A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning 'large foot'). In common use the term is used to
describe the largest species from this family, the Red Kangaroo, the Antilopine Kangaroo, and the Eastern and Western Grey
Kangaroo of the Macropus genus. The family also includes many smaller species which include the wallabies, tree-kangaroos,
wallaroos, pademelons and the Quokka, some 63 living species in all.
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod (Family Macropodidae). It is an informal designation generally used for
any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name. Very small forest-dwelling
wallabies are known as pademelons (genus Thylogale) and dorcopsises. The name wallaby comes from the Eora Aboriginal tribe
who were the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. Young wallabies are known as "joeys", like many other marsupials.
The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest
surviving marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast,
and the northern rainforests.
The Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) is a medium-sized macropod, common in the more temperate and fertile parts of
eastern Australia. As one of the largest wallabies, it can easily be mistaken for a kangaroo. Males can weigh more than 20
kg and attain a head-body length of 90 cm.
The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of
several million. It is also known as the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Forester Kangaroo. Although a big Eastern Grey male typically
weighs around 66 kg and stands almost 2 m (6 ft. ) tall, the scientific name, Macropus giganteus (gigantic large-foot), is
misleading, as the Red Kangaroo of the semi-arid inland is larger.
The swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) is a small macropod marsupial of eastern Australia. This wallaby is also commonly known
as the black wallaby, with other names including black-tailed wallaby, fern wallaby, black pademelon, stinker, and black stinker.
The swamp wallaby is currently the only living member of the genus Wallabia.
