The common names of the species include antilopine wallaroo, antilopine kangaroo and antilopine wallaby.[4] The specific epithet antilopinus was proposed by Gould for the resemblance of the fur to an African mammal known as the antelope.[2] The descriptive "antilopine" or "antelope" kangaroo is sometimes substituted as the 'antilopine wallaroo', but in behaviour and habitat is similar to the red and grey kangaroos. Occupying a similar niche to large and reddish Macropus rufus in the woodlands of Southern and eastern Australia, they are also referred to locally as the red kangaroo.[6]