Kangaroos and wallabies are very similar marsupials that belong to the same family (Macropodidae) and genus (Macropus). (The above image is a wallaby.) Their native territories often overlap, but wallabies are generally much, much smaller than kangaroos with a color pattern that is much more varied. The lifespan of a kangaroo is much longer, and these larger animals take longer to grow, and become more independent than their relatives.