Damon Mcknight
Australia's most famous animal, the kangaroo, is an iconic marsupial species that has become a symbol of national progress and is featured on the country's coat of arms. Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea, with an estimated population of 42.8 million kangaroos in Australia in 2019. The largest species of kangaroo is the red kangaroo, which can grow up to 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) tall and weigh around 90 kg (200 lb). Eastern grey kangaroos are the most abundant species, with population densities peaking near 100 per km2 in suitable habitats. Kangaroos are known for their large feet and powerful hind legs, which allow them to leap up to 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound and reach speeds of over 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | Macropus (literally "big foot") |
| Habitat | Eastern Australia, arid Australia, scrubland, grassland, woodland, pastureland, tropical woodlands, rocky outcrops |
| Population | 42.8 million in 2019 |
| Diet | Wide variety of plants, including grass, leaves, ferns, flowers, fruit, moss, and forbs |
| Speed | 60 kph, 30 miles per hour, or 48 kilometers per hour; can leap 30 feet or 9 meters in a single bound |
| Height | 6 feet (2 meters) tall, including the tail; some kangaroos are 8 feet tall |
| Weight | 90 kg (200 lb) |
| Gestation period | 5 weeks |
| Lifespan | 8-12 years in the wild; 23 years is the average lifespan in the wild |
| Group name | Mob, troop, or herd |
| Predators | Humans, wild dogs (dingoes), saltwater crocodiles, wedge-tailed eagles |
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What You'll Learn
The red kangaroo is the largest species
The red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) is the largest surviving marsupial in the world. It is found across arid and semi-arid central Australia, with the highest population densities in the rangelands of western New South Wales. Red kangaroos are well-adapted to arid environments, capable of conserving water and selecting fresh vegetation. They can survive for long periods without water by reabsorbing water from their urine in the kidneys and meeting their moisture requirements from the vegetation they consume. They also have a high tolerance for consuming plants with high salt content.
Red kangaroos have long, pointed ears and a square-shaped muzzle. They are sexually dimorphic, with males having short, red-brown fur, and females being smaller and blue-grey with a brown tinge. Adult males are referred to as "Big Reds" by Australians. Males can grow to a head-and-body length of 1.3–1.6 m (4 ft 3 in – 5 ft 3 in), with their tail adding a further 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in). Large males can stand over 1.8 metres (6 ft) tall, with the largest recorded specimen being around 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) tall. Males typically weigh between 55 and 90 kg (121 to 198 lb), while females weigh between 18 and 40 kg (40 to 88 lb).
Red kangaroos have two muscular hind-limbs used for jumping and a strong tail that can be used for balance or as another limb when moving. They can reach impressive speeds of around 60 km/h (37 mph), with males able to cover 8–9 m (26–30 ft) in a single leap. Their legs work like rubber bands, with the Achilles tendon stretching and then releasing its energy to propel the kangaroo forward, enabling their characteristic bouncing locomotion.
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Eastern grey kangaroos have giant tails
Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea, and are the country's most famous animals. They are also important to Australian culture and the national image. The kangaroo appears on the Australian coat of arms and on some of its currency.
Eastern grey kangaroos are the second-largest of Australia's marsupials. They are found in the eastern third of Australia, with a population of several million. The eastern grey kangaroo is less well-known than the red kangaroo outside Australia, but it is the most frequently encountered species within the country due to its adaptability. Its range extends from the top of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland down to Victoria, as well as areas of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
Eastern grey kangaroos are gregarious and form groups with an average of three individuals. They are predominantly grazing animals, eating grasses and a range of other plants. They are also nocturnal, gathering in large 'mobs' at dusk to feed.
Eastern grey kangaroos have a powerful tail that is over 1 metre long in adult males. The tail is used for balance when hopping and as another limb when moving slowly or rising up on their hind legs to engage in 'boxing matches' with other males.
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Kangaroos are Australia's most famous animal
Kangaroos are excellent jumpers, able to leap 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound and travel more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour. They can also reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour and clear more than 8 meters in a single leap. They live in small groups called troops or herds, or "mobs" by Australians. These groups typically consist of 50 or more kangaroos.
The kangaroo is important to both Australian culture and the national image. It appears on the Australian coat of arms and some of its currency, and is used as a logo for some of Australia's most well-known organizations, such as Qantas, and as the roundel of the Royal Australian Air Force. The kangaroo has also inspired the names and mascots of Australian sports teams, such as the national rugby league team, the Kangaroos, and the national rugby union team, the Wallabies.
There are four species that are commonly referred to as kangaroos: the red kangaroo, the eastern grey kangaroo, the western grey kangaroo, and the antilopine kangaroo. The red kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos and the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia. It is found across mainland Australia, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, and is the largest extant marsupial in the world. A large male red kangaroo can be 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall and weigh 90 kilograms (200 pounds). The eastern grey kangaroo is less well-known but has a larger population and a wider range that extends from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland down to Victoria and Tasmania. The western grey kangaroo is found across the southern part of Australia, while the antilopine kangaroo inhabits tropical woodlands in northern Australia.
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Joeys are newborn kangaroos
Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. They are the country's most famous animal, and they are scientifically classified as part of the Macropus genus, which means "big foot". Male kangaroos, or "boomers", can grow to be six feet tall and weigh 200 pounds.
Baby kangaroos are called joeys. Joeys are born after a gestation period of around 34 days, and they are only one inch long at birth, about the size of a grape. Newborn joeys crawl, unassisted, through their mother's thick fur and into her pouch, where they will suckle for around two months. Joeys cannot suckle or swallow at birth, so the mother pumps milk down their throat. After around four months, the joey will leave the pouch for short periods to graze on grass and shrubs. At around six months, the joey will leave the pouch for longer periods, but will continue to return to feed. Red kangaroos leave the pouch for good at around eight months, while grey kangaroos leave at around 10 or 11 months. Joeys will continue to suckle for three to four months after leaving the pouch.
Female kangaroos, or "flyers" or "does", have the ability to suckle two joeys at once, providing two different types of milk depending on the age of the joey. This is possible due to the force with which the joey suckles. Male kangaroos do not have pouches, as they cannot produce milk.
A group of kangaroos is called a mob, herd, or troop.
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Kangaroos can leap 30 feet in one bound
Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. They are Australia's most famous animals and are featured on the country's coat of arms. The Australian government estimated that 42.8 million kangaroos lived within the commercial harvest areas of Australia in 2019, down from 53.2 million in 2013.
Kangaroos are scientifically classified as part of the Macropus genus, which means "big foot". They have large back feet, powerful hind legs, small front legs, and a long, strong tail. These physical attributes enable kangaroos to jump an impressive 30 feet (9 meters) long and 10 feet high in a single bound. They can also travel more than 30 miles per hour, with a top speed of 40 miles per hour. Most of the time, they hop comfortably at 15.5 miles per hour.
Kangaroos are the largest surviving marsupial species in the world. A large male kangaroo can be 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) tall and weigh 90 kg (200 lb). The tallest recorded kangaroo was 8 feet tall. The eastern grey kangaroo is the most common species, with a range extending from the top of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland down to Victoria, as well as areas of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
Kangaroos live in small groups called troops or herds, dubbed "mobs" by Australians. These groups typically consist of 50 or more kangaroos. They use their strong tails for balance while jumping and can also use their tails as another limb when moving about. If threatened, kangaroos pound the ground with their strong feet in warning.
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Frequently asked questions
Kangaroos are the largest extant marsupials. The largest species of kangaroo is the red kangaroo, which grows to about 1-1.6 metres long without the tail, with the tail adding about another metre. A large male red kangaroo can be 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) tall and weigh 90 kg (200 lb).
The smallest species of kangaroo is the musky-rat kangaroo, which is about 30 cm long and weighs just half a kilogram. It is about the size of a guinea pig.
The average lifespan of a kangaroo in the wild is 8-12 years, though they can live up to 23 years.
Kangaroos can leap about 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound and travel at speeds of over 30 miles per hour (48 kilometres per hour).
Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and are considered one of the country's most famous animals. In 2019, the Australian government estimated that there were 42.8 million kangaroos living within commercial harvest areas of Australia.
