Kangaroos: Facts, Information & Pictures Credit: Renate | Shutterstock Kangaroos are large marsupials that are found only in Australia. They are identified by their muscular tails, strong back legs, large feet, short fur and long, pointed ears. Like all marsupials, a sub-type of mammal, females have pouches that contain mammary glands, where their young live until they are old enough to emerge. Kangaroos are in the Macropodidae family, which also includes tree-kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, quokkas and pademelons. When people think of kangaroos, the four species that typically come to mind are in the genus Macropus: the antilopine kangaroo, the red kangaroo, the western gray kangaroo and the eastern gray kangaroo. They are sometimes referred to as the "great kangaroos" because these species are much larger than other kangaroos. However, there are 12 species of tree-kangaroos in the Dendrolagus genus, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. And, bettongs , in the Potoridae family, are called rat-kangaroos.

Size The largest kangaroo, as well as the largest marsupial, is the red kangaroo, according to National Geographic . The length from the red kangaroo's head to its rump is 3.25 to 5.25 feet (1 to 1.6 meters) long. Its tail adds another 35.5 to 43.5 inches (90 to 110 centimeters) to its length and its entire body weighs around 200 lbs. (90 kilograms). The smallest kangaroo is the musky rat-kangaroo . It is only 6 to 8 inches (15.24 to 20.32 cm) long and weighs only 12 ounces (340 grams). Its ratlike tail adds another 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to 15.24 cm) to its length. Habitat Most kangaroos live on the continent of Australia, though each species has a different place it likes to call home. For example, the musky rat-kangaroo likes to nestle down in little nests on the floor of the rainforests in northeastern Queensland.

Gray kangaroos like the forests of Australia and Tasmania, on the other hand. The antilopine kangaroo can be found in the monsoonal eucalyptus woodlands of extreme northern Australia. Tree-kangaroos live in the upper branches of trees in the rainforests of Queensland, as well as on the island of New Guinea. Kangaroos at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park. Credit: Flickr/paul dynamik. Habits Kangaroos are the only large animals that hop as a primary means of locomotion. Their springy hind legs and feet are much stronger and larger than their arms (or "forelimbs"). According to the San Diego Zoo, kangaroos can cover 15 feet (7 m) in a single hop and can hop as fast as 30 mph (48 kph). Usually, 20 mph (32 kph) is considered their cruising speed. When feeding, kangaroos use a slower, walking movement, and for that they use their muscular tail as a kind of fifth leg, pushing off the ground as they move along. Kangaroos are social and live in groups called a mob, a herd or a troop.

Kangaroos in a mob will groom each other and protect each other from danger. If a kangaroo suspects there is danger in the area, it will stomp its foot on the ground to alert others. If it comes to blows, a kangaroo will box and kick its opponent. Diet Kangaroos are herbivores. They eat grasses, flowers, leaves, ferns, moss and even insects. Like cows, kangaroos regurgitate their food and re-chew it before it is ready to be totally digested. A juvenile kangaroo views the outside world from the pouch of an adult female Eastern gray kangaroo. Credit: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos Offspring Probably the best-known fact about kangaroos is that they carry their young in a pouch. A female kangaroo is pregnant for 21 to 38 days, and she can give birth to up to four offspring at one time, though this is unusual. At birth, the baby, called a joey, can be as small as a grain of rice, or as big as a bee, at 0.2 to 0.9 inches (5 to 25 millimeters), according to the San Diego Zoo .

When the joey is born, it is guided safely into the comfy pouch, where it gestates for another 120 to 450 days. Inside the pouch, the joey is protected and can feed by nursing from its mother's nipples. Joeys urinate and defecate in the mother's pouch. The lining of the pouch absorbs some of the mess, but occasionally the mother will need to clean it out, which she does by inserting her long snout into the pouch and using her tongue to remove the contents. A young joey will remain attached to a nipple while the mother does this, but any older ones will be temporarily kicked out. Another interesting fact about the mother kangaroo is that she is able to suckle two joeys at different developmental stages at the same time with milk that has different nutritional content, the New York Times has reported. Joeys grow quickly, though, and at 14 to 20 months for females or 2 to 4 years for males, they will be fully matured.

Classification/taxonomy The taxonomy of kangaroos, tree-kangaroos and rat-kangaroos, according to ITIS, is: Kingdom: Animalia Family: Macropodidae Subfamily: Macropodinae Genus & species: Macropus fuliginosus (western gray kangaroo; three subspecies), Macropus giganteus (eastern gray kangaroo; two subspecies), Macropus antilopinus (antilopine kangaroo), Macropus rufus (red kangaroo) Tree-kangaroos Subfamily: Macropodinae Genus: Dendrolagus Species: 12, including Dendrolagus bennettianus (Bennett's tree-kangaroo), Dendrolagus goodfellowi (Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo), Dendrolagus matschiei (Huon tree-kangaroo) and Dendrolagus spadix (Lowlands tree-kangaroo).

Rat-kangaroos Family: Potoridae Genera & species: Aepyprymnus rufescens (Rufous bettong or Rufous rat-kangaroo), Bettongia (four species of bettongs, or short-nosed rat-kangaroos), Caloprymnus campestris (desert rat-kangaroo) Musky rat-kangaroos Genus & species: Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Kangaroo ancestors There is a rich fossil record for kangaroo ancestors and ancient relatives; giant kangaroos plodded through the Pleistocene (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) and the Pliocene (5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago). And about 20 million years ago, tiny ancestors of modern kangaroos and a related group of kangaroos with fangs scurried through dense forests in northwestern Queensland, Australia, a region that is now arid outback.

In a study published in February 2016, scientists described a new kangaroo genus , Cookeroo, and two new species: Cookeroo bulwidarri, dated to about 23 million years ago, and Cookeroo hortusensis, which lived between 18 million and 20 million years ago. These ancient kangaroos' bodies probably measured about 17 to 20 inches (42 to 52 centimeters) long. C. bulwidarri and C. hortusensis didn't hop, navigating their forest home on all fours and sharing it with a diverse collection of animals: marsupial moles, feather-tailed possums, ancient koalas and crocodiles. Conservation status According to the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, 16 species of tree-kangaroos and rat-kangaroos are listed as either near threatened, threatened, vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The desert rat-kangaroo and the Nullarbor dwarf bettong are considered extinct. Studies show that global warming could also kill off the world's smallest kangaroo . The four species of great kangaroos are not endangered.

Kangaroos Kangaroos Section or Web Site 1 This site introduces some common facts about kangaroos that is essential to know before understanding what a kangaroo really is. It also includes highlighted vocabulary words about kangaroos which can be clicked on to attain the definition. Questions What are baby kangaroos called? Why doesn't the baby kangaroo fly out of his mom's pouch when they are hopping? What makes a kangaroo a marsupial? What makes a kangaroo nocturnal? Click here to learn more common facts about kangaroos. Section or Web Site 2 This site describes exactly what a kangaroo is. It also allows viewers to purchase several kangaroo items such as t-shirts, plush animals, and hand puppets. Questions What is a nickname given to kangaroos? Click here to understand what a kangaroo is. Section or Web Site 3 This site explains tells exactly where each type of kangaroo is found. Not only does it color coordinate the type of kangaroo and their locations, but it also tells the approximate size that each type of kangaroo will reach. Questions Approximately how tall can an Eastern Grey kangaroo grow?

What is an approximate number of Western Grey kangaroos found in Australia in 1996? How fast can an Eastern Grey kangaroo hop? Click here to see where the different types of kangaroos are found. Section or Web Site 4 This site lists some unusual facts that are very neat and important to know. Many of these facts are very unusual and may seem a bit overwhelming. Questions How far can a kangaroo jump? How many different types of kangaroos are there? What makes a kangaroo different than most other 4 legged animals? Click here to learn more unusual and interesting facts about kangaroos. Section or Web Site 5 This website discusses the largest and smallest types of kangaroos. It also introduces animals that are in the kangaroo family that look completely different from normal kangaroos. Questions What is the largest of the kangaroo family? What are the members of the extended kangaroo family? Click here to learn more about the sizes and extended families of kangaroos. Description of Hands-on Activity The students will lable the parts of a kangaroo such as it's pouch, it's tail, it's baby or joey. They will then color their kangaroo parts the color of their choice.

Photos Topic Page Lesson Plan 1 General Information Grade Level: Pre-K- Special Education Subject Area(s): SCIENCE - TECHNOLOGY Total Duration of Lesson: 35 – 40 minutes Title of Lesson - What is a Kangaroo? This lesson integrates science and technology to teach children about animals. The animal that is the focus of this lesson is the kangaroo. Primary Learning Outcome(s) (PLO) A. The student will use the computer to find information about kangaroos B. The student will identify characteristics of kangaroos and compare them to other animals C. The students will explain how the kangaroos eat, and list the foods it likes to eat. D. The student will use the mouse and point to pictures and words on the web site to find information about the kangaroo. Chart Review Activity As the teacher goes through each section of the web page, children are asked to recall information they learned about the animal. The teacher records the information on chart paper using colorful markers Hands-On-Activity The students will perform movements of animals, including the kangaroo, which are presented in a song. Technology Connection This is a computer-based activity.

Children will work in a small group with the teacher who will show them the web page that they have developed on the animal. The children will find information based on questions developed by the teacher that are related to each of the web sites. Note: Give enough information so that someone else could teach this lesson using your plan. Step One: Introduction Before showing the children your web site, spark their interest by asking them a riddle about the animal We are going to learn about an animal that lives in Australia that can hop really high and hold its baby with no hands. Can anyone guess what the animal might be? · What are some things you know about this animal? Let’s go to my web site to find out. Step Two: Teaching the Primary Learning Outcome(s). · Go through each section and review the web sites. Remember that young children have shorter attention spans, so highlight information from the web sites that relate to the questions you are asking. · Allow children to take turns using the mouse to point to pictures and clicking on links to find new information. Go to the web site and show the children your page. What are baby kangaroos called? Why doesn't the baby kangaroo fly out of his mom's pouch when they are hopping?

What makes a kangaroo a marsupial? What makes a kangaroo nocturnal? · Students will take turns finding information by pointing and clicking on links to find answers to the questions. · After each section review the information BRIEFLY with them about what they learned. As they tell you the information, write it on the chart. · Check for understanding before going on to the next section by doing an informal review. As they give you the answers, write them on the charts in brief phrases or sentences, i.e. Baby kangaroos are called joeys. Kangaroos sleep during the day and go out at night. Section 2 1. What is a kangaroo? 2. What is a nickname given to kangaroos? · Students will take turns finding information by pointing and clicking on links to find answers to the questions. · After each section review the information BRIEFLY with them about what they learned. As they tell you the information, write it on the chart. · Check for understanding before going on to the next section by doing an informal review. As they give you the answers, write them on the charts in brief phrases or sentences, i.e.

A Kangaroo is an animal that jumps Kangaroos can also be called roos. How fast can an Eastern Grey kangaroo hop? · Students will take turns finding information by pointing and clicking on links to find answers to the questions. · After each section review the information BRIEFLY with them about what they learned. As they tell you the information, write it on the chart. · Check for understanding before going on to the next section by doing an informal review. As they give you the answers, write them on the charts in brief phrases or sentences, i.e. An Eastern Grey kangaroo can grow up to 4 feet. An Eastern Grey kangaroo can hop close to 40 mph. How far can a kangaroo jump? How many different types of kangaroos are there? What makes a kangaroo different than most other 4-legged animals? · Students will take turns finding information by pointing and clicking on links to find answers to the questions. · After each section review the information BRIEFLY with them about what they learned. As they tell you the information, write it on the chart. · Check for understanding before going on to the next section by doing an informal review.

As they give you the answers, write them on the charts in brief phrases or sentences, i.e. A kangaroo can jump nearly 45 feet. A kangaroo is different than most other 4-legged animals because it cannot walk backwards. Section 5 What is the largest of the kangaroo family? What are the members of the extended kangaroo family? · Students will take turns finding information by pointing and clicking on links to find answers to the questions. · After each section review the information BRIEFLY with them about what they learned. As they tell you the information, write it on the chart. · Check for understanding before going on to the next section by doing an informal review. As they give you the answers, write them on the charts in brief phrases or sentences, i.e. The largest of the kangaroo family is the Red Kangaroo. The koala is another member of the kangaroo family. Estimated Time: (20 minutes) Step Three: Closure After going through the 5 sections of web sites and completing the chart, read the information about that they dictated.

This will help the children review and remember things that they thought important and interesting about the animal Assessing the Primary Learning Outcome Tell the students that we are about to sing a song. Example: Have the students stand up and spread out. Go through each animal movement that will be performed during the song. · Turn the song on and have the students create the movements that were previously taught. · Tell the students that they can even create the sounds that the animal makes if possible. (Ex. kangaroo- boing) ASSESSMENT: The RUBRIC will be included here: You will be evaluating the students by observing them and rating their ability to demonstrate knowledge by their responses or by the hands-on product they completed. Include a separate rubric for each student in the group. Complete the rubric as the students are working or after they have completed the assignments. Plan for Early Finishers Students who complete their activity will be allowed to go back to the computer and click on the web sites of their choice while the others complete their work. Accommodation This activity is a small group activity; therefore, the teacher will be able to help students with special needs by repeating information several times to clarify information.

The teacher will also be able to assist students in developing fine motor skills by helping students as they use glue, pencils, crayons, scissors, etc. What is a baby kangaroo called? | Reference.com What is a baby kangaroo called? A: Quick Answer A baby kangaroo is called a joey. The adult male kangaroos are called bucks, boomers or jacks. Adult females are known as does, flyers or jills. Full Answer According to Live Science, kangaroos are marsupials, meaning they give birth to young who are not fully developed. A newborn joey is often barely bigger than a grain of rice. The joey continues to grow inside the mother's pouch where it gains nourishment from milk and where it is sheltered and kept warm and protected for 120 to 400 days. A kangaroo grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet. Kangaroos travel together in a "mob" that ranges from 10 to over 100 kangaroos. If there is more than one male in a mob, they compete for dominance by boxing. Kangaroos are native to Australia, but they are adaptable to other climates.

Kangaroo | Basic Facts About Kangaroos | Defenders of Wildlife Home | Wild Places & Wildlife | Fact Sheets | Kangaroo | Basic Facts About Kangaroos Basic Facts About Kangaroos Kangaroos are the largest living marsupials from the family Macropodidae. There are four species commonly referred to as the kangaroo: the red kangaroo, the eastern grey kangaroo, the western grey kangaroo, and the antilopine kangaroo. © Matt Walker Diet Kangaroos are grazing herbivores, which means their diet consists mainly of grasses. They can survive long periods without water. Population The kangaroo is the national symbol of Australia. Eastern gray kangaroo (Macropus giganteus): 8,978,000. Western gray kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus): 1,774,000. Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus): 8,351,000. Range Kangaroos are found in Australia and Tasmania, as well as on surrounding islands. Kangaroos live in varied habitats, from forests and woodland areas to grassy plains and savannas .

Behavior Kangaroos live and travel in organized groups or "mobs," dominated by the largest male. Male kangaroos are called boomers, bucks or jacks; females are does, flyers, or jills, and the young ones are joeys. The collective noun for kangaroos is a mob, troop or court. Did You Know? Kangaroos are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion. Because of its long feet, a kangaroo cannot walk normally. To move at slow speeds, a kangaroo will use its tail to form a tripod with its two forelimbs. It then raises its hind feet forward, in a form of locomotion called "crawl-walking." Reproduction Usually, female kangaroos give birth to one joey at a time. Newborns weigh as little as 0.03 ounces at birth - as small as a lima bean! After birth, the joey crawls into its mother's pouch, where it will nurse and continue to grow and develop. Red kangaroo joeys do not leave the pouch for good until they are more than eight months old. Gray kangaroo joeys wait until they are almost a year old.

Kangaroo | Facts | Description | Habitat | Diet | Photos | Baby Description of the Kangaroo What Do Kangaroos Look Like? How Did the Kangaroo Get its Name? What Does 'Kangaroo' Mean? Pronounced Can-ga-roo The first description of the strange hopping animals of Australia was in 1629 by the Dutch navigator Francois Pelsaert while sailing off the western coast of Australia. He didn't give these animals a name. The first detailed accounts of this hopping animal came from members of the crew of Captain James Cook's voyage to Australia in 1770. Cook's ship, the Endeavour , was badly damaged while trying to cross the Great Barrier Reef and beached itself near modern-day Cooktown on the Queensland coast for urgent repairs. While there the crew came across many weird animals. They even shot a few kangaroos, noting that the animal's meat was quite delicious. Folklore About the Name 'Kangaroo' Popular legend has it that the first European explorers asked a local Australian aboriginal what the name of the hopping animal was. He replied 'kangaru'.

The explorers thought this was the name of the animal, but in actual fact what the aborigine was merely saying "hey I don't understand your question". This interpretation of how the name originated is not correct. It was Joseph Banks , a naturalist on the Endeavour, who wrote the following note in August 1770 "Quadrupeds we saw but few and were able to catch few of them that we did see. The largest was called by the natives kangooro". This was his interpretation of the word " gaNurru " used by the Guugu Yimidhirr aboriginal people who lived in the area where the Endeavour was beached. This is the word these Aboriginals used to describe the grey kangaroo. The scientific name for the kangaroo species is macropod which in Latin means 'large foot'. There are four types of kangaroos. These Red Kangaroo , Eastern Grey Kangaroo , Western Grey Kangaroo and the Antilopine Kangaroo . Kangaroos have short fur which varies in colour from orange-brown, to grey to dark brown. Males are larger than females.

Being marsupials, the females have pouches on their abdomen in which they carry and raise their young. Kangaroos live for 6 to 27 years. Eyes & Ears A kangaroo's eyes are located high on its skull and provide it with a 324° field of vision with a 25° overlap (humans have a 180° vision with 120° overlap). Its eyesight has a sensitivity comparable with that of rabbits , cattle or horses. Kangaroos have large pointed ears which can swivel independently of each other through 180°. Teeth The kangaroo has large outward projecting front incisor teeth which it uses to slice through grass and leaves on which it feeds. Large molars at the back of its mouth chop and grinds its food. The kangaroo replaces its teeth throughout its life. New teeth grow and slowly move forward replacing those in front which have been worn down or damaged. Four sets of replacement teeth are produced during the animal's lifetime, after which lost teeth are no longer replaced. If the animal hasn't died of old age by then, it will eventually die of starvation because it has no teeth left.

Sound (Vocalisation) Kangaroos have very small almost non-existence vocal chords. For this reason they have a very limited range of vocal sounds. A mother communicates with her offspring with clicking sounds. An alarmed kangaroo may hiss and growl. A kangaroo may display aggression by making a "ha" sound. A male kangaroo may also make a chuckling sound during courtship. Fore-Limbs (Arms) The kangaroo has short small forelimbs with hands on which there are five clawed fingers. These hands are used primarily for grasping and pulling down branches, fighting and grooming. They are also used for pentalpedaling (crawl-walking). The kangaroo has an unusual way of keeping cool. It licks its forelimbs covering them with saliva, and as the saliva evaporates its helps to cool its body. Hind Legs The kangaroo uses its powerful hind legs for hopping , its primary means of locomotion. It has extraordinarily large and long Achilles tendons that store elastic energy used to assist it in hopping. The kangaroo has long narrow feet with four toes each. Its feet have soft pads, like that of a cat or dog. The first toe no longer plays any important role.

The second toe is large and strong with a massive claw. It is used to provide traction when it is hopping. The third and fourth toes are fused, covered by skin, but still have two small claws. The kangaroo used these two smaller toes for grooming. While highly efficient at higher speeds the kangaroo's hind legs are ineffective at low speeds and hardly used. It uses pentapedaling locomotion at slow speeds. The kangaroo also uses its feet as an alarm by 'foot thumping' one or both of its feet. It is not certain if this behaviour is to alert other kangaroos of danger or as a warning to a predator to stay away, or both. Tail The kangaroo's large thick tail serves a number of purposes. Without it a kangaroo wouldn't be able to stand up, hop or move at slow speeds. It is also where a kangaroo stores excess fat for use in times of hardship. When a kangaroo stands, its tail acts as the third point of a tripod and prevents it from toppling over backwards. The tail also serves a similar purpose when a kangaroo springs up from a standstill position. While hopping, the tail acts are a counterbalance to its body, preventing the kangaroo from tipping forward.

At slow speeds the tail is a vital part of its pentapedaling movement. The kangaroo also stands up on its tail when it is fighting . Pouch Beings a marsupial mammal, the female kangaroo raises its offspring in a pouch and feeds it milk. The pouch is located on its abdomen. A young kangaroo, which is born very immature, crawls up from the mother's birth canal to the pouch where it attaches itself to a nipple and remains for over four months before it ventures out. Even adolescent kangaroos will hop back into their mothers pouch when frightened. Male kangaroos don't have pouches. Kangaroos do Environmentally Friendly Farts A kangaroo produces almost no methane (Ch4) gas which is produced in large quantities by cattle and sheep. The kangaroo's digestive system converts the hydrogen by-products of digestion to acetate which is then absorbed and used to provide energy. The kangaroo releases carbon dioxide (CO2) instead, which is 23 times less harmful to the environment than methane. Kangaroo Diet What Do a Kangaroos Eat? Kangaroos are herbivores. They eat mostly grass but they also eat flowers, leaves, ferns, moss and even insects.

They prefer to feed at night but also graze early in the morning and late evening when its cool. They rest in the shade during the day. The Kangaroo has a chambered stomach similar to that of a horse. Its U-shaped fore-stomach helps it digest fibrous plant material too tough for even goats to handle. The kangaroo regurgitates its food, chews it again and swallows it (chews the cud). This extra munching breaks down the rough fibres of their diet and greatly improves its digestion. The Kangaroo is well adapted to the dry hot Australian climate. It needs very little water extracting moisture it needs from its food. A kangaroo requires only 13% of the water required by a sheep. It can survive for months without drinking. Kangaroos also have an excellent sense of the weather and have been known to detect rainfall as far as 20 kilometers away and head towards it. Kangaroo Baby Kangaroo Reproduction A baby kangaroo, known as a joey, is extremely small when it is born – it is no larger than a jelly-bean (2cm) and weighs as little as one gram.

Imagine a human baby, whose mother is about the same size as a kangaroo, having a baby that was as large as a jelly-bean? (Human babies are about 3,500 times bigger!). The reason for this is because kangaroos belong to a group of animals known as marsupials . Marsupial babies have two stages of development. One inside the mother like placental mammals such as humans and the other outside the mother’s body in a special external pouch called a marsupium. Hence the name marsupial. Joey Crawling to Pouch Video Stage 1 – A kangaroo joey is born approximately 30 days after gestation. No larger than a jelly-bean (2 cm), it emerges from its mother’s birth canal blind, hairless, with stumpy forelimb and hardly any trace of its hind legs. Using its little forelimbs in a swimming motion, the young joey crawls laborious up its mother's fur to the pouch. This journey takes it about three minutes. The joey's journey is made entirely by itself. The mother does not assist it in any way.

Stage 2 – Once inside its mother's pouch the joey quickly attaches itself firmly to one of four nipples in the pouch. Once it has attached itself to its mother's nipple the young joey will stay hidden for up to six and a half months. Then it will start to tentatively pop its head out of its mother's pouch and observe the world around it. About two weeks later it will have gained enough confidence to venture out of the pouch and hop about close to its mother. However, if frightened it will immediately jump back into the safety of the pouch. By the time it is about 8 months old the joey no longer uses its mother's pouch. How Does a Kangaroo Move? Kangaroos Hop and Jump Locomotion by Hopping Kangaroo Hopping Video As with all macropods, kangaroos have very strong hind legs and large feet specially designed for hopping. It has perfected this mode of locomotion to make it one of the fastest and most efficient methods of traveling over the vast distances the animal travels in search of food. A kangaroo's legs have muscles just like all other animals. The difference is that it has evolved a very efficient and different means of moving around. It hops instead of walking.

It is the only large animal that uses this method of locomotion. The kangaroo's legs are specially designed for this purpose. Because of the unusual shape of these legs and its bulky tail, a kangaroo can't walk. Using this method of locomotion a Red Kangaroo, for example, usually hops at a speed of about 20-25 km/h. It can also speed away at over 70km/h and leap over 3 meter obstacles when required. These kangaroos have been recorded travelling up to 20 kilometres at speeds of 40km/h without a stopping for a rest. A single hop from a kangaroo can cover up to 8 meters! A human stride is only about 1 meter. Even an elephant can only manage about 2.5 meters. How Does it Work? A Kangaroo's legs look like powerful compression springs at work. When it hops its legs compress, bringing its toes towards its body. This looks like a spring being compressed. Then its toes move away from its body and its bounces up like a spring being released. The concept is similar to how a Pogo Stick works. The actual mechanics are not what it seems.

In fact the kangaroo gets its bounce from its Achilles tendons and ligaments in the back of its legs which store and return energy with each hop. These act like giant stretching and shrinking rubber bands. When its legs compress, its tendons get stretched. Then the energy stored in the stretched tendon, referred to as elastic potential energy , together with contracting muscles start pulling the bottom part of the leg downwards giving the animal a springing bounce back into the air. In this way a Kangaroo uses very little energy to move itself about. Kangaroo Hopping is Super Efficient Scientist suggest that the red kangaroo has the most efficient method of locomotion of any ground animal in the world. As it travels faster and faster it actually uses less and less energy. At speeds above 18kph, a kangaroo hoping uses less energy than any other animal of equal weight. If a foxhound were to chase a kangaroo, it would consume twice as much energy as the kangaroo and would tire out in less than 2 kilometres. The kangaroo, on the other hand, could go another 20 kilometres and still seems as fresh as when it started. Kangaroo Hopping is Silent Kangaroos move extremely quietly compared to other animals.

You would hardly notice a mob of kangaroos whooshing silently past you at top speed. An equivalent number or deer, which are similar in body sizes, would create quite a loud racket. The reason for this is the kangaroo's soft padded feet, relatively small footprint and the fact the only two feet touch the ground. How Kangaroos (Increase) Speed Kangaroos increase their speed by increasing the length of their hops, not the frequency of hops. When its wants to go slow it takes small hops. When it wants to go fast it takes giant hops. All other animals increase the speed of each step, with only a very small increase in their stride. How Fast Can a Kangaroo Go? The fastest kangaroo is the red kangaroo. It has been recorded at speeds of up to 60kmh. At this speed each of its "strides" is as much as 8 meters apart. (The record is an astonishing 13 meters). Because hopping is super-efficient, it can also maintain this speed for a long period of time without exhausting itself.

A Kangaroo Can 'Turn on a Dime' Because the kangaroo uses bi-pedal (two legs like humans) locomotion it can easily pivot on one foot and rapidly change direction. It is claimed that it can make a 180 degree turn in a single hop. Four-legged animals with their relatively long bodies cannot turn as rapidly. A Kangaroo Can't Move Backwards A Kangaroo can make very limited hops backwards when fighting. It cannot however actually do so as a means of locomotion. A Kangaroo Can't Walk A Kangaroo cannot walk forward or backwards by moving its legs independently. The kangaroo can, however actually move its legs independently it just can't do so for walking. A Kangaroo Can't Move its Legs Independently Did You Know The biggest non-marsupial animal to hop is the rabbit, which hops using all four legs. A kangaroo can move its legs independently when required but while hopping kangaroos usually move both hind legs together. The independent movement of its legs occur when the animal is turning while it is hopping, when it places one leg slightly in front of the other to execute a turn.

When it uses its feet in 'foot thumping' to warn other kangaroos of danger and when swimming. How High Can a Kangaroo Jump? The red kangaroo hold the high jump record too. It can jump as high as three meters. Hopping Doesn't Work Well at Slow Speeds At low speeds, however, a kangaroo is far less agile. Its super-efficient hopping legs let it down. (See next section to learn how a kangaroo moves at slow speeds). Does the Kangaroo have an Extra Leg? Kangaroo - Slow Speed Locomotion Kangaroo Pentapedaling Video Despite the kangaroo's reputation for gracefully hopping through the landscape, it actually spends more time moving at more leisurely pace of about 6 kilometres an hour as it feeds and socialises with other kangaroos. At this speed its movements are ungainly indeed. While highly efficient at higher speeds, a kangaroo's hind legs are cumbersome and almost useless at lower speeds. The kangaroo has adapted to this shortcoming by developing a fifth leg! Where is it, your wonder? It's the kangaroo's tail.

A kangaroo moves at low speeds by leaning forward on to its short front limbs, hoisting itself up with its tail and then shifting its hind legs forward. This method of movement is called 'pentapedal' (four limbs + tail) locomotion. Only the kangaroo does this. Recent research has shown that the kangaroo's tail with its 20 vertebrae acts like a fifth limb fulfilling the role of a normal leg. In this role it is capable of generating more forward force than all of the kangaroo's other limbs combined. Kangaroos Boxing Kangaroos Fighting Kangaroo Fight (Boxing) Video Kangaroos fight less than most other types of herbivores. A male kangaroo fights by kicking its opponent with its powerful hind legs and hitting with its front paws (which have sharp claws). These fights usually occur over mating rights and are more ritualistic than aggressive. Very rarely do kangaroos hurt each other during fights. Contrary to popular folklore a Kangaroo doesn't box like humans do. Kangaroos Can Swim They are Good Swimmers Kangaroo Swimming Video Kangaroos usually live in rather dry areas with few large bodies of water.

Oddly, however, they are very confident in water and are good swimmers. There are reports of numerous sightings of kangaroos swimming far out at sea. The kangaroo swims by 'dog-paddling' with all four limbs. It can swim at a reasonable speed. While usually a kangaroo moves its rear legs in union, keeping them together when it hops, while swimming its moves them independently. Are Kangaroos Nocturnal? When are Kangaroos Active? Kangaroos are categorised and being nocturnal animals. That is they are active mainly at night. Strictly speaking, however, this is not entirely correct. A more correct definition of kangaroo activity is that they are mainly crepuscular. That is that they are most active around dawn and dusk and this activity can continue into the night. Kangaroos usually rest during the day but it is not uncommon the see a mob of kangaroos moving through the countryside during the daytime. Red Kangaroo Description, Habitat, Diet Description The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest kangaroo in the world. It is also the world's largest marsupial.

An adult red kangaroo can measure up to 2 meters in height and weight as much as 90 kilos. It can hop at a top speed of over 60km/h, each leap covering a distance of up to 8 meters. It can also leap over obstacles 3 meters high. Red kangaroos have a more squared-off snout than other kangaroos. The male is usually reddish brown in colour. The female is blue-grey in colour and about half the size of the male. (See the photo on top of this web-page for an image of male and female kangaroos at a waterhole). They live in groups of between 2 to 4 members. A red kangaroo lives for about 22 years. The red kangaroo is mainly nocturnal, feeding at night and resting during the day. Habitat The red kangaroo lives in the arid and semi-arid interior of Australia. They prefer open plains, grasslands and desert with at least some trees for shelter from the hot sun. There are estimated to be about 15 million red kangaroos living in the wild. Diet The main diet of the red kangaroo is grasses and forbs .

Eastern Grey Kangaroo Description, Habitat, Diet Description Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is not as well knows as the red kangaroo but is the one most often seen by people. It is smaller than the red kangaroo, measuring about 1.5 meters in height and weighing about 60kgs. It is the second largest of kangaroo species. It has greyish fur. The eastern kangaroo can reach speeds of up to 50km/p and has a stride of nine meters. This kangaroo lives for up to 12years. The eastern grey kangaroo is mainly diurnal, that is it is actively predominately during day light. Habitat It lives in the more moist scrub-lands of eastern, southern and south western Australia. The population is estimated at about 13 million animals. The eastern grey kangaroo is nocturnal and mainly active at night, resting in the shade during the heat of the day. Diet The diet consists of grasses, herbs, leaves and other low, shrubby vegetation.

Western Grey Kangaroo Description, Habitat, Diet Description Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) is found in the south-western parts of Western Australia and South Australia. Is is about 1.3 meters tall and weighs up to 54kgs. It has pale grey to brown fur. The male western grey kangaroo is much larger than the female. The adult male has a strong, pungent odour, thus earning it the nickname of 'stinker'. It lives for about 10 years. The western grey kangaroo is mainly diurnal, that is it is actively predominately during day light. Habitat It lives in grasslands, open woodlands. The western grey kangaroo is most active from late afternoon to early morning, resting during the day in the shelter of trees and shrubs. Diet The diet of the western kangaroo consists mainly of grasses supplemented with leaves and tree bark. Antilopine Kangaroo Description, Habitat, Diet Description Antilopine (Macropus antilopinus) has a slender face and doe-like eyes hence its name which translates to 'antelope-like long-foot'.

It is about 1.2 meters tall and the can weigh up to 37kgs. Males which are larger than females are usually reddish-tan in colour. The females are grey. antilopine kangaroo is relatively common and not threatened. Its exactly numbers is not known. Habitat The antilopine kangaroo lives in topical woodlands in the northern parts of Australia where there is grass beneath the forest canopy. Diet It feeds during the cooler parts of the day and at night. Differences between Kangaroo and Wallaby Physical Differences The most noticeable difference between a kangaroo and wallaby is size. In general a kangaroo is larger than a wallaby but sizes can overlap. Another visual difference is that because a kangaroo is built for speed on open terrain and its hind legs are longer between the ankles and knees compared to a wallaby which usually prefers forested areas where it needs to be more agile to navigate through a forest. Scientific Differences A scientific way to differentiate the two is to examine their teeth. The wallaby which lives in forests and feeds on leaves has flat grinding molars (back teeth) with flat crowns and smaller front cutting teeth.

The kangaroo on the other hand which feeds mostly on grasses has more pronounced front cutting teeth and its back teeth have curved crowns with ridges better suited for cutting and shearing grass. Kangaroo - Conservation Status Is the Kangaroo Endangered? The Australian government estimates that there are 50-60 million kangaroos. Because of their large numbers and because they can sometimes cause crop damage and deplete farmer's water reserves the government allows limited kangaroo culling and harvesting. Our Other Fantastic Pages Interesting Kangaroo Facts Swamp Wallaby Rat Kangaroo The Red Kangaroo is the largest living marsupial and can grow to two metres (!). It weighs up to 90 kg (200 pounds). Top speed: over 60 km/h (close to 40 mph). A Red Kangaroo can leap eight metres far (25 feet) and three metres (10 feet) high! (If it wants to.

At normal hopping speed they would cover more like 1.5 - 2 metres or 5 - 6 feet in a leap, at a speed of about 25 km/h or 15 mph.) The Eastern Grey grows to 1.5 - 1.8 metres and a big male can weigh over 60 kg (130 pounds). Females are much smaller than the males. Eastern Greys can jump as well as the big Reds: up to nine metres (29 feet) in one bound, and can reach speeds of nearly 50 km/h (30 mph). The Western Grey is slightly smaller and lighter (a good 50 kg or 110 ponds for a large male). Wallabies are generally smaller, the biggest ones weighing about 25 kg (55 pounds) The other, smaller macropods come in all shapes and sizes, some weighing as little as 500 g. Kangaroos are the only large animals that move by hopping. They cannot move backwards. All macropods have very strong hind legs and large feet.

(Only the tree kangaroos have strong front legs as well, and smaller back legs compared to other kangaroos.) The large and strong tail is used for balance when hopping, and as fifth limb when moving about on all four legs, er, five. Hopping is a fast and energy efficient method of travel, designed to cover huge distances in a land that offers little food.or water. Odd kangaroo fact: on land kangaroos can't move their hind legs independently, only together. But when they are swimming (they are good swimmers) they kick each leg independently. Kangaroo With Joey Wallaby With Joey All marsupials have a pouch in which their young live, drink milk and develop until they are big enough to face the world. The pouches of all macropods open forwards (whereas the pouches of koalas or wombats open backwards). Like all marsupials baby kangaroos are born at a very early stage of development, 31 to 36 days after gestation. If you compare that to humans it would be at the seventh week of a pregnancy. At that stage the joey is not much more than an embryo, a pink hairless tiny worm.

Only the front legs are a bit developed, just enough to allow the embryo to make its way into the pouch and attach to one of the four teats. Initially the joey is permanently attached to the teat. As it grows and grows some hairs it also learns to let go and reattach itself. It takes several months until the young is covered in fur, and mature enough to leave the pouch for the first time. In Western Greys for example this takes 9 months! During the following months the joey will spend more and more time outside, exploring its surroundings. Eventually it will permanently leave the pouch. Even after the joey has "moved out" it will continue to drink milk from the pouch. Weaning takes a few more months. By the time it is fully weaned a grey kangaroo may be over 12 months old! Interesting fact: kangaroos mate again as soon after a joey is borne, but the development of the second embryo stops, or rather, is paused after a few days. So in a way kangaroos are permanently pregnant. If a joey is lost, or if one has grown up and left the pouch, they can immediately give birth again.

Even more interesting fact: when kangaroos (after a joey has left the pouch) give birth again, one of their teats will continue to produce a high carbohydrate milk for the older joey. The new baby will attach itself to another teat that produces a different kind of milk with a higher fat content. Pretty amazing... A female kangaroo can have three babies at the same time: an older joey living outside the pouch but still drinking milk, a young one in the pouch attached to a teat, and an embryo awaiting birth. Because of this very efficient way of bringing up their young, kangaroos raise on average three young every two years, even though it takes such a long time for the joey to become independent. Koala Express: Interesting and amazing facts about the Australian kangaroo A male kangaroo is called a boomer A female kangaroo is called a flyer A baby kangaroo is called a joey A Kangaroo is a marsupial mammal. It is a macropod which means "big foot". There are over 40 different types (species) of Kangaroo. The smaller ones are usually called Wallabies. The largest is the Red Kangaroo.

It stands taller than a man and can weigh 85 kg's. It is the largest marsupial in the world. On the Australian coat of arms the Emu and the Kangaroo were selected as symbols of Australia to represent the country progress because they are always moving forward and never move backwards. Kangaroos are the largest marsupial mammals. They belong to the Macropodidae family. Baby kangaroos Kangaroos usually have one young annually. The young kangaroo, or joey, is born at a very immature stage when it is only about 2 cm long and weighs less than a gram. Immediately after birth it crawls up the mother's body and enters the pouch. The baby attaches its mouth to one of four teats, which then enlarges to hold the young animal in place. After several weeks, the joey becomes more active and gradually spends more and more time outside the pouch, which it leaves completely between 7 and 10 months of age. Female kangaroos enter into heat within a few days after giving birth they mate and conceive, but after only one week's development does the microscopic embryo enter a dormant state that lasts until the previous young leaves the pouch.

The development of the second embryo then resumes and proceeds to birth after a gestation period of about 30 days. Note: There are 47 varieties of kangaroo, ranging in size from the two-pound rock wallaby to the 6-foot, 300-pound red kangaroo. Kangaroos are FAST! The Kangaroo moves by hopping on its powerful hind legs. It uses its thick long tail to balance its body while hopping. A kangaroo can hop at up to 60kmh (40mph). It can also leap over obstacles up to 3m (10ft) high. Because of the unusual shape of its legs and its bulky tail a kangaroo can't walk or move backwards very easily. Kangaroos are found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are grazing animals that eat grass, young shoots and leaves of heath plants and grass trees. Kangaroos need very little water to survive and are capable of going for months without drinking at all. The kangaroo usually rests in the shade during the day and comes out to eat in the late afternoon and night when its much cooler. It eats mostly grass. It needs very little water to survive.

It can survive without drinking for months. Reproduced with permission from the Lonely Planet website © 2010 Lonely Planet. Image surfsidebackpackers.com.au Groups of kangaroos are called 'mobs' When a kangaroo is moving slowly the tail is used as an extra leg and supports the kangaroo when it is standing on its hind legs. Most kangaroos can only move both back legs together and not one at a time. Kangaroos have good eyesight but only respond to moving objects. They have excellent hearing and can swivel their large ears in all directions to pick up sounds. Kangaroos are social animals that live in groups or "mobs" of at least two or three individuals and up to 100 kangaroos. Note Kangaroos usually have one young annually. The joey remains in the pouch for nine months and continues to suckle until twelve to seventeen months of age. Kangaroos can have 3 babies at one time. One becoming mature and just out of the pouch, another developing in the pouch and one embryo in pause mode. There are 4 teats in the pouch and each provides different milk for the different stages of development.

Some kangaroo facts and figures Common name / Scientific name / Height Weight Eastern Grey Macropus giganteus 3 - 8ft (0.9 - 2.4m) 40 - 200 lbs (18 - 95kg) Red kangaroo Macropus Rufus 3 - 9ft (0.9 - 2.7m) 40 - 150 lbs (18 - 70kg) Western Grey Macropus fuliginosus 3 - 7ft (0.9 - 2.1m) 63 - 120lbs (28 - 54kg) Reproduced with permission from the Lonely Planet website © 2010 Lonely Planet. Image surfsidebackpackers.com.au Eastern Grey Kangaroo Sometimes known as the "Forester" the Eastern grey kangaroo is the heaviest marsupial in the world. Males are larger than females (rarely exceed 45kg).Eastern grey kangaroo lives in small groups but may congregate in large numbers when feeding. It is usually active from late afternoon until early morning, resting in the shade of trees and shrubs during the day.

Kangaroos are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion. The comfortable hopping speed for a red kangaroo is about 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph), but speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph) can be attained over short distances, while it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi). This fast and energy-efficient method of travel has evolved because of the need to regularly cover large distances in search of food and water, rather than the need to escape predators. At slow speeds, it employs pentapedal locomotion, using its tail to form a tripod with its two forelimbs while bringing its hind feet forward. Kangaroos are adept swimmers, and often flee into waterways if threatened by a predator. If pursued into the water, a kangaroo may use its forepaws to hold the predator underwater so as to drown it. They are able to cleared lengths of 25 feet (8 meters) and heights of 9 feet (3 meters).Eastern grey kangaroos generally give birth to one infant at a time but twins have been reported.

A single young weighing less than 0.35oz (1gr) is born after a pregnancy of 36 days. The joey leaves the pouch for short periods in about nine months of age, but continues to be suckled until it is about 18 months of age. Beware! If pursued into the water, a kangaroo may use its forepaws to hold the predator underwater so as to drown it. They are able to cleared lengths of 25 feet (8 meters) and heights of 9 feet (3 meters).Eastern grey kangaroos generally give birth to one infant at a time but twins have been reported. A single young weighing less than 0.35oz (1gr) is born after a pregnancy of 36 days. The joey leaves the pouch for short periods in about nine months of age, but continues to be suckled until it is about 18 months of age. Red Kangaroo The Red kangaroo is the largest marsupial in the world. The female is often called the "blue flyer" because of her blue-grey fur.

In the eastern part males are usually red (pale red to brick red) and females a bluish grey, elsewhere, both sexes may be reddish/brown. Red kangaroos normally move in groups ("mobs") ranging from a few dozen to several hundred animals. The Red kangaroo mob usually consists of a dominant male, a number of adult females, and juveniles of both sexes. Red kangaroo females are sexually mature at about eighteen months, males at about two years. Red kangaroo joeys remain in the pouch for 5-6 months. Over a period of 2-3 months they gradually spend more time away from the pouch usually weaned by one year of age, but normally remain close to the mother for another 6 months. Western Grey Kangaroo The Western grey kangaroo looks much like the Eastern grey kangaroo, and for many years was treated as subspecies. They vary in color, being anywhere from greyish-brown to chocolate brown. The muzzle is covered in fine hair. The western group is slender and greyish-brown in color, and the southern group is stockier and brown in color. Western grey kangaroo males are known as stinkers due to their strong, curry-like smell.

Western grey kangaroos are very vocal. The mothers communicate to the joeys with a series of clicks. Western grey kangaroos have no particular breeding season, although most joeys are born in the summer. The Western grey kangaroo is related to the Eastern grey and Red kangaroos. Where they live Eastern grey kangaroo estimate population in 2011 was 16,057,783 Eastern grey kangaroos are distributed throughout most of the eastern third of the Australian continent, especially along the coast in damp forest and scrub. It has increased in numbers since European settlement due to pasture improvement, and the provision of watering points for stock. Red kangaroo estimated population in 2011 was 11,514,298 Red kangaroos are distributed throughout inland Australia and occupy mixed habitats of open shrub lands, grasslands, male scrubs, Mulga country, and desert absent from the wetter areas of eastern, northern and south-western Australia. Western Grey kangaroo estimated population in 2011 was 2,348,393 Western grey kangaroos inhabit 60% of western and southern Australia.

The southern group can be found in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. They live in woodlands, open forests, coastal heath land, open grassland, scrubland and also can be found on city outskirts and golf courses. Kangaroo numbers are increasing throughout Australia. They are now found in greater numbers than prior European settlement due to provision of pasture and additional water points. Since the extermination of its natural predator, the Tasmanian wolf, and because of its rapid reproductive abilities this animal has overpopulated. Kanagaroo feeding facts All kangaroos have a chambered stomach similar to cattle and sheep. They regurgitate the vegetation they have eaten, chew it as cud, and then swallow it again for final digestion. The Red kangaroo grazes during the night on a wide variety of grasses and low herbaceous plants, though sometimes this grazing period starts late evening and ends early morning When water is available it will drink but, if it obtains sufficient green food, it does not need to do so. Western grey kangaroos feed mostly on grass but will browse upon certain native shrubs. They are strictly herbivorous and use microorganisms in the caecum to break down the cellulose of these plants.

They can survive on plants high in fiber but low in nitrogen, and require very little water. Beware! The kangaroo fights by attacking its opponent with its front paws (which have sharp claws) or by kicking them with its powerful hind legs. Have you heard of Kanga the kangaroo? The cutest little kangaroo in Australia you can own! Kangaroo facts Kangaroo Facts Kangaroo information, facts and kangaroo figures On the Australian coat of arms the Emu and the Kangaroo were selected as symbols of Australia to represent the country progress because they are always moving forward and never move backwards. Kangaroos are the largest marsupial mammals. They belong to the Macropodidae family. Kangaroo moves by hopping on its hind legs using its tail for steering and balancing while hopping at speed up to 40mph/60kmh. When kangaroo is moving slowly the tail is used as an extra leg and supports the kangaroo when it is standing on its hind legs. Most kangaroos can only move both back legs together and not one at a time. Kangaroos are found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea.

They are grazing animals that eat grass, young shoots and leaves of heath plants and grass trees. Kangaroos need very little water to survive and are capable of going for months without drinking at all. A male kangaroo is called a buck. It is also commonly called a "boomer" or an "old man". A female kangaroo is called a doe, or a flyer. A baby kangaroo is called a joey. Kangaroos have good eyesight but only respond to moving objects. They have excellent hearing and can swivel their large ears in all directions to pick up sounds. Kangaroos are social animals that live in groups or "mobs" of at least two or three individuals and up to 100 kangaroos. Kangaroos usually have one young annually. The joey remains in the pouch for nine months and continues to suckle until twelve to seventeen months of age. Kangaroos can have 3 babies at one time. One becoming mature and just out of the pouch, another developing in the pouch and one embryo in pause mode. There are 4 teats in the pouch and each provides different milk for the different stages of development.

Kangaroo Facts and Figures Red kangaroo Western Grey Sometimes known as the "Forester" the Eastern grey kangaroo is the heaviest marsupial in the world. Males are larger than females (rarely exceed 45kg). Eastern grey kangaroo lives in small groups but may congregate in large numbers when feeding. It is usually active from late afternoon until early morning, resting in the shade of trees and shrubs during the day. Strong, muscular legs propel the animal across the grasslands at speeds of 40 mph (60kmh). They are able to cleared lengths of 25 feet (8 meters) and heights of 9 feet (3 meters). Eastern grey kangaroos generally give birth to one infant at a time but twins have been reported. A single young weighing less than 0.35oz (1gr) is born after a pregnancy of 36 days. The joey leaves the pouch for short periods in about nine months of age, but continues to be suckled until it is about 18 months of age. Red kangaroo is the largest marsupial in the world. The female is often called the "blue flyer" because of her blue-grey fur.

In the eastern part males are usually red (pale red to brick red) and females a bluish grey, elsewhere, both sexes may be reddish/brown. Red kangaroos normally move in groups ("mobs") ranging from a few dozen to several hundred animals. The Red kangaroo mob usually consists of a dominant male, a number of adult females, and juveniles of both sexes. Red kangaroo females are sexually mature at about eighteen months, males at about two years. Red kangaroo joeys remain in the pouch for 5-6 months. Over a period of 2-3 months they gradually spend more time away from the pouch usually weaned by one year of age, but normally remain close to the mother for another 6 months. Western grey kangaroo looks much like the Eastern grey kangaroo, and for many years was treated as subspecies. They vary in color, being anywhere from greyish-brown to chocolate brown. The muzzle is covered in fine hair. The western group is slender and greyish-brown in color, and the southern group is stockier and brown in color with bluish-grey underpants. Western grey kangaroo males are known as stinkers due to their strong, curry-like smell.

Western grey kangaroos are the very vocal. The mothers communicate to the joeys with a series of clicks. Western grey kangaroos have no particular breeding season, although most joeys are born in the summer. Western grey kangaroo is related to the Eastern grey and Red kangaroos. Kangaroo habitat facts Eastern grey kangaroo estimate population in 1996 was 10'000'000 Eastern grey kangaroos distributed throughout most of the eastern third of the Australian continent, especially along the coast in damp forest and scrub. It has increased in numbers since European settlement due to pasture improvement, and the provision of watering points for stock. Red kangaroo estimate population in 1996 was 10'000'000 Red kangaroos are distributed throughout inland Australia and occupy mixed habitats of open shrub lands, grasslands, malee scrubs, Mulga country, and desert absent from the wetter areas of eastern, northern and south-western Australia. Western grey kangaroo estimate population in 1996 was 3'000'000 Western grey kangaroos inhabit 60% of western and southern Australia.

The southern group can be found in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. They live in woodlands, open forests, coastal heath land, open grassland, scrubland and also can be found on city outskirts and golf courses. Kangaroo numbers are increasing throughout Australia. They are now found in greater numbers than prior European settlement due to provision of pasture and additional water points. Since the extermination of its natural predator, the Tasmanian wolf, and because of its rapid reproductive abilities this animal has overpopulated. Kangaroo feeding facts All kangaroos have a chambered stomach similar to cattle and sheep. They regurgitate the vegetation they have eaten, chew it as cud, and then swallow it again for final digestion. The Red kangaroo grazes during the night on a wide variety of grasses and low herbaceous plants, though sometimes this grazing period starts late evening and ends early morning When water is available it will drink but, if it obtains sufficient green food, it does not need to do so. Western grey kangaroos feed mostly on grass but will browse upon certain native shrubs. They are strictly herbivorous and use microorganisms in the caecum to break down the cellulose of these plants.

They can survive on plants high in fiber but low in nitrogen, and require very little water.

Question: What is the name used for the young of a kangaroo?
Answer: Joey