# Red-necked Wallaby (*Notamacropus rufogriseus*) The Red-necked Wallaby is a cute, hopping animal from Australia. They have soft fur and a special red patch on their neck. These wallabies love to munch on grass and hop around in the wild! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Red-necked Wallaby](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Macropus_rufogriseus_rufogriseus_Bruny.jpg&width=800) Photo: Noodle snacks ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/)Bennett's Wallaby), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macropus_rufogriseus_rufogriseus_Bruny.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-necked Wallaby has soft, thick, reddish-grey fur, notably reddish on its neck and shoulders, which gives it its name. Its underside is paler, contrasting with its darker limbs, and it possesses strong hind legs and a thick tail for balance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Diprotodontia - **Family:** Macropodidae - **Genus:** Notamacropus ## Interesting facts - A wallaby joey is born tiny, no bigger than a jelly bean! - Male wallabies perform 'boxing matches' using their front paws to show off their strength. - Red-necked Wallabies are great swimmers, using their powerful legs to paddle across water. - They can drink salty water, a special skill that helps them survive in many places! ## Special abilities - **Leaping Locomotive:** Red-necked Wallabies can bound across varied terrain at high speeds because of their incredibly powerful hind legs, helping them escape danger quickly. - **Pouch Protector:** Red-necked Wallabies have a protective pouch (marsupium) that helps them carry and nurse their young joeys safely as they grow. - **Temperature Tuner:** Red-necked Wallabies possess large, sensitive ears that help them regulate body temperature by radiating excess heat in warm weather. - **Keen Senses:** Red-necked Wallabies have excellent hearing and smell that help them detect subtle movements of predators and locate food sources effectively. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 66-93 cm - **Weight:** 10-27 kg - **Lifespan:** 9-15 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 30 days ## Diet & Feeding These wallabies are plant-eaters, munching on a variety of grasses and leaves. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, leaves, shrubs, ferns - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Dingo (*Canis dingo*) — Dingoes are a primary predator of wallabies in mainland Australia. - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Large birds of prey can hunt smaller or young Red-necked Wallabies. - **Eats:** Blue Gum (*Eucalyptus globulus*) — Wallabies graze on the undergrowth and leaves found in eucalypt forests. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch wallabies from a distance and never try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-necked Wallaby? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-necked Wallaby? 66-93 cm ### How much does Red-necked Wallaby weigh? 10-27 kg ### How long does Red-necked Wallaby live? 9-15 years ### How fast can Red-necked Wallaby move? 55 km/h ### What does Red-necked Wallaby eat? These wallabies are plant-eaters, munching on a variety of grasses and leaves. ### Where is Red-necked Wallaby usually found? Grasslands ### How does Red-necked Wallaby hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Rolling Hills Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rolling-hills-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Salisbury Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/salisbury-zoo) — Maryland, US · Zoo - [Tierpark Krüzen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-kruzen) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo - [Thüringer Waldzoo Gera](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thuringer-waldzoo-gera) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Tiergarten Eisenberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-eisenberg) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Zoo Arche Noah Grömitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-arche-noah-gromitz) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Red-necked Wallaby](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-necked-wallaby) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Red-necked Wallaby: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-necked-wallaby)