Rufous Hare-Wallaby
by
Tara Monteith-O’Neill
Wallaby is a common name given to the smaller members of the Kangaroo family. The main distinction is the size. The smaller wallabies have hind feet that are usually less than 15cm. There are 3 main groups of wallabies, the Rock Wallaby, Nail Tailed Wallaby and the Hare-Wallaby. Of these species there is the Rufous Hare-Wallaby.
Wallaby: A small to medium sized kangaroo, also known as Pademelon. The wallaby is a marsupial (A pouched animal.) native to Australia, New Guinea and some neighboring islands. It can live in a variety of environments such as open, grassy plains to brush country and rocky hillsides.
Females usually only have one young at a time. The animal is born in an incomplete state of development but is able to find its way to its mother’s pouch, where it attaches itself to a teat.
The Hare Wallaby is grey or brown in color. Like the large kangaroo, the hare wallaby has a stout, long tail, very large hind legs and feet and small forepaws. The long tail serves as a prop when the animal stands and is used for balance when hopping along.
The Hare-Wallaby’s long head tapers to a rounded muzzle, its ears are large, long, and deerlike.
The name Rufous Hare-Wallaby is given because of speed, jumping ability and habit of crouching in long grass in the manner of a non-marsupial. The Hare-Wallaby is the same size as a hare and lives like hares in nests of grass exactly like a hare. The Hare-Wallaby feeds on grass, leaves and other vegetation. The Rufous Hare-Wallaby is restricted to the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
