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Awallaby (/ˈwɒləbi/) is a small or middle-sizedmacropod native toAustralia andNew Guinea, with introduced populations inNew Zealand,[1]Hawaii, theUnited Kingdom and other countries. They belong to the sametaxonomic family askangaroos and sometimes the samegenus, but kangaroos are specifically categorised into the four largest species of the family. The term "wallaby" is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or awallaroo that has not been designated otherwise.[2]
There are nine species (eight extant and oneextinct) of thebrush wallaby (genusNotamacropus). Their head and body length is 45 to 105 cm (18 to 41 in) and the tail is 33 to 75 cm (13 to 30 in) long. The 19 known species ofrock-wallabies (genusPetrogale) live among rocks, usually near water; two species in this genus are endangered. The two living species of hare-wallabies (genusLagorchestes; two other species in this genus are extinct) are small animals that have the movements and some of the habits ofhares. The three species (two extant and one extinct) ofnail-tail wallabies (genusOnychogalea) have one notable feature: a horny spur at the tip of the tail; its function is unknown. The seven species ofpademelons or scrub wallabies (genusThylogale) of New Guinea, theBismarck Archipelago, andTasmania are small and stocky, with short hind limbs and pointed noses. Theswamp wallaby (genusWallabia) is the only species in its genus.Another wallaby that is monotypic is thequokka or short-tailed scrub wallaby (genusSetonix); this species is restricted to two offshore islands of Western Australia which are free of introduced predators. The seven species of dorcopsises or forest wallabies (generaDorcopsis (four species, with a fifth as yet undescribed) andDorcopsulus (two species)) are all native to the island of New Guinea.
One of the brush wallaby species, thedwarf wallaby (Notamacropus dorcopsulus), also native to New Guinea, is the smallest known wallaby species and one of the smallest known macropods. Its length is about 46 cm (18 in) from the nose to the end of the tail, and it weighs about 1.6 kg (3.5 lb).[3]
Wallabies are hunted for meat and fur.
The namewallaby comes fromDharugwalabi orwaliba.[citation needed][4] Another early name for the wallaby, in use from at least 1802, was thebrush-kangaroo.[5]
Young wallabies are referred to as "joeys", like many othermarsupials. Adult male wallabies are referred to as "bucks", "boomers", or "jacks". Adult female wallabies are referred to as "does", "flyers", or "jills". A group of wallabies is called a "mob", "court", or "troupe". Scrub-dwelling and forest-dwelling wallabies are known as "pademelons" (genusThylogale) and "dorcopsises" (generaDorcopsis andDorcopsulus), respectively.
Although members of most wallaby species are small, some can grow up to approximately two metres in length (from the head to the end of the tail). Their powerful hind legs are used not only for bounding at high speeds and jumping great heights, but also to administer vigorous kicks to fend off potential predators. The tammar wallaby (Notamacropus eugenii) has elastic storage in the ankle extensor tendons, without which the animal's metabolic rate might be 30–50% greater.[6] It has also been found that the design of spring-like tendon energy savings and economical muscle force generation is key for the two distal muscle–tendon units of the tammar wallaby (Macropus-Eugenii).[7] Wallabies also have a powerful tail that is used mostly for balance and support.
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Wallabies are herbivores whose diet consists of a wide range of grasses, vegetables, leaves and other foliage. Due to recent urbanization, many wallabies feed in rural and urban areas. Wallabies cover vast distances for food and water, which is often scarce in their environment. Mobs of wallabies often congregate around the same water hole during the dry season.
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Wallabies face several threats.Dingoes, domestic and feraldogs, feralcats, andred foxes are among their predators. Humans also pose a significant threat to wallabies due to increased interaction (wallabies can defend themselves with hard kicks and biting). Many wallabies have been involved in vehicular accidents, as they often feed near roads and urban areas.
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Wallabies are not a distinct genetic group. Nevertheless, they fall into several broad categories.[citation needed] Brush wallabies of the genusNotamacropus, like theagile wallaby (Notamacropus agilis) and thered-necked wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus), are most closely related to the kangaroos and wallaroos and, aside from their size, look very similar. These are the ones most frequently seen, particularly in thesouthern states.[citation needed]
Rock-wallabies (genusPetrogale), rather like thegoats of the Northern Hemisphere, specialise in rugged terrain and have modified feet adapted to grip rock with skin friction rather than dig into soil with large claws. There are at least 19 species and the relationship between several of them is still poorly understood. Several species are endangered. Captive rock-wallaby breeding programs, like the one atHealesville Sanctuary, have had some success and a small number have recently been released into the wild.[citation needed]
Thebanded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus) is thought to be the last remaining member of the once numerous subfamily Sthenurinae, and although once common across southern Australia,[citation needed] it is restricted to two islands off the Western Australian coast which are free of introduced predators. It is not as closely related to the otherhare-wallabies (genusLagorchestes) as the hare-wallabies are to the other wallabies.[citation needed]
New Guinea, which was, until fairly recent geological times, part of mainland Australia,[8] has at least five species of wallabies.[citation needed]
Wallabies are widely distributed acrossAustralia, particularly in more remote, heavily timbered, or rugged areas, less so on the great semi-arid plains that are better suited to the larger, leaner, and more fleet-footedkangaroos.[citation needed] They also can be found on the island ofNew Guinea.[9]
Wallabies of several species have been introduced to other parts of the world, and there are a number of successfully breeding introduced populations, including:
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The term "wallaby" is not well defined and can mean any macropod of moderate or small size. Therefore, the listing below is arbitrary and taken from the complete list ofmacropods.
GenusNotamacropus
GenusWallabia
GenusPetrogale
GenusLagostrophus
GenusLagorchestes
GenusOnychogalea
GenusDorcopsis
GenusDorcopsulus
GenusThylogale
GenusSetonix
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