Dama (Tammar) Wallaby

Macropus eugenii

Scientific Name

Dama (Tammar) Wallaby:  
Macropus eugenii

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

Found in the south and southwestern coastal areas of Tasmania and Australia.

Natural Habitat

They may be found in dense vegetation for coverage and open forests or savannas for feeding.

Physical Characteristics

  • Dama wallabies measure less than 18 inches from the head to the base of the tail, and their tails are about 12 inches long. Males weigh up to 20 pounds; females weigh up to 15 pounds. They are mostly grayish-brown but their throat, chest, and stomach is lighter. They have a small head, large ears, and a tapered tail. Their hindquarters are much larger and more muscled than their forelimbs. A wallaby’s tail serves as a balance and rudder when leaping, and can function as a third leg when the wallaby is sitting. There are many different species of wallabies, but the dama wallaby is unique. They have small front legs with five digits and a sharp claw. The head and body lengths are about two feet long, with a tail of 15 to 17 inches.

Quick Facts

  1. Dama wallabies give a warning thump with their hind legs when they feel they are in danger.

  2. They are mostly nocturnal but they can be seen foraging for food or sunning during the day.

  3. The gestation period for dama wallabies is twenty-eight days. The newborn joey climbs into the pouch on its own and feeds until it is ready to look out into the world. The joeys usually do not peak out of their mother’s pouches until they are about five months old.

Exhibit

EcoStation

Conservation Status

Least Concern: The Dama (Tammar) Wallaby is common or abundant and is likely to survive in the wild.

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Diet

Herbivore

In the wild, this marsupial will eat shoots, lick dew, and eat succulents like eucalyptus flowers and grasses. In human care, the dama wallaby is fed grain, carrots, alfalfa, lettuce, bananas, apples, and primate chow.