A wallaby is a small-to-medium-sized macropod, a marsupial belonging to the same family as the larger kangaroos and wallaroos. There are approximately 30 different species of wallabies, broadly grouped by size and habitat, such as scrub, brush, and rock-wallabies. While the term is informal, generally referring to any macropod smaller than a kangaroo, their distribution reflects natural evolution and human introduction. This adaptability has allowed them to occupy a variety of ecosystems around the world.
Primary Native Habitat
The vast majority of wallaby species are endemic to two major landmasses: Australia and New Guinea. This region is the natural evolutionary home for nearly all 30 species, which are found across a wide geographical area. Their environments are highly diverse, ranging from the arid interior of Australia to the dense, tropical rainforests of New Guinea. Within Australia, wallabies are widespread, often occupying heavily timbered or rugged areas, rather than the expansive semi-arid plains suited to larger kangaroos.
Numerous species are found across the eastern and southern Australian mainland, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania. In New Guinea, specific genera like Dorcopsis and Dorcopsulus are restricted to the island’s rainforests. The Agile Wallaby (Notamacropus agilis) naturally occurs in both the tropical coastal areas of northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
Diverse Ecological Niches
Within their native range, different wallaby species occupy specific ecological niches, often reflected in their common names. Rock-wallabies (Petrogale genus) are specialized for rugged terrain, such as rocky outcrops, cliffs, and boulder piles. Their feet are uniquely adapted with rough pads and ridges to increase traction, allowing them to navigate near-vertical rock faces. The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus), for instance, lives among the rocky escarpments of South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales.
Other species prefer dense, wet environments, such as the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor), distributed along the entire eastern coast of Australia. This species favors thick undergrowth in forests, woodlands, and coastal heath, rarely venturing far from cover. Ecological separation also occurs with island populations, such as the scrub wallabies, or pademelons (Thylogale genus), which are small, stocky species found in Tasmania and parts of New Guinea. The Quokka (Setonix brachyurus), a short-tailed scrub wallaby, is now restricted to two offshore islands of Western Australia, where it is free from introduced predators.
Populations Outside the Native Range
Wallabies have established self-sustaining populations globally following human introduction, often from escaped zoo animals or pets. One significant introduced population is in New Zealand, where several species were released in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Red-necked Wallaby, or Bennett’s Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus), has a large established population in the South Canterbury district. Dama Wallabies are also widespread in the Rotorua Lakes area of the North Island. These populations are often considered pests due to their impact on native seedlings and competition with livestock.
In the United Kingdom, a small population of Red-necked Wallabies has persisted on the Isle of Man in the Ballaugh Curraghs area since a pair escaped a wildlife park in 1970. A small, isolated group of wallabies also exists in the Peak District of England, though sightings are rare. A unique case is found in Hawaii on the island of Oʻahu, where a localized colony of Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies has lived in the upper regions of Kalihi Valley since 1916. This Hawaiian population is protected by state law because it has remained stable and localized, feeding mostly on non-native vegetation.