Leslie Massey
Australia is known for its diverse wildlife, with many unique species found only on this continent. Interestingly, some Australian animals are unable to walk backward due to their anatomy and movement patterns. This includes iconic Australian creatures like kangaroos and emus, which have become cultural symbols of the country's forward momentum. Let's explore the topic further and uncover which six Australian animals possess this unusual trait of being unable to walk backward.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian animals that can walk backward | N/A |
| Animals that can't walk backward | Kangaroos, Emus, Wallabies, Pademelons |
| Reason | Kangaroos and Wallabies hop and crawl forward using their front paws and muscular tails for balance. Emus are flightless birds that can only walk forward. Pademelons are macropods that hop on their hind limbs. |
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What You'll Learn
Kangaroos hop/saltate and cannot walk backward
Kangaroos are large, hopping mammals that are native to Australia. They carry their offspring in pouches and are considered marsupials. Their hopping movement is called saltatory locomotion or saltation. During saltation, kangaroos push off with both large feet at the same time and use their tails for balance.
The combination of their muscular legs, big feet, and tails helps kangaroos move forward effectively, but these same attributes also prevent them from going in reverse. Their long feet and heavy tail make walking impossible, forward or backward. They can, however, move slightly backward in a rearward motion during a fight to avoid injury.
Kangaroos also cannot move each leg independently unless they are swimming. They are very good swimmers. There are rare instances of kangaroos moving backward while playing.
Because kangaroos cannot walk backward, they were included on the Australian coat of arms to symbolize the country's resolve to only move forward and never backward.
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Emus are flightless birds that can only walk forward
Emus are flightless birds native to Australia. They are the second-largest living birds in the world, with an average height of 5.7 feet (1.75 meters). Emus are excellent swimmers and runners, capable of reaching speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/hr) and travelling long distances. They have long necks and legs, but their wings are tiny, measuring less than 8 inches (20 centimeters).
Despite their large size, emus are agile and can jump up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) straight up. They have strong legs with three-toed feet and long, sharp nails. These features enable them to defend themselves by striking and ripping. Emus are known for their distinctive booming, drumming, and grunting sounds, produced by inflating a pouch in their throat.
Interestingly, emus are unable to walk backward. This unique characteristic has led to their inclusion on the Australian coat of arms, symbolizing the country's resolve to only move forward and never backward. While most animals can walk in all directions, backward movement can be crucial for escaping danger. Emus have adapted to this limitation and possess other traits that aid in their survival.
Emus are well-adapted to their environment and play an important role in their habitat. They are omnivores, consuming a variety of plants and insects. Emus are selective about their plant choices, favouring nutrient-rich parts such as seeds, fruits, flowers, and young shoots. They also ingest pebbles and charcoal to aid in grinding up their food. In times of food abundance, emus store large amounts of fat, which provides energy during their search for more sustenance.
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Australian coat of arms symbolises the country's resolve to only move forward
The Australian coat of arms symbolises the country's resolve to only move forward. The coat of arms of Australia, officially the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. It depicts a shield, containing symbols of Australia's six states, and is held up by native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu—two animals that cannot walk backward.
The Australian authorities decided to include these two animals on the coat of arms to symbolise the country's resolve to only move forward. The emu is a flightless bird that can only walk forward and not backward. Kangaroos, on the other hand, do not walk at all—they hop. This hopping movement, referred to as saltation, prevents them from moving backward. Their thick, long, muscular tails, big feet, and overall body design make it difficult for them to move in reverse.
The first arms were authorised by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was authorised by King George V on 19 September 1912. The coat of arms has undergone redesigns and spurred debates in Parliament, with some criticising the inclusion of the kangaroo and emu as shield bearers. Despite the objections, the kangaroo and emu remain as the supporters of the coat of arms, symbolising Australia's progress and forward momentum.
The coat of arms is used by the Commonwealth to authenticate documents, indicate ownership of property, and for other identification purposes. It is a unique symbol of Australia, with the kangaroo and emu being endemic fauna found only on the continent. The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star above the crest represents the states and territories, while the golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield.
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The kangaroo's tail, feet, and legs prevent backward movement
Kangaroos are large marsupials that hop instead of walking or running. Their unique locomotion is facilitated by their hind legs, feet, and tails. The tail, in particular, is a key component of their movement, and, along with their feet and legs, prevents them from moving backward.
The kangaroo's tail is thick, long, and muscular. It is composed of over 20 caudal vertebrae, giving it a distinct structure from the front and hind limbs. The tail muscles are larger than those in the front limbs, and they are dense with mitochondria, indicating a large aerobic capacity. When moving at low speeds, kangaroos plant their tail on the ground in sequence with their front and hind legs, in a gait referred to as "pentapedal" locomotion. The tail generates propulsive force, acting as a third leg and providing support, propulsion, and power to the kangaroo's movement. Without this tail, a kangaroo would have a severe propensity to fall backward when its hind legs are lifted off the ground.
The tail is not very flexible, and its structure and function are more akin to a balancing or prehensile function, rather than leg-like behavior. This is likely an evolutionary remnant from when the ancestors of modern-day kangaroos were arboreal and used their tails to grasp and balance.
The kangaroo's feet are also a factor in their inability to move backward. The feet are large, elongated, and muscular, with robust digits. They are specifically adapted for powerful and efficient hopping, with the central two digits being the most prominent, allowing for an effective push-off during hops. The structure of the feet is specialized for forward motion and prevents backward movement.
In summary, the kangaroo's tail, feet, and legs are all adapted for their unique form of locomotion, hopping. The tail acts as a third leg, providing support and propulsion, while the feet are designed for efficient forward hopping. These adaptations prevent backward movement, with the tail and feet specifically optimized for forward motion, and the tail necessary to prevent the kangaroo from falling backward.
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Emus resemble ostriches but can't walk backward like them
Emus are flightless birds that resemble ostriches but are slightly shorter. They are among the top three fastest birds on land, with a speed of up to 31 miles per hour. Emus are also impressive jumpers, reaching heights of up to 6.8 feet off the ground. They have long legs, strong muscles, and calf muscles that contribute to their speed.
Despite their similarities to ostriches and their powerful running abilities, emus cannot walk backward. This is unlike their ostrich cousins, which are believed to be able to walk backward. The reason for emus' inability to walk backward is not entirely clear, but it may be due to the structure of their knee joints or the fusion of their knees with their ankles.
The emu's inability to walk backward is significant, as they are featured on the Australian coat of arms alongside kangaroos, another Australian animal that cannot walk backward. The inclusion of these two animals on the coat of arms symbolizes Australia's resolve to always move forward and never backward.
While emus may resemble ostriches in many ways and are powerful runners, their backward walking abilities differ, with emus being unable to walk or even take a single step backward.
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Frequently asked questions
Only three Australian animals have been found to be incapable of walking backward: kangaroos, emus, and wallabies.
Kangaroos do not walk, they hop. This hopping movement is called saltation, and it prevents them from moving backward. They also have thick, long, muscular tails and big feet that are designed to move in a forward direction, making backward movement impossible.
Kangaroos and emus are included on the Australian coat of arms to symbolize the country's resolve to only move forward and never backward.
While it is uncommon, some other animals like alligators, penguins, and ostriches have limited abilities to move backward. Their backward movement may not be considered walking, but they can use other methods like waddling or crawling to move in reverse.
The ability to walk backward helps animals escape danger and protect themselves when they feel threatened.
Yes, the pademelon, a type of marsupial, and wallabies, which are similar to kangaroos, also cannot walk backward due to their hopping movement.
