Mammals
Red-Necked Wallaby
Notamacropus rufogriseus · also called Bennett's wallaby
Grazing alone at dusk on the edge of a forest clearing, a red-necked wallaby shows off the reddish patch across its shoulders that gives the species its name, a marsupial whose wild range now stretches far beyond Australia into New Zealand and even the English countryside.
Overview
The red-necked wallaby, Notamacropus rufogriseus, is a mid-sized marsupial native to forest and grassland habitat across eastern Australia and Tasmania. Its distinctive reddish shoulder patch, more solitary lifestyle than larger kangaroo species, and surprising success establishing wild populations overseas make it one of the more geographically far-reaching marsupials found anywhere outside its native continent.
A wallaby that conquered the English countryside
Descended from escapees rather than deliberate introductions, the red-necked wallaby’s wild population in England’s Peak District stands as one of the more improbable examples of an Australian marsupial establishing itself thousands of kilometres from home.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and stable across suitable forest and grassland habitat throughout eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Red-Necked Wallaby: common questions
Why is it called the red-necked wallaby?
This species has a distinctive reddish-brown patch of fur across the neck and shoulders, contrasting with its otherwise grey-brown coat, a feature prominent enough to give the species both its common name and one of its easiest identifying features in the field.
Where else in the world does the red-necked wallaby live?
This species has established self-sustaining wild breeding populations well outside its native Australia, including in New Zealand and, most surprisingly, in England's Peak District, where escaped individuals from a private collection formed a wild population that persisted for decades.
What is embryonic diapause and does the red-necked wallaby use it?
Yes, this species can pause the development of a fertilised embryo through a process called embryonic diapause, allowing a female to delay a new pregnancy until conditions are favourable or until an existing joey has grown enough to leave the pouch.
Is the red-necked wallaby as social as larger kangaroo species?
Not particularly; this species is considerably smaller than large kangaroo species such as the eastern grey kangaroo and tends to be more solitary, typically foraging alone rather than gathering in the large grazing mobs seen in bigger kangaroo species.