Pademelon

marsupial · Australia · hopper · small

Tiny hoppers. Pademelons are among the smallest members of the macropod family, which means they're much smaller cousins of kangaroos and wallabies. Despite being little, they still get around by hopping on their powerful back legs.

Where they live. You can find pademelons in Australia, New Guinea, and the islands nearby. They live in forests and grassy areas where they can hide and find plants to munch on.

Distinctive tail. Unlike their larger kangaroo cousins, pademelons have short, thick tails that don't have much hair on them. This stubby tail helps them balance when they hop around.

Pouch babies. Female pademelons are marsupials, which means they carry their tiny babies in a cozy pouch on their belly until the joeys are big enough to explore the world on their own.