What is a swamp wallaby?
The swamp wallaby is a dark, stocky wallaby common in forests and woodlands of eastern Australia, from Cape York to Victoria. It is sometimes called the black wallaby.
Swamp wallabies have dark brown to black fur with a lighter yellow-orange belly and often a pale stripe on the cheek. They weigh up to around 20 kilograms.
Unlike most wallabies, they browse on shrubs, ferns and leaves rather than grazing on grass. They can eat plants that are toxic to other animals, including bracken and hemlock.
Behaviour
Swamp wallabies are usually solitary. They hop with their head held low and tail held straight out behind.
They are common and are often seen in bushland near Sydney and Melbourne.
Females can carry young at different stages at the same time.
Swamp wallabies have an unusual breeding trait: females can mate and conceive a new embryo shortly before giving birth to the previous joey, which is rare among mammals. Their range has expanded in some areas, and they are adaptable to bush on the edges of towns. Dogs and cars are among the main threats.
Did You Know?
The swamp wallaby is the only living member of its genus, Wallabia.