Wallabies - Facts for Kids

Basic Information

Wallabies are marsupials (mammals with pouches) that belong to the same family as kangaroos, but are generally smaller in size!

Scientists classify wallabies in the family Macropodidae, which means “big foot” in Greek, because of their large, powerful back feet!

A group of wallabies is called a mob or a troupe!

The smallest wallaby species, the Parma wallaby, weighs about the same as a chubby house cat — just 3–6 kilograms (6.6-13.2 pounds)!

The largest wallaby species, the red-necked wallaby, can weigh up to 27 kilograms (60 pounds) — about the same as a three-year-old child!

Male wallabies are called bucks, female wallabies are called does, and baby wallabies are called joeys — just like kangaroo kids!

There are about 30 different species (types of wallabies — like rock wallabies, brush wallabies, and hare wallabies — hopping around Australia and nearby islands!

Most wallabies live around 10 to 15 years in the wild. In zoos, they can sometimes reach up to about 20 years, thanks to extra care and fewer dangers.

The name “wallaby” comes from the Eora Aboriginal people, who were the original inhabitants of the Sydney area in Australia!

Some wallaby species are excellent swimmers and can use their powerful tails like a rudder to steer in the water!

Physical Characteristics

A wallaby’s tail can be just as long as its body and helps it balance like a tightrope walker when it hops — so it doesn’t tumble!

Wallabies have special elastic tendons in their legs that work like springs, helping them bounce along while using very little energy!

A wallaby’s back feet can be 25 centimeters (10 inches) long — about the size of a ruler!

Wallabies have excellent hearing and can rotate their ears independently to listen for danger in different directions!

The red-necked wallaby gets its name from the reddish-brown fur around its shoulders and neck!

Wallabies have special grooved teeth that help them grind tough plants and grasses!

A wallaby’s powerful tail contains many vertebrae (backbone bones)!

Wallabies have excellent night vision and can see well in very low light conditions!

The swamp wallaby has dark fur that helps it blend into shadowy forest areas!

Wallabies have strong claws on their front paws that they use for digging, grooming, and gathering food!

A wallaby’s fur isn’t waterproof, but it’s thick enough to help them stay comfy in the rain — so they don’t mind hopping around in wet weather!

Wallabies have special pads on their feet that act like built-in shock absorbers when they hop!

Wallabies see in color like a dog — they can spot blues and greens, but can’t see reds. That’s still better than many other mammals that only see in black and white!

A wallaby’s nose is usually moist, which helps them smell better by catching scent particles in the air!

The brush-tailed rock-wallaby has a distinctive black and white cheek stripe!

Female wallabies have a pouch that opens upward toward the head, which helps keep dirt and dust out when they hop — like a built-in safety flap for their joeys!

Wallabies have special whiskers on their face that help them feel around in the dark, so they can hop safely even when it’s dim!

Wallabies always hop with both back feet together — they never hop one foot at a time!

Behavior & Intelligence

Wallabies communicate with each other using various sounds, including clicks, hisses, and soft coughing noises!

Wallabies thump their back feet on the ground to warn other wallabies when they sense danger!

Wallabies are most active at dawn and dusk, which scientists call being “crepuscular”!

Sometimes male wallabies (and kangaroos) stand up on their hind legs, lock front paws, and ‘box’ each other to show who’s boss — especially when trying to win over a mate!

Wallabies can remember and recognize other wallabies and even humans — they learn faces, voices, and smells, so they know their friends!

Wallabies often groom each other to build social bonds within their mob!

When resting, wallabies often sit back on their tails, which acts like a third leg!

Wallabies can hop really fast — up to 40 km/h (about 25 mph)!

Wallabies use scent from special glands — like chest glands on males — to mark plants or other wallabies. These smells tell friends and rivals who’s who and when it’s time to mate!

Young wallabies play and wrestle with their siblings to learn important survival skills like balance, strength, and knowing their limits!

Wallabies sometimes stand up tall on their tiptoes to look for danger!

Some wallabies live alone, while others prefer to stay in groups of 10 or more!

Wallabies can use their tail like a prop when walking slowly on all fours!

Mother wallabies can produce two different types of milk at the same time for joeys of different ages!

Wallabies clean their fur using their clawed front paws like a comb!

Habitat & Survival

Wallabies live in all kinds of Australian places — tropical forests, grasslands, rocky hills, even alpine or desert areas. They really can hop almost anywhere!

Rock wallabies can jump between cliffs that are 4 meters (13 feet) apart!

Brush-tailed rock wallabies have special grippy paw pads that help them climb steep rocky surfaces!

Some wallaby species can go several days without drinking water, getting moisture from the plants they eat!

Wallabies often shelter under dense vegetation during extreme weather!

Different wallaby species have evolved to live in specific habitats — some live only in rainforests, while others prefer dry grasslands!

Wallabies help maintain healthy ecosystems by spreading plant seeds through their droppings!