Leslie Massey
The red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, and the largest extant marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, excluding the more fertile areas, such as southern Western Australia, the eastern and southeastern coasts, and the rainforests along the northern coast. Red kangaroos are herbivores and eat green vegetation, particularly fresh grasses and forbs, and can get enough water from their food to survive in an arid environment.
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What You'll Learn
Red kangaroos eat green vegetation
The red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, and the largest extant marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, except for the more fertile areas, such as southern Western Australia, the eastern and southeastern coasts, and the rainforests along the northern coast.
Red kangaroos are herbivores and eat only plants, preferring green vegetation, particularly fresh grasses and forbs. They can go for long periods without water by eating succulent plants that are filled with moisture. The herbage and foliage they eat provide them with their water needs as well as their nutritional requirements.
One study of kangaroos in Central Australia found that green grass makes up 75-95% of their diet, with Eragrostis setifolia dominating at 54%. This grass remains green into the dry season. Kangaroos primarily consumed this species, along with Enneapogon avenaceus in western New South Wales, where it comprised as much as 21-69% of the red kangaroo's diet according to one study. During dry times, kangaroos search for green plants by staying on open grassland and near watercourses. While grasses and forbs are preferred, red kangaroos will also eat certain species of chenopods, like Bassia diacantha and Maireana pyramidata, and will even browse shrubs when its favoured foods are scarce.
Red kangaroos live throughout most of the central part of mainland Australia, in areas with less than 500 mm (18 in) average annual rainfall. They prefer open plains habitat, including grasslands and deserts, as long as there are at least a few scattered trees for shelter. A group of kangaroos (called a mob) may consist of from two to several hundred animals. There is usually one dominant male, several adult females, and both male and female juveniles.
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Grasses and forbs are preferred
The red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, and the largest extant marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, except for the more fertile areas, such as southern Western Australia, the eastern and southeastern coasts, and the rainforests along the northern coast.
Red kangaroos are herbivores (folivores) and eat only plants, preferring green herbage, such as flowering plants, forbs, and grasses. They can go for long periods without water by eating succulent plants that are filled with moisture. Their diet is high in cellulose. Like other animals, kangaroos lack digestive enzymes to break down cellulose, so they have evolved both mechanical and chemical means of extracting nourishment from their food.
Grass is nipped off with the front teeth (incisors) which grind against a hard plate at the top of the mouth. There is a gap (called a diastema) between the front teeth and the back teeth (molars). This gives the tongue more room to push the food about inside the mouth and to position it between the molars for grinding. The molars have sharp grinding surfaces.
One study of kangaroos in Central Australia found that green grass makes up 75–95% of the diet, with Eragrostis setifolia dominating at 54%. This grass continues to be green into the dry season. Kangaroos primarily consumed this species, along with Enneapogon avenaceus in western New South Wales, where it comprised as much as 21–69% of the red kangaroo's diet according to one study. During dry times, kangaroos search for green plants by staying on open grassland and near watercourses. While grasses and forbs are preferred, red kangaroos will also eat certain species of chenopods, like Bassia diacantha and Maireana pyramidata, and will even browse shrubs when its favoured foods are scarce.
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They can survive without water for long periods
Australian red kangaroos are adapted to survive in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Australian outback, where water can be scarce. They have evolved to withstand long periods without access to water, an adaptation crucial for their survival in the harsh Australian environment.
These kangaroos can go for extended periods without drinking water, thanks to a unique set of physiological and behavioural adaptations. Firstly, they are very efficient at retaining water within their bodies, minimizing water loss through processes like urination and defecation. Their kidneys are specially adapted to concentrate urine, reducing the amount of water lost. Additionally, red kangaroos can recycle moisture from their food sources, extracting water from the vegetation they consume. This is possible due to their specialized digestive system, which includes a large caecum – a pouch-like structure in the intestine that helps break down and absorb water from their food.
During times of extreme drought, they may also reduce their water intake by altering their feeding habits. They will select vegetation with higher moisture content, such as succulent plants and fresh grass, if available. This strategy helps them maintain their hydration levels, even when water sources are scarce. Additionally, they may also lick the dew or rain from the grass in the early morning, taking advantage of any available moisture.
Another fascinating aspect of their survival strategy is their ability to regulate body temperature. Red kangaroos are often active during the hottest parts of the day, which is unusual for mammals. They can withstand high temperatures by minimizing water loss through evaporation. Their large ears also play a role in temperature regulation, as the extensive blood vessel network within the ears helps dissipate excess body heat.
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They eat plants with high moisture content
Australian red kangaroos are herbivores, eating only plants. They are folivores, preferring green herbage, such as flowering plants, forbs, and grasses. They can survive for long periods without water, thanks to their diet of succulent plants with high moisture content.
The red kangaroo's diet is high in cellulose. Like other animals, kangaroos lack the digestive enzymes to break down cellulose, so they have evolved both mechanical and chemical means of extracting nourishment from their food. They use their front teeth (incisors) to nip off grass, which then grinds against a hard plate at the top of the mouth. There is a gap (called a diastema) between the front teeth and the back teeth (molars). This gap gives the tongue more room to manoeuvre the food inside the mouth and to position it between the molars for grinding. The molars have sharp grinding surfaces.
The red kangaroo's diet is made up of 75–95% green grass, with Eragrostis setifolia dominating at 54%. This grass remains green into the dry season. During droughts, red kangaroo populations can suffer as their food supplies diminish. They will also eat certain species of chenopods, like Bassia diacantha and Maireana pyramidata, and will even browse shrubs when their favoured foods are scarce. However, some perennial chenopods, such as the round-leaf chenopod Kochia, are avoided even when abundant.
Red kangaroos live throughout most of the central part of mainland Australia, in areas with less than 500 mm (18 in) average annual rainfall. They prefer open plains habitats, including grasslands and deserts, as long as there are at least a few scattered trees for shelter.
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They feed mainly at night
The red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, and the largest extant marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, except for the more fertile areas, such as southern Western Australia, the eastern and southeastern coasts, and the rainforests along the northern coast.
Red kangaroos are herbivores (folivores) and eat only plants, preferring green herbage, such as flowering plants, forbs, and grasses. They feed mainly at night. During the day, they rest under trees or shrubs to avoid the heat and come out to feed in the cool of the evening and at night. They can survive for long periods without water by eating succulent plants that provide them with moisture.
Red kangaroos are polygynous animals, with males competing for mating opportunities with several females. They will try to have exclusive access to multiple females, actively driving away other males. Such competition sometimes results in "boxing" matches, where males hit and kick each other using their forepaws and feet.
The red kangaroo's diet is high in cellulose. Like other animals, kangaroos lack the digestive enzymes to break down cellulose, so they have evolved both mechanical and chemical means of extracting nourishment from their food. Grass is nipped off with the front teeth (incisors) and ground against a hard plate at the top of the mouth. There is a gap (called a diastema) between the front teeth and the back teeth (molars) that gives the tongue more room to push the food around inside the mouth and position it between the molars for grinding. The molars have sharp grinding surfaces.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian red kangaroos are herbivores and folivores, eating only plants. They eat green vegetation, including grasses, forbs, and flowering plants.
Australian red kangaroos can go for long periods without water by eating succulent plants that are filled with moisture. They can also get water from the herbage and foliage they eat.
Australian red kangaroos live in the arid zone throughout most of the central part of mainland Australia, in areas with less than 500 mm (18 in) average annual rainfall. They prefer open plains habitats, including grasslands and deserts, with at least a few scattered trees for shelter.
Australian red kangaroos have long, pointed ears and a square-shaped muzzle. Males have short, red-brown fur, while females are smaller and blue-grey with a brown tinge.
