Genomics detects cryptic wallaby invasion

Abstract

While conducting a landscape genomics study of invasive tammar wallabies (Notamacropus eugenii) in Aotearoa New Zealand we discovered that parma wallabies (N. parma) are also present in the North Island. This population has gone undetected for at least 30 years (and potentially for over a century), hidden amongst the morphologically similar tammar wallabies. The fact that an invasive wallaby species could remain undetected for so long, highlights the need for greater monitoring efforts for invasive species including genomic species identification.