Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby (Animals of Australia, Small Series by Science & Nature)

Today we are visiting the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus, by Science & Nature. The figure was released for the ‘small series’ in their Animals of Australia line this year (2019). Science & Nature is an Australian company that focuses on the fauna of Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding areas. However, the do have a few other animals from other regions, and dinosaurs. For their extant animals, several have been released in both ‘large’ and ‘small’ examples; this is an example of the latter. I chose this figure next because I just got it in the mail last week. There is something exciting about reviewing a brand new figure. As I already mentioned, this rock-wallaby was released just this year, actually this month…well, actually, about 3 weeks ago! So, this one is literally hot off the press!

The yellow-tailed rock-wallaby is a small macropodid (the family that contains wallabies, kangaroos, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, and the quokka). It lives in rocky outcroppings in isolated areas of southeastern Australia. Rock-wallabies live in small colonies with well-defined ranges. Ranges may overlap, but individual animals rarely trespass into other wallabies’ territories.

It is difficult to calculate the scale on this figure because of its posture. If more upright, the head-and-body length would be approximately 5.5-6.0 cm, which would make the figure about 1:10 in scale (maximum space taken up by the figure is 5.0 cm tall and 5.0 cm wide). It it both simple and detailed at the same time. General impression is that it is simple and stylized, but close examination shows hairs sculpted into the body. There are obvious seams at the base of the arms, however.

The paint is somewhat stylized, but still very characteristic of this species, most notably with regards to the white venter, yellow appendages, and ringed tail alternating between orange and brown. The figure bulges where the pouch on a female would be, but there is no joey peeking its head out. Perhaps it was intended to be a female with young, but the offspring is just hidden all the way within the pouch.

This is not the first of this species made by S&N. They released one in their ‘large series’ years ago; I had it as a general collector back in Arizona prior to 2007. And, of course, Cadbury released one in the original Yowies collections. One of the most sought-after figures of this species is the one that was released by Colorata for their Endangered Animals Box set back in 2006.

This figure makes a good collectible and toy. The best way to order one is through MiniZoo in Australia. Science & Nature, like the Cadbury Yowies and Southlands Replicas, specializes in figures from the Australian region, so they offer the chance to get species not as commonly made by Western and Japanese manufacturers. Their figures can vary quite a bit in quality, and luckily this is one of the better smaller figures of theirs. They are also all relatively cheap. This figure was less than $3 USD (to put things in perspective, the aforementioned Colorata figure is currently on eBay for $60 USD!).