Wallaby Factfile

Parma wallaby	Red-necked wallaby

Scientific Name : Macropus parma, Macropus r. rufogriseus

World Distribution

Red-necked wallabies are found in the south and east of Australia and Tasmania.
Parma wallabies are from eastern New South Wales.

Habitat

They live in areas of scrubland or open forest with stretches of dry grass, widely spaced patches of bushes and clumps of trees.

Feeding

Their main foods are grass and the shoots of young plants. Like many grass eaters they re-chew and re-digest their food by "chewing the cud".

Predators

Wallabies are sometimes killed and eaten by dingos.

Breeding

After a pregnancy lasting just one month, the female wallaby gives birth to a tiny hilpless baby which crawls into a special pouch and latches on to a teat. It grows and develops in the pouch for for about 8 months, but will keep coming back to mum for a drink of milk for longer - sometimes trying to climb back into the pouch! By this time she will probably have another baby in her pouch, so she must be very firm with her older youngster.

Scientists have discovered that, amazingly, wallabies can produce two different kinds of milk at the same time: one for the tiny baby and another, richer blend for its big brother or sister!

Other interesting facts

• Wallabies are mainly nocturnal, coming out to graze in the late afternoon until early the next morning. During the day they rest in clumps of trees or bushes.

• The wallaby's large, powerful tail is used for balance when hopping or grazing. A tail-less wallaby would probably topple over onto its nose!

• Large ears that can be swivelled round sideways give the wallaby an excellent sense of hearing. Its sense of smell is good, too, but its eyesight is thought to be quite poor.

• Red-necked wallabies are considered to be pests by farmers because of the damage they do to crops. They are now protected by law but can still be hunted by people with a special licence.
  
  

  Facts and Figures
  Name	red-necked wallaby
  Type of animal	mammal
  Where found	Australia
  Habitat	grassland
  Diet	herbivorous
  Average length	100 cm
  Average weight	15 kg
  Average number of young per year	1
  Gestation	30 days
  Maximum lifespan	15 years
  Note for Teachers

  
  
  
  

  Facts and Figures
  Name	parma wallaby
  Type of animal	mammal
  Where found	Australia
  Habitat	forest
  Diet	herbivorous
  Average length	50 cm
  Average weight	5 kg
  Average number of young per year	1
  Gestation	35 days
  Maximum lifespan	7 years
  Note for Teachers

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