Fauna
Mammal

Tammar Wallaby

Macropus eugenii

Also known as Dama Wallaby, Darma Wallaby

Tammar wallabies are compact nocturnal marsupials renowned for their remarkable reproductive biology, including the longest embryonic diapause documented in any mammal. Daytime hours are spent resting in dense thickets and coastal scrub, emerging at dusk in loose feeding mobs to graze on open grasslands. Adapted to harsh coastal islands, they possess efficient kidneys capable of concentrating urine and can survive by drinking seawater when fresh water is absent.

MarsupialNocturnalHerbivore
Tammar Wallaby reference
Matthew Wakefield / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyGrasses, Acacia foliage, Succulent herbs
Predators
  • Red fox
  • Feral cat
  • Wedge-tailed eagle
ThreatsPredation by invasive red foxes and feral cats, plus habitat clearance
HabitatsDense coastal scrub, dry sclerophyll forests, and mallee woodlands
Life span10–14 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMacropodidae
  2. SpeciesMacropus eugenii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Can deliver sharp scratches or bites if cornered; observe quietly from a respectful distance.
Why it is dangerous
Equipped with strong hind legs and sharp claws designed for rapid hopping, which can kick or slash if handled.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Small, grey-brown wallaby with reddish shoulders, pale cheek stripes, and large rounded ears.
What to do
Do not attempt to touch, feed, or corral wild individuals; simply let them hop away.
Responsible observation
  • Field Observation: Scan open pasture edges near thick scrub at dusk and dawn when they emerge to feed.
  • Nocturnal Spotting: Use a red-filtered flashlight to watch their natural foraging behavior without blinding them.
  • Viewing Distance: Keep at least five meters away to avoid triggering defensive thumping and sudden retreats.
Related species
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