Red-legged Pademelon joey, Queensland, Australia

© David Watts/Visuals Unlimited, Inc

Fun in the forest. A young joey sounding things out

To the red-legged pademelon, sound is crucial to its survival. The small wallabies – which are endemic to both Australia and New Guinea, use vocalisations as a form of a communication with others of its kind. Males, for example, emit a soft clucking in order to attract interested females. Mother pademelons also produce a similar sound to call their offspring which may have wandered off. In more threatening situations, however, the animal relies on its hind legs and feet to make larger thumping noses when faced with predators. The movement acts as an alarm to nearby pademelons – giving them the chance to escape via pre-made paths.