Mammal
Red-necked Wallaby
Notamacropus rufogriseusAlso known as Bennett's Wallaby, Brush Wallaby
Red-necked wallabies are mostly solitary macropods that spend bright daylight hours resting in dense coastal scrub or eucalypt woodland, emerging around dusk to graze open grassy margins. Mothers rear a single joey that develops in the pouch for roughly nine months, often remaining close by on foot while a new newborn begins nursing inside. Distinctive rusty-red napes and dark extremities set them apart across the temperate landscapes of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
MarsupialCrepuscularHerbivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasses, Ferns, Understory Herbs
Predators
- Dingo
- Red Fox
- Wedge-tailed Eagle
ThreatsVehicle collisions, bushfires, habitat loss, and predation by introduced carnivores
HabitatsEucalypt forests, coastal heathland, shrublands, and pastoral clearings
Life span10–15 years
Classification
- FamilyMacropodidae
- SpeciesNotamacropus rufogriseus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Powerful hind legs can kick with sharp claws if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Large clawed hind feet deliver forceful defensive kicks that can lacerate skin if an animal is cornered or grabbed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a medium-sized wallaby with a reddish nape and shoulders, pale belly, and black paws and muzzle.
- What to do
- Give wild individuals plenty of room to retreat and keep domestic dogs on a leash.
Responsible observation
- Viewing Time: Scan grassy borders adjacent to thick bushland during dawn and dusk.
- Safe Distance: Maintain at least five to ten meters to avoid startling or stressing them.
- Road Caution: Slow down on rural roads bordered by forest at dusk when wallabies feed on verges.
Competitor (c) Shane Walker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shane Walker · cc-by
Neighbor (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Neighbor (c) Kristof & Yulia, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristof & Yulia · cc-by
Predator (c) Afsar Nayakkan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Afsar Nayakkan · cc-by
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