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Swamp Wallaby

Wallabia bicolor

Animal Ambassadors

Yalanji

The swamp wallaby is also commonly called the black wallaby, black-tailed wallaby, fern wallaby, black pademelon, stinker (in Queensland), and black stinker (in New South Wales) on account of its characteristic swampy odor. These animals typically have thick, coarse fur. They are dark brown or black, with lighter fur on their belly and chest. Their cheeks typically have yellow-orange stripes.

Baby wallabies, called joeys, are born the size of a jellybean and crawl their way into their mother’s pouch, where they will continue to develop. They stay in the pouch for around nine months, and will continue to live with their mother and suckle for an additional three to nine months. Swamp wallabies are typically considered mature at 15-18 months.

Wallabies are part of a subset of marsupials called macropods. Characteristics of macropods include long back feet, a sturdy tapered tail to help them balance, underdeveloped vocal cords, and a forward-facing pouch for their young. Other macropods include some (but not all) other wallaby species, kangaroos, and wallaroos.

Wallabies employ a unique coolant system – they lick their arms to cool down. The saliva on their skin evaporates to cool their warm blood. They can sometimes be observed waving their arms in the air to speed up the cooling process.

Diet:
Grasses, shrubs, leaves, tree bark
Range:
Australia
Lifespan:
10-15 years
Habitat:
dense forests, thickets, mangroves, woodlands, and swampy areas
Length / Wingspan:
2-2.5 feet
Weight:
20-45 lbs