Family: Macropod
Latin: Macropus rufogriseus (Bennett's Wallaby)
Latin: Macropus eugenii (Dama Wallaby)
Common: Wallaby
German: das Wallaby
Danish: wallaby, lille kænguru
Swedish: känguru
Spanish: el cangurito, wallabi de Bennet, wallabi de Dama, wallabi de Rocas

There are over 50 different species of kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies, in the family known as "Macropods". Of the Macropods, there are 17 different species of wallabies.

Wallabies are predominantly nocturnal in the wild, but do some foraging, loafing and sunbathing during the day. They have small front legs, each armed with five digits ending in a sharp claw. The hind legs are extremely powerful and disproportionately much larger. The elongated hind foot is made up of four toes, with two toes much longer than the other two, and two small toes fused together but with double claws which is used like a comb. The tail is exceptionally strong, muscled and long, and it is used as a balance when leaping, and like a third leg or prop when sitting.

The two most commonly kept as pets in the U.S. are Bennett's and Dama Wallabies.

Bennett's (or Red-Necked) Wallabies: The Bennett's Wallaby is one of the largest of the 17 species of wallabies. Bennett's Wallabies are grayish brown with red-brown neck and shoulders, and have a pronounced reddish tone to the fur on their shoulders and rump. Bennett's Wallabies can grow up to 30" to 36" in body length, with a tail 24 to 30 inches long. They have large muscular hind legs with very long falanges that enable the hopping motion they use to get around. By contrast their fore legs are small and usually held loosely while the animal is moving. They reach a height of about 3 feet tall when sitting, and can grow to a weight of between 35 and 60 pounds.

In the wild, Bennett's Wallabies live in smaller groups than kangaroos. They inhabit grass-covered ranges of over 3000 feet and prefer to eat grasses in fairly open areas where they can see predators coming and have room to escape. They have well-defined home territories, and related females may have territories that overlap somewhat. They are predominately grazers, and follow the same paths almost daily, but they will also enter forested areas to browse on trees and bushes for young tender leaves that supplement their diet of grass. They regurgitate their food when resting and re-eat it. Like kangaroos, Bennett's Wallabies pant in hot weather and cool themselves by licking their arms and chest. They can live up to 12 to 15 years.

A "mob" of Dama Wallabies

Dama (or Tammar) Wallabies: These small to medium-sized kangaroos are dark, grizzled gray-brown to brownish-black above, becoming rufous on the sides of the body and limbs, especially in males. They have rust colored legs and their lighter undersides are pale gray-buff. The coat is short and sleek. The head and body length reaches about 26 inches, with a tail about 15 to 17 inches long. They sit about 18 inches tall and weigh between 9 and 22 pounds. Their ears are pointed slightly. The hind feet are missing the first digit and the next two are fused with a single claw, and the fourth digit is much longer.

In the wild, Dama Wallabies are normally solitary or in pairs. Their main foods are grasses and native vegetation. They travel in well-developed runways through out the vegetation. They have the habit of resting with their tail forward between their legs, instead of behind them. They also give a warning thump with their rear legs when alarmed. They can live up to 14 years.

Size of average adult Bennett's Wallaby:

Height: 3 feet (36 inches)
Weight:
Males: up to 60 pounds
Females: up to 35 pounds

Size of average adult Dama Wallaby:

Height: 2 feet (24 inches)
Weight:
Males: 16.5 pounds
Females: 12 pounds

Wild: grass, some leaves and branches
Captivity: Mazuri Kangaroo & Wallaby Diet #5Z88
Supplemental: Grain, alfalfa cubes, lettuce, carrots, yams, corn, celery, grapes, romaine lettuce, endive, primate chow, banana and apple biscuits
Favorites: Cheerios, whole wheat bread
Avoid: White potatoes, gassy vegetables (cabbage, broccoli), molasses. Use sweet fruits sparingly.

When young, wallaby joeys can be raised in the home, and during the day they can be kept in pouches or bags where they like to sleep. However, as grazers, wallabies can develop a tendency to chew on carpeting. As they mature, wallabies need room to run, which usually means a large cage with very high fencing or caging over the top.

Males: 2 years
Females: 9 months

Male and female joeys grow at about the same rate until they leave the pouch, at which time the males begin growing at a much faster rate, so that adult males end up rather larger then adult females. The rate of growth is determined by how well the mother eats, and therefore how much milk she makes.

Because they are hidden in the pouch for their first several weeks, it can be difficult to estimate the exact birthdate and subsequent age of baby wallabies. Joeys can be bottle-fed up to 9 to 11 months of age in captivity.

Approximate life span:
Bennett Males: 11 years
Bennett Females: 13 years


Some resources claim they can live from 12 to 15 or 18 years in the wild, and up to 28 years in captivity.

Dama Wallabies: 14 years

Wallabies are native to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea, and a few other nearby South Pacific islands.