A stocky, solitary animal, the Black Wallaby, formly known as the Swamp Wallaby, lives in the undergrowth of forests, woodlands and heathlands, although it is not surprising to find it far out of it normal habitat. It can be seen jumping with its head low and its tail horizontal. It feeds at night on native and introduced plants such as grasses, ferns and fungi, and will eat bracken fern and pine seedlings.

It shelters during the day in dense grass and ferns in forest and wetter areas. It will breed throughout the year, joeys leaving the pouch at around nine months and continuing to suckle until around fifteen months. Black Wallabies’ unique diet gives them a particular odour.

Size: 756mm, tail 761mm

Illustration and photo: Mark Trinham