They replied 'kangaroo'. Now to the Aborigines, this meant 'I don't understand you'. The Europeans thought they were referring to the big-footed hoppers, so they named them Kangaroos. Kangaroos are often just called ' Roos '. There are 60 different kinds of Kangaroos and 12 relatives called Rat Kangaroos.
Some species are common while others are endangered.
Males are larger than females in all species. The smallest is the female Warabi Rock Wallaby which is 2 pounds. The largest Kangaroo is the male Red and Grey which weigh 200 pounds. Some Kangaroos live alone, some live in families with a bond that lasts a lifetime, while some travel in large mobs. A Kangaroo can sprint 40 mph over a 1-2 mile distance and 20 mph for long distances such as 10 miles or more.