The wallaby is like a cousin to the kangaroo. Many people confuse wallabies and kangaroos, which are similar, but the wallaby is smaller, even though some can be as big as six feet long.
Learning about wallabies is fun because they are unique and interesting. Here are ten fun facts about wallabies to get you started.
Table of Contents
1. Wallabies Like to Take Baths
One type of wallaby is called a swamp wallaby. When domesticated, these wallabies love to take baths, with or without their owner.
Wallabies are exotic animals, and they do not make good pets. It is illegal to own one in most states, but you can find the wallaby at the zoo if you are interested in getting face-to-face with these furry creatures.
2. Hello, Jellybean
A baby wallaby is about the same size as a jellybean when born. The gestation period for a wallaby is only 30 days, and then they spend about nine months in their mother’s pouch.
3. Wallabies are Macropods
The word “macropod” translates to “bigfoot,” so the next time someone asks you if you believe in Bigfoot, you can say you do.
4. White Wallabies
There is a group of about 200 albino wallabies that live on Bruny Island, just off the southern coast of Tasmania. Tasmania is home to several unique and bizarre species, including the platypus, black devils, and wombats.
The red-necked wallaby is usually brown, but this group of albino wallabies is flourishing on the small island. They have a rare genetic mutation that causes albinism, and they have white fur and pink noses, eyes, and claws.
5. A Mob of Wallabies
Like kangaroos, a group of wallabies is called a “mob.” They are also called “court” or “troupe.”
6. Feral Wallabies
There are feral wallabies that are roaming free all over the world. Several countries have a small, wild population of wallabies that are not indigenous and most likely escaped from zoos. You can find groups of feral wallabies in New Zealand, Ireland, Hawaii, England, and Scotland.
7. A Strong Tail
A wallaby’s tail is its strongest muscle, and it can lean its whole body back on the tail when it’s protecting itself. Then, it can use its big feet to kick at its opponent. The wallaby’s tail acts as a fifth leg because it is so strong and useful.
8. An Amazing Mother
The wallaby is an amazing mother. Wallaby moms can be pregnant, have a baby in the pouch, and have another one coming back to the pouch for milk all at the same time. She can even produce different milk for each baby in her pocket.
9. Put The Baby on Hold, Please
Another fascinating fact about the female wallaby reproductive system is that when they are pregnant, they can put the gestation of their embryo on hold for up to two years if conditions aren’t right. The ability to stop incubation is called embryonic diapause, which about 130 animals can use.
10. Three or Four Toes?
Wallabies have four toes on their back feet. The first toe doesn’t do much, and the second toe is large with a huge claw that the wallaby uses for traction when it hops.
The third and fourth toes are fused together, and a wallaby uses this toe for grooming. Even though it seems like only one toe, they both have claws, so it’s up to you to decide if a wallaby has three or four toes.
Are Wallabies an Endangered Species?
There are several subspecies of wallabies, and some of them are doing fine. Others are listed as endangered or critically endangered, and the eastern hare wallaby and the crescent nail-tail wallaby have already gone extinct. The black forest wallaby is critically endangered, and at least seven other wallaby subspecies are listed as endangered.
Raising awareness about endangered species can help protect them and their habitat. You can raise awareness by talking about endangered species, creating fundraisers to support their habitat, and learning about climate change.
Also Read- Anette Qviberg – Dolph Lundgren Wife & Bio, Age, Net Worth, Etc
