Wallabies at sunrise, Australia  Sep 16, 2024

Amid the hues of dawn, captured in today"s image, two wallabies stand alert in a field near the Adelaide River in Australia"s Northern Territory. These marsupials, smaller cousins of the kangaroo, are native to Australia and New Guinea. There are around 30 species of wallabies, including swamp, rock, and hare-wallabies. These sprightly mammals have strong hind legs that help them take impressive leaps and deliver powerful kicks if threatened. During mating season, male wallabies engage in boxing bouts in an attempt to grab females" attention. Social creatures, wallabies form small groups called "mobs" for safety and mutual grooming. Their playgrounds are forests that echo with the thudding of their hops as they navigate their home range.

© Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images

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