Two families of animals are included in this grouping; the macropodoids and the potoroids. Members of both families have short forelimbs and long hindfeet that enable them to move in a fast hopping gait. All have a pouch that opens forwards. Most are active at night and seek shelter to rest during the day.
Family Macropodidae
Of the 40 species of macropods found in Australia, only two occur elsewhere (in New Guinea). The family contains kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, quokka, pademelons and ranges in size from the Red Kangaroo at 1.8m (6ft) and 90kg (198lb) down to the Monjon at 35cm (13in) and 1.4kg (3lb).
The distinction between ‘kangaroo‘ and ‘wallaby’ is made by size; the six largest species are known as kangaroos. Because females tend to be considerably smaller than the males, this tends to be an arbitrary distinction as females of one species may be smaller than males of another.
Features: Rest during the day under bushes and logs
Diet: The larger members of the group graze in grasslands whilst others browse on leaves
Within this Family there are several groupings:
Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Wallaroos
A very diverse group, collectively found in most habitats
Number of species: 13
Tree-kangaroos
Spend most of their time in trees, primarily rainforest
Able to move one hind leg at a time which allows them to walk along branches rather than hop
Number of species: 2
Nailtail Wallabies
Horny spur at the tip of their tails
Number of species: 2
Hare-wallabies
About the size of a hare
Move very rapidly if chased and zigzag to avoid capture hence the name Lagorchestes (Greek for dancing hare)
Number of species: 3
Pademelons
Medium-sized inhabit rainforest & dense eucalypt forest
Generally solitary, they gather on open feeding grounds at night but never venture far from cover
Number of species: 3
Quokka
Well known on Rottnest Island, WA but found only in isolated pockets on the mainland
Number of species: 1
Swamp Wallaby
Quite distinct from the other wallabies live in forested areas with a dense understorey
Feed throughout the day and night on grasses, low shrubs, ferns but during the day they stay in forested areas that provide cover from predators
Number of species: 1
Rock-wallabies
Found on rocky escarpments, cliffs shelter in caves and crevices can climb trees if the trunks are not vertical
Relatively short hind feet, soles are thickly padded and provide traction on slippery surfaces
Number of species: 15
Family Potoroidae
Commonly called rat-kangaroos.
Diet: fruits, roots, leaves, seeds, fungi, some also eat invertebrates
Within this Family there are three groupings:
Musky Rat-kangaroo
Lives in rainforest uses all 4 feet for moving around
Active during the day
Bettongs
Build nests to shelter during the day (one species burrows)
Live in open forest areas
Number of species: 5
Potoroos
Live in forests with a dense understorey shelter under tussocks and shrubs
Feed mainly on fungi
Number of species: 2
