Wallaby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wallabies |
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| Red-necked Wallaby | |
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Wallabies are amazing marsupials that live on the islands of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and New Guinea. They are like smaller versions of kangaroos. There are about 30 different kinds of wallabies. You can find them in many places, from rocky areas to grassy fields, forests, and even swamps!
What Wallabies Look Like
Wallabies come in many sizes. Some are as small as a rabbit. Others can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long! Their fur is soft and woolly. It can be gray, brown, red, or almost black. Their bellies are usually a lighter color.
Female wallabies are called fliers. They have a special pouch on their belly. This pouch is where their babies live and drink milk. Male wallabies are called boomers. They are usually bigger than the females. Baby wallabies are called joeys.
Wallabies have short arms with clawed fingers. They also have very strong legs and long feet with four toes and claws. These powerful legs help them hop and jump really well!
What Wallabies Eat
Wallabies are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Their favorite foods include grass, leaves, and roots. They swallow their food without chewing it much at first. Later, they bring it back up, like a cow, and chew it properly.
Wallabies do not need a lot of water. They can go for months without drinking! If they need water, they are good at digging their own water wells.
Types of Wallabies
There are many different kinds of wallabies. Each type has its own unique features and lives in different parts of Australia and nearby islands. Here are just a few examples:
Images for kids
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An agile wallaby family
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Three wallabies (one grey with a joey in her pouch and one white) in captivity in England
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A red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) joey in a pouch
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A female wallaby with a joey in the Tasmanian summer rain
See also
In Spanish: Ualabí para niños
