Marsupial · Australia

Red-Necked
Wallaby

Notamacropus rufogriseus

Meet our red-necked wallabies at Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Maryland: a powerfully built hopping marsupial native to eastern and southeastern Australia.

Plan Your VisitMeet Our Wallabies
A red-necked wallaby sitting upright on the grass at Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Maryland
GroupMarsupial
Native rangeE. & SE Australia
DietHerbivore
Meet our mobSix wallabies

White red-necked wallaby standing by a fence with a joey peeking from her pouch at Plumpton Park Zoo

A white red-necked wallaby with a joey in her pouch at Plumpton Park Zoo.

Our wallabies

Meet our mob

A group of wallabies is called a mob. Ours has six.

JoNutmegRoseSapphireTobyWyatt

Josephine (Jo), Nutmeg, Rose, Sapphire, Toby and Wyatt are Plumpton Park Zoo’s red-necked wallabies. Red-necked wallabies are currently part of the zoo’s animal collection.

Red-necked wallabies, also called Bennett’s wallabies, have gray-brown fur with a reddish wash across the shoulders and neck. A dark nose, darker paws and a pale stripe along the upper lip help distinguish the species.

Like kangaroos, wallabies are macropods—“large-footed” marsupials built for efficient hopping. Their powerful hind legs provide propulsion while the long, muscular tail supplies balance. Meet red-necked wallabies during your Plumpton Park Zoo visit — plan your visit.

Resident names from the zoo’s animal records, which list them as Bennett’s wallabies, another name for the same species.

For teachers and homeschool families

A free two-page red-necked wallaby fact sheet with fast facts, vocabulary, five reading questions and a drawing activity. Use legs, tail and pouch as evidence of structures that support survival (NGSS 4-LS1-1), then describe how the mother supports her joey (1-LS1-2). Teachers may copy and share it freely as long as they credit Plumpton Park Zoo.

Printable Fact Sheet (PDF)


Field guide

Where do red-necked wallabies live?

The species is native to eastern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. Red-necked wallabies use forest edges, eucalyptus woodland, coastal scrub and nearby open areas where they can graze.

They often rest in sheltered vegetation during the day and emerge to feed from late afternoon through the night and early morning.

The mainland subspecies lives along the coastal forests of eastern Australia, from Queensland into New South Wales; the Tasmanian subspecies, the one first called Bennett’s wallaby, lives throughout Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands.

Red-necked wallabies have also lived wild in Britain. Five released from a private collection during World War II started a colony in England’s Peak District that lasted until about 2009, and around 50 to 60 still live on Inchconnachan, an island in Scotland’s Loch Lomond.

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby; BBC Countryfile.

Red-necked wallaby grazing on clover and grass at Plumpton Park Zoo

Red-necked wallabies graze on grasses and low plants.


At a glance

Red-necked wallaby at a glance

Scientific nameNotamacropus rufogriseus
Also calledBennett’s wallaby
Animal groupMammal — Marsupial
Native regionEastern and southeastern Australia
Head and bodyAbout 36–41 in, plus a 28–30 in tail
WeightAbout 30–41 lb; males are larger
DietHerbivore
Conservation statusLeast Concern
At Plumpton ParkJo, Nutmeg, Rose, Sapphire, Toby & Wyatt

Lifespan reports vary. Animal Diversity Web lists about 15 years in human care and wild values of 15 to 18.5 years. These figures describe different records and should not be treated as a guaranteed lifespan.

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby.


280

Days a joey spends in the pouch

Pouch life

How does a joey grow?

After a very short pregnancy, the tiny newborn crawls into its mother’s pouch and attaches to a teat. A young wallaby is called a joey. A marsupial is a mammal whose young are born at an early stage and continue developing after birth, usually in a pouch. Most development occurs safely inside the pouch. As the joey grows, it begins looking out, then making short trips before eventually becoming independent.

Pregnancy lasts only about 30 days, but the joey stays in the pouch for about 280 days and may keep nursing until it is 12 to 17 months old. A female can support young at different developmental stages, an adaptation that allows reproduction to respond to changing environmental conditions.

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby.


Movement and behavior

Five legs at a walk, two at a hop

At low speed, a wallaby may use its forelimbs and tail along with its hind legs in a five-point walking motion. At higher speed, the hind legs work together in long, energy-efficient hops. The tail acts as a counterbalance but is not used as an extra jumping leg.

Red-necked wallabies are often solitary, but several may gather where food, water or shelter is abundant. A group of wallabies is commonly called a mob. On hot days, or when excited, a red-necked wallaby cools off by licking its hands and forearms.

  • Powerful hind legs: create fast, efficient hopping
  • Muscular tail: balances the body during movement and supports slow walking
  • Pouch development: protects a tiny, undeveloped newborn
  • Large ears: rotate to detect sounds from different directions
  • Specialized digestion: extracts nutrients from fibrous vegetation

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby.

On the menu

What do wallabies eat?

Red-necked wallabies are herbivores. They feed mainly on grasses, herbs, leaves and other vegetation. Their digestive system uses microbial fermentation to break down tough plant material and extract nutrients. A herbivore eats plants.

During hot or dry conditions, feeding patterns and activity may shift to conserve water and avoid excessive heat. In dry spells, juicy roots help supply water.

Red-necked wallaby standing on grass beside a water bowl at Plumpton Park Zoo

A red-necked wallaby beside a water bowl at Plumpton Park Zoo.

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby.


Spot the difference

Wallaby or kangaroo?

Red-necked wallaby

Notamacropus rufogriseus. Gray-brown with a reddish neck and shoulders, a dark nose and a pale upper-lip stripe.

Kangaroo

Both are macropods. “Wallaby” generally refers to smaller-bodied species, while “kangaroo” is used for the largest members of the group; the names do not represent a single strict scientific division.

Parma wallaby

A smaller wallaby species. Our Parma wallaby, Milo, is a different species from our red-necked wallabies.

More to explore

Continue learning in the Animal Learning Center, or explore more mammals at Plumpton Park Zoo.


Conservation

Red-necked wallaby with a joey looking out of her pouch at Plumpton Park Zoo
A joey looks out from its mother’s pouch at Plumpton Park Zoo.

Conservation

Least Concern

Red-necked wallabies remain widespread in much of their native range. Local populations can still be affected by habitat change, roads, fencing, hunting and conflict with agriculture.

The species was once heavily trapped for fur and persecuted by ranchers. Populations have recovered and are now abundant across much of the range, although wallabies may still be culled under license as crop and pasture pests, and Tasmania allows hunting in open seasons.

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby.


Red-necked wallaby sitting up in grass and autumn leaves, looking at the camera, at Plumpton Park Zoo
Autumn in the wallaby yard.

Support

Help care for our wallabies & the animals of Plumpton Park

As a nonprofit zoo, Plumpton Park Zoo relies on admissions, memberships and the generosity of people who believe in what we do. Donations help support animal care, veterinary services, nutritious diets, enrichment, habitat improvements and the continued development of the zoo.

Support Our Animals

Plumpton Park Zoological Gardens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations support the zoo’s charitable mission and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.


Questions

Common questions about wallabies

What is the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo?

Both are macropods. “Wallaby” generally refers to smaller-bodied species, while “kangaroo” is used for the largest members of the group; the names do not represent a single strict scientific division.

What is a baby wallaby called?

A baby wallaby is called a joey.

Can wallabies walk backward?

Their large feet, powerful legs and thick tail make backward movement difficult, although they can reposition and turn.

Are red-necked wallabies endangered?

The species is classified as Least Concern, but healthy habitat and responsible wildlife management remain important.

Is a Bennett’s wallaby the same as a red-necked wallaby?

Yes. Bennett’s wallaby is the name often used for the Tasmanian red-necked wallaby.

Where can I see red-necked wallabies in Maryland?

At Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland, home to Jo, Nutmeg, Rose, Sapphire, Toby and Wyatt. See Hours and Tickets for times and admission.

Sources: Animal Diversity Web: Red-necked wallaby.



See our wallabies at Plumpton Park Zoo

A newborn wallaby is extremely small and completes most of its early development inside the pouch. Meet our mob and discover more than 200 animals in Rising Sun, Maryland.

Explore our sloths, ring-tailed lemurs, siamangs and Animal Learning Center, and feed a giraffe.

Hours & TicketsGet TicketsTeacher Fact Sheet (PDF)