Wallabies, like their close kangaroo relatives, have long tails for
balance and large feet and strong legs for jumping great distances.
Wallabies are members of the kangaroo clan found primarily in
Australia and on nearby islands. There are many wallaby species, grouped
roughly by habitat: shrub wallabies, brush wallabies, and rock
wallabies. Hare wallabies are named for their size and their hare-like
behavior.
All wallabies are marsupials or pouched mammals. Wallaby
young are born tiny, helpless, and undeveloped. They immediately crawl
into their mothers' pouches where they continue to develop after
birth—usually for a couple of months. Young wallabies, like their larger
kangaroo cousins, are called joeys. Even after a joey leaves the pouch,
it often returns to jump in when danger approaches.
