Wallaby
Genus Notamacropus and relatives · Mammal, marsupial
Meet them at our Fort Lauderdale cafe
- Native range
- Australia and nearby islands, in grasslands, scrub, and forest edges.
- Size
- Mid sized macropods, smaller than kangaroos, built on the same giant spring loaded frame.
- Lifespan
- Commonly into the low to mid teens in human care.
- Conservation
- The most commonly kept wallaby species are of Least Concern.
Little Learners Corner
A baby wallaby is as tiny as a jellybean when it is born, then it grows up inside its mom's pouch.
Say it like a scientist: no-tuh-MAK-roh-puss
Where They Live
Wallabies rest in cover through the heat and graze in the open at dawn and dusk, always with an escape route in mind.
What They Eat
Herbivore. Grasses and leafy plants.
How They Live
Many wallabies gather loosely in groups called mobs. Their hop is astonishingly efficient: elastic tendons return energy with every bounce, so faster costs barely more effort.
Wallabys as Pets?
A wallaby is a leaping, fence testing marsupial with a specialized stomach and a need for space and company. They belong in expert care, and meeting one up close makes that obvious in about a minute.
Fun Facts
A newborn wallaby is about the size of a jellybean and finishes developing inside the pouch.
Wallabies can pause a pregnancy, holding an embryo in suspended animation until the pouch is free.
The tail works as a third leg at slow speeds and a rudder at high ones.
Capy Quiz: Prove It
How big is a wallaby at birth?
Keep exploring: Tortoise came before this, Coati is next, or head back to the full Animal Encyclopedia.
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