Wow! an animal with ears like a rabbit, eyes and nose like a mouse or rat, long tail like a small kangaroo or wallaby...and it even hops like a kangaroo, and burrows like a rabbit. Like kangaroos, it is a marsupial...it has a pouch to carry it's baby in. And guess what...the pouch faces backwards, just so it does not get dirty when digging burrows. How smart is that? More! it lives in the desert, and like koalas does not drink water. There is not much water in the desert, so that is a good thing too, don't you think?
I wonder if your teachers have guessed what the animal is? Mercedes might know, as she has visited Australia?
See if you can find it's aboriginal name, and let me know your answer.
Until next time, big hugs from your friend Alan from DownUnder.
Hello Alan!
ReplyDeleteIn answer of your question, I found this in the wikipedia.
"The name "wallaby" comes from the Eora, who were the first human inhabitants of the Sydney area."
I even know if that answers to your question, but I have to try.
Sincerly, Lidia.
Of course you have to try Lidia, that is one important way to learn things.
DeleteNo, the animal is not a Wallaby. It is a Bilby. Some more information about the Bilby is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/bilbies/About_Bilbies.htm
Enjoy your reading,
Alan
I'm glad Lidia replied first, I had no idea what the name of that little animal was!
DeleteI saw wallabies when I was there, though! Do you remember, Alan, the one standing right by that old school building, just looking at us? It was fun!
Love, Mercedes
Yes Mercedes, I remember. It was in Bunya Pines National Park, where we went for a 'little walk".
DeleteUnfortunately, wallabies and kangaroos are becoming pests in Australia these days, because of large herd numbers and not enough feed for them. Bilbies, however, are still on the endangered list.