Red-necked Wallaby

Common Name: Red-necked Wallaby or Bennett’s Wallaby

Scientific Name: Notamacropus rufogriseus

Native to: Australia. They are found along the eastern coast of the mainland and in Tasmania.

What does it look like: Bennett’s Wallaby is a medium-sized wallaby that stands about 1 metre tall, though males can stand up to 1.5m tall. They have distinct rusty red patches on their shoulders and upper back, while the rest of their coat is silver-grey. They have a black nose and paws and a white stripe on their upper lip. Bennett’s Wallaby are primarily nocturnal animals, meaning they rest most of the daytime. They can often be seen foraging for food from the late afternoon until the late morning.

Habitat and Diet: They frequent dry open forests, grasslands, and paddocks. Bennett’s Wallaby are herbivores (meaning they only eat plants) and primarily feed on grass, herbs, roots, weeds, and tree leaves.

STEM Fun Fact: Although they are best known for hopping, wallabies can also crawl and swim!