Fun Black Wallaroo Facts For Kids

The black wallaroo is a species of moderately large macropods and in case you're wondering whether it's half wallaby and half kangaroo, then you've got it wrong! The name of this species comes from the word 'Dharug' walaru.

They are members of the family of kangaroos and wallabies. However, one major distinction is that black wallaroos are larger than wallabies and smaller than kangaroos. Did you know that the black wallaroo (Macropus bernardus) is the smallest kangaroo ever to exist?

There are three types of wallaroos, the common wallaroo, black wallaroo, and the antilopine wallaroo. The eastern wallaroo is also known as the common wallaroo. They are peaceful and do not cause too much trouble to any local farms.

If you liked reading about these animals, you will definitely like the Aurochs and two-toed sloth!
 

Black Wallaroo Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a black wallaroo?

The black wallaroo (Macropus bernardus) is a species of macropods found in Australia. Many of their characteristics are shared with kangaroos except that they are much smaller in size.

What class of animal does a black wallaroo belong to?

The Macropus bernardus comes from the family of Macropodidae. They are called Woodward's wallaroo and have many other overlapping names. There are other species of this macropod such as the common wallaroo (Macropus robustus) and antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus).  

How many black wallaroos are there in the world?

The exact population of black wallaroos (Macropus bernardus) is not known however their distribution is restricted to rather small areas in Australia. Their population trends indicate that their population is declining and is Near Threatened.

Where does a black wallaroo live?

Just like the common wallaroo (Macropus robustus), the species of the black wallaroo (Macropus bernardus) is restricted to a small area named Arnhem Land located in the Northern Territory along the South Alligator River as well as Nabarlek.

What is a black wallaroo's habitat?

The habitat of the black wallaroo constitutes lots of vegetation, grasslands, and mountainous areas. They also thrive in closed forests, open forests, eucalyptus forests, and hummock grasslands. As the black wallaroo (Macropus bernardus) is an herbivore, they are often seen in areas with a lot of plant food options.

Who do black wallaroos live with?

They are often seen living in groups of three in their habitat. The groups of three mostly consist of one male, one female, and their offspring. They are shy and are not seen with other wallaroos, unless during the breeding season.

How long does a black wallaroo live?

The black wallaroo lifespan is around 11 years. They have a shorter life span compared to the common wallaroo (Macropus robustus) with a lifespan of 18-19 years.

How do they reproduce?

These animals which are commonly found in Arnhem Land within Australia can be seen breeding throughout the year. Females may expand their area of activity in search of a mate.

They are picky and pick one of the most dominant males around. For a female to bear offspring, it is necessary for her to be healthy because the females nourish the young wallaroo via lactation.

The gestation period of the females lasts about 31-36 days. Young wallaroos then tend to move into the  pouch and suckle for nutrition.

Females will hold the young one in their pouch for about four months. Once they stop suckling, the young one continues to stay in the pouch. It is possible for the females to carry two young joeys at once.

What is their conservation status?

Unlike the common wallaroo (Macropus robustus), the conservation status of black wallaroos is Near Threatened. The major reason behind this decline is their limited population distribution which occurs in small numbers in Arnhem Land. Kakadu National Park in Australia is where their largest known habitat which is heavily protected.

Black Wallaroo Fun Facts

What does a black wallaroo look like?

These animals can be found in Arnhem as well as rocky hills and scree slopes along the base of the escarpment. The range of these wallaroos is not a lot and they are rarely seen by people. Just like its name, it is glossy black in color. Male wallaroos are taller than females in height.

Males are blackish pelage whereas the females are brownish-gray. They are quite similar to a common wallaroo, except that they have smaller ears. Unlike most kangaroos, they do not have hair on their muzzle.

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How cute are they?

They would not really fit the description of cute however they are pretty robust given their medium-sized bodies. What is adorable is when the males are pulling on grass and bushes out of aggressiveness or when a joey pops its head out of the pouch.

How do they communicate?

They are very shy and not social. Apart from breeding, they mostly keep to themselves and spend the majority of their time grazing in Arnhem Land, in rocky areas, or along the bases of an escarpment.

However, male wallaroos can become aggressive with each other and may even start fights. They show threatening displays such as being in upright postures and stiffed-legged walking. The females take care of joeys in their pouches.

How big is a black wallaroo?

They are 2.4 -4.5 in (75-140 cm) in height and have a tail length of 23.6-28 in (60–70 cm) . They are the smallest known macropods from the kangaroo family. The males are bigger than the females. This species is known to be small yet robust.

How fast can a black wallaroo run?

There is no information available regarding their speed however they mainly rely on their speed while escaping from their predators. They can also be seen camouflaging themselves in Arnhem Land.

How much does a black wallaroo weigh?

The black wallaroo weight mainly depends on food availability. The average weight of a black wallaroo is in the range of 35-77 lb (16-35 kg). Their main source of nutrition is via plants, bushes, and grass.

Given their lack of distribution range, it is important for them to be healthy and have a stable population. This species is currently being protected. Males tend to weigh more.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males are known are 'barrks' whereas females are called 'djukerre'.

What would you call a baby black wallaroo?

A young one is referred to as joey.

What do they eat?

They feed on a variety of vegetation in their range. The black wallaroo diet consists of grasses, shrubs, and occasionally on other plants too.

Black wallaroos are eaten by eagles, dingos, foxes, crocodiles, and humans.

Are they poisonous?

No, they are not. They are scared of humans and tend to escape whenever they see anyone. However, males have been known to be more aggressive compared to females.

Would they make a good pet?

No. they are wild animals and are scared of humans. Due to their restricted range of distribution, their population is suffering as it is and they cannot be domesticated.

Did you know...

A wallaroo can jump upright compared to kangaroos.

The black kangaroo is another word for this species of wallaroo.

What is the difference between a kangaroo, a wallaby, and a wallaroo?

The major difference is their distribution and size. A kangaroo is larger than a wallaroo and a wallaby is much smaller than wallaroo. Unlike other kangaroos, the wallaroo does not have hair on its muzzle.

Are black wallaroos endangered?

Although a rare sight in the base of an escarpment, due to changes in fire patterns occurring in the Northern Territory of Australia, their lack of population has caused them to be Near Threatened. Not much is known regarding their population.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our wallaby facts and red kangaroo facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable black wallaroo coloring pages.