benshemesh 1999). Minimise the amount of grain spilt on roadsides that pass through suitable habitat and erect warning signs where fatalities are likely to occur (Garnett et al. 2011). Monitor populations in at least 10 sites in each state and assess the size and distribution of populations in fragments and remote regions (Benshemesh 1999). Carry out further research into the species's ecology and demography (Benshemesh 1999), especially the minimum population size for subpopulation persistence (Garnett et al. 2011). Conduct genetic analysis to detect areas of disjunction between subpopulations (Benshemesh 1999). Investigate the effect of agrochemicals on fertility (Benshemesh 1999).