Koalas, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, and dingoes are what spring to mind when I think of Australia. In addition to big deadly snakes and Steve Irwin of course. But I recently wondered what the deal is with kangaroos vs. wallabies. Is there a difference? They look the same, but are they even related? So, I found myself researching the two bouncy marsupials and I now know enough to share my findings with you.
Overview
First of all, let’s address the elephant in the room. Wallabies aren’t kangaroos, but they’re cousins. Both of them belong to the family Macropodidae, making them macropod cousins. This family belongs to the order Diprotodontia, which also includes wombats, koalas, and opossums.
Kangaroos are the largest Macropodidae species and wallaby is a type of collective term used for the rest of the macropods. There are 30 different wallaby species, and if you’re wondering, they’re basically just those macropods that aren’t kangaroos or wallaroos.
Physical Appearance
Fur color: Kangaroos are mostly a dull shade of brown or grey, while wallabies are more vibrant and colorful. They’re obviously not pink and purple, but they do have splashes of different natural colors in their fur.
Legs: Wallabies have shorter legs that suit their little bodies much better. Kangaroos have longer legs with more space between their knees and ankles, making them appear oversized.
Teeth: Kangaroo teeth are sharper and more curved with higher crowns, while wallaby teeth are flat. Wallabies keep their premolars, but kangaroos shed theirs to make space for new premolars.
Body shape: Both have pretty large feet, and the kangaroo has a longer body than the wallaby, who in turn has smaller facial features and larger ears.
Size
Kangaroos: They’re definitely larger than wallabies. They can grow up to 8 feet tall and weigh up to 200 lbs.
Wallabies: They’re much smaller. Think of a wallaby as a small apple compared to a much larger melon – perhaps even a watermelon – which would be a kangaroo. They only reach about 3 feet in height and 45 lbs. in weight. See? Much smaller.
Behavior
Communication: Kangaroo males chuckle when courting females, who happen to make clicking sounds when communicating with their babies. They also hiss and growl when alarmed, and males cough to acknowledge dominant males and show respect. Wallabies can also communicate in the same ways, but they prefer to thump their feet to send messages and warnings.
Temperament: They’re the largest marsupials in the world, but are kangaroos truly dangerous creatures? It turns out that they do fight with each other quite a lot, but they’re fairly playful and friendly towards humans unless they feel threatened. It’s not as straightforward for wallabies, as they have a range of temperaments. Some may be cuddly and friendly, while others are simply jumpy and anxious. They also have boxing matches amongst each other to protect their rank.
Socialization: Wallabies are mostly solitary but some forage in small mobs. Kangaroos, on the other hand, are more social, so they mainly move in groups.
Habitat
Kangaroos: They are one of the animals unique to Australia as well as one of the species you may encounter in the Australian Outback. Red kangaroos prefer open areas like savannas, deserts, and plains, while Grey kangaroos prefer the dense vegetation of scrubs and forests.
Wallabies: Unlike the kangaroos that only live in Australia, red-necked wallabies are considered an unusual invasive species in New Zealand and the UK. The rest of them live in mountainous regions across Australia among rocks and in forests.
Diet
Kangaroos: Grasses, flowers, leaves, moss, insects, and ferns are just some of the things that kangaroos eat. They’re primarily herbivores and their curved teeth are perfect for slicing through grass.
Wallabies: Their flat teeth help them grind up grasses, leaves, ferns, seeds, herbs, and fruits.
Conservation Status
Kangaroos: Unfortunately, even though they’re outnumbering humans in the land down under, kangaroos still face threats like hunting, habitat loss, and vehicle collisions.
Wallabies: Of the 30+ wallaby species, there are a couple at risk according to the IUCN Red List. The Parma-, Mala-, Black-footed Rock-, and Bridled Nail-tail wallabies are all vulnerable. The Yellow-footed Rock wallaby is near threatened, and the Proserpine Rock wallaby and Nabarlek are endangered.
Other Differences
Speed: Kangaroos are roughly 10 mph faster than wallabies. They can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour, while wallabies can’t surpass 30 miles per hour.
Jumping: Kangaroos can jump as high as 10 feet. Wallabies and their smaller bodies can’t quite reach that height, with a maximum jump of 6 feet high.
Lifespan: Kangaroos can live for 20 to 25 years, but wallabies only live for 11 to 14 years.
Gestation period: There’s a reason why kangaroos outnumber humans in Australia, and you can thank their reproductive speed for that. Wallabies are only pregnant for 28 days and kangaroos for 21 to 38 days.
Similarities
Naming: The first similarity between them is that both wallaby and kangaroo babies are called joeys. Females of both species are called jills, does, or flyers, and males are called bucks, boomers, or jacks. In addition to this, a group of wallabies or kangaroos is called a mob, court, or troupe.
Birth: Wallabies give birth in a similar way to how kangaroos give birth. They’re marsupials, so they give birth to underdeveloped young that stay in their pouches until they’re ready for the real world.
Activity: Another thing they have in common is the fact that they’re both most active at dawn, dusk, and night.
Breeding: While their mating season can vary depending on the species and environment, both wallabies and kangaroos can breed year-round.
Albinism: Both albino kangaroos and albino wallabies are some of the rarest albino animals on Earth.
Reproduction organs: The last similarity – and brace yourself for this one – is the number of reproductive organs that each female has. Both kangaroo and wallaby females have three vaginas and two uteri.
