Kangaroos and wallabies

The kangaroo (and wallaby) is perhaps Australia's best known animal. They are much loved by everyone, although they can be pests to Australian farmers. Kangaroos and wallabies belong to the macropod family.

Basic Facts:
Kangaroos are marsupials; mammals that carry their young in a pouch. The biggest is the red kangaroo, which can stand two meters tall and weigh 85 kilograms, to the potoroo, weighing up to 1 kilo. Kangaroos give birth to tiny, blind, hairless creatures, which then have to make the potentially dangerous jouney up the mother's leg and safely into the pouch. Once there, the joey will stay feeding for six months before venturing out of the pouch. While this joey is in the pouch, the mother has the unique ability to grow another fertilised egg, ready for when the joey leaves.

Wallabies are basically smaller versions of the kangaroo. They expertly cope with Australia's conditions, the tammer wallaby survives by solely drinking sea water, and some other wallabies get all the water they need from plants.

Wildlife Main Page

Reference: The Healesville Sanctuary Book