Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (Animals with Superpowers by Yowie Group)

Last week we looked at a macropod that makes its home in the trees, this week we’re looking at one that prefers to dwell among the rocks. The black-flanked rock wallaby (Petrogale lateralis) is a species of rock-wallaby found among rocky outcrops and cliffs in small, scattered populations throughout western Australia. They are nocturnal, leaving the safety of their rocky outcrops at night to feed in adjacent grasslands. The figure we’re looking at of this species was produced by Yowie Group as part of their Animals with Superpowers series. In this case the “superpower” possessed by the wallaby are its textured, padded, sticky feet that allow the animal to grip rocky surfaces and confidently move about. Aside from a discontinued figure from 1999 (also by Yowie) this is the only figure of the species.

The Yowie rock-wallaby is presented resting on its haunches with its forepaws tucked close to its chest and tail wrapped around its foot. It stands 2” (5.08 cm) tall to the tip of its ears. It has an approximate head-to-body length of 3” (7.62 cm). The actual black-flanked rock-wallaby stands about 19” tall (50 cm) which would put the figure at about 1/6 in scale.

Details on this simple little figure are decent enough and consist of nicely executed facial features and fur etched into the body. The color is grayish brown with a paler chest, and black toenails, nose, and eyes. Missing are the black and white facial stripes, black stripe running down the midline of the back, and the namesake black flanks.

You can’t ask for much from a $3 toy included with some chocolate, but Yowie figures are generally good none-the-less for what they are. Although the sculpt is excellent on this figure it’s missing a lot of the markings that make the black-flanked rock-wallaby distinctive, making it look like a generic brown toy kangaroo/wallaby. This figure is no longer available in stores but should be easy to find on places like eBay or in animal toy collecting communities. This figure was listed as “popular” on the Yowie rarity chart which is one notch lower than common. It should be easy to find.