RECOVERED OLD FILE

[Original headline: Purple no pigment of imagination]

Scientists have confirmed the existence of a mysterious purple kangaroo until now considered nothing more than legend.

In 1924 a European biologist first described the existence of a purple kangaroo after claiming to have seen one in bush near Mt Isa. It was said to have purple fur around its face and neck.

However, authorities refused to believe the animal existed at the time and the discovery was promptly discredited.

The species found by the biologist known as Le Souf was eventually lumped into another category.

But yesterday researchers from Macquarie University revealed they had confirmed that indeed there was a purple wallaby.

"No one believed [Le Souf], everyone just said, 'No, they can't have purple necks, they must be rubbing themselves on some rock and getting this funny colouration'," said Macquarie University Department of Biological Sciences researcher Dr Mark Eldridge.

"Because it is secreted through the skin, once the animal is dead the pigment rapidly fades, so by the time Le Souf got the specimens back to Brisbane or Sydney from North Queensland, the colour had gone. It just looked like a very plain, normal-looking rock wallaby."

Using genetic technology, the Macquarie University team found the animal was an entirely new species.

It has now named the species the purple-necked rock wallaby – petrogale purpureicollis.

However, no one yet knows how and why the purple pigment is produced.

They know it comes from a gland, but biological studies have yet to determine whether the gland is unique in this animal and, if it is common, why in this particular animal it is purple.

"The colouring of the face is much darker in males than in females and it comes and goes through the year.

"Sometimes it will be very intense – a very bright purple – and other times it's just a faint pink wash through the fur," said Dr Eldridge.

"The pigment comes off – you can rub it off with your hands. It also washes off in water, so after it rains they are not purple, and then it comes back again."

Dr Eldridge said that further research was needed to determine how widespread the species is and to discover the secrets of its colouration.

• Story originally published by:
Daily Telegraph, Surry Hills / Australia | Simon Benson - Oct 17.01

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