Kangaroo

Kangaroos are Macropus, is derived from two Greek words meaning long foot (makros pous). Their most distinctive characteristics are their large hind legs, long feet, and large tail. Kangaroos are unique in that they are the only animals of their size that use hopping as their primary means of movement. • Scientific Name: Macropus • Common Names: Kangaroo, Roo • Order: Diprotodontia • Basic Animal Group: Mammals • Distinguishing Characteristics: Large hind legs, long feet, large tail and pouch (females) • Size: 3 - 7 feet in height • Weight: 50 - 200 pounds • Life Span: 8 - 23 years • Diet: Herbivore • Habitat: Forests, plains, savannas, and woodlands in Australia and Tasmania • Population: Approximately 40 - 50 million • Conservation Status: Least concern • Fun Fact: Like camels, kangaroos may go for periods of time without drinking water. Description Kangaroos are best known for their powerful hind legs, their large feet, and their long powerful tails. They use their legs and feet to hop around, which is their basic means of locomotion, and their tails for balance. Like other marsupium and it performs a number of functions. The female kangaroo's breasts, which she uses to nurse her young, are inside her pouch. The pouch also functions similarly to an incubator to allow a joey (baby) to fully develop. Lastly, the pouch has a safety function in that it helps to protect the female's young from predators. Kangaroos are usually between 3 to 7 feet in height. They can weigh up ...

Why subscribe? • The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe • Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5' • Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews • Issues delivered straight to your door or device 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 Dendrolagusgenus, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. And, 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 ...

Kangaroos are large marsupials, which means that they have a pouch to carry their young, located on its lower abdomen. They have fur color ranging from red, to tan, to gray, and have a cream-colored belly. Their long, muscular tails are used to help them balance when hopping, their short front paws are used to grab things, and their long rear legs are used to jump about. Interesting Facts About the Kangaroo Marsupials as a whole are interesting, and kangaroos in particular are figureheads for this class of mammals. In addition to the unique trait of carrying their young in a pouch, kangaroos posses a number of impressive survival traits. • Macropod Family – Kangaroos belong to the family Macropodidae, which means “large foot.” They have a number of close relatives that resemble smaller versions of kangaroos. Some of these Macropod relatives include • Massive Marsupials – One species of kangaroo, the red kangaroo, is the largest marsupial in the world! These massive kangaroos can stand nearly 6 ft. tall, and weigh up to 190 lbs. when fully grown. • Not Ready! – When a female kangaroo is pregnant, she can delay the gestation, or development, of the baby. This frequently happens when resources are scarce, and the young is not likely to survive. • Population – In Australia, kangaroos are incredibly prolific. In fact, it is estimated that there are about 60 million kangaroos across the continent. This means that kangaroos outnumber humans in Australia by two to one. There are t...

Few animals symbolize their continent quite like kangaroos, which serve as global icons for Australia. Despite their international fame, kangaroos are also commonly misunderstood, both at home and abroad. Did you know, for instance, that the animal we've come to revere as cute and cuddly is considered a pest by its human neighbors? They're widely disliked by farmers especially because they sneak into pastures and eat livestock feed. Jami Tarris / Getty Images Kangaroos are the largest marsupials alive today. The largest species of kangaroo (by weight) is the red kangaroo, which can stand more than five feet tall—not including a three-foot-long tail—and weigh 180 pounds. Eastern gray kangaroos can be taller, with some adult males reaching nearly seven feet, but they're also leaner, only weighing up to 120 pounds. Red, eastern gray, and western gray kangaroos are the most common species. Tier Und Naturfotografie J und C Sohns / Getty Images Kangaroos belong to the genus Macropus, which means "large foot." Other members of that genus include several smaller but similar-looking species, but the distinction between them is not exceedingly clear. The smallest members of the genus are wallabies, while species of intermediate size are called wallaroos. The term "kangaroo" is sometimes used broadly for any of these animals, although it's generally reserved for the four largest: red, eastern gray, western gray, and antilopine kangaroos. It's also used for tree kangaroos, which belon...

Next stop, Down Under! Join us as we learn all about one of Australia’s most amazing animals with our cool kangaroo facts… Fast kangaroo facts Scientific name: Macropus Family: Macropodidae Classification: Mammal IUCN status: Least concern Lifespan (in wild): Up to 23 years Weight: Around 90kg Body size: Over 2m in height Top speed: 56km/h Diet: Herbivore – mainly grasses Habitat: Australian deserts and grasslands Kangaroos belong to the animal family Macropodidae , which literally means ‘ big foot .’ Thanks to their large feet and powerful hind legs, kangaroos can travel more than 56km/h and leap more than 9m in a single bound – that’s more than six ten-year-olds lying head to toe! They have small front legs and a long, strong tail which helps them balance while jumping. The tallest of all our planet’s marsupials, these amazing animals can stand over two meters tall . Kangaroos are found in Eastern troops or herds (or ‘mobs’ by Australians), typically made up of 50 or more animals. If threatened, kangaroos pound the ground with their strong feet to alert and warn the others in the group. And these cool creatures aren’t to be messed with – when they fight, they punch and kick with powerful blows, and will sometimes even bite. Males will often fight each other over access to females. Female kangaroos sport a pouch on their belly (made by a fold in the skin) to cradle baby kangaroos, called joeys. Newborn joeys are tiny, measuring just 2.5 centimetres, or about the size of a...

Kangaroos are Macropus, is derived from two Greek words meaning long foot (makros pous). Their most distinctive characteristics are their large hind legs, long feet, and large tail. Kangaroos are unique in that they are the only animals of their size that use hopping as their primary means of movement. • Scientific Name: Macropus • Common Names: Kangaroo, Roo • Order: Diprotodontia • Basic Animal Group: Mammals • Distinguishing Characteristics: Large hind legs, long feet, large tail and pouch (females) • Size: 3 - 7 feet in height • Weight: 50 - 200 pounds • Life Span: 8 - 23 years • Diet: Herbivore • Habitat: Forests, plains, savannas, and woodlands in Australia and Tasmania • Population: Approximately 40 - 50 million • Conservation Status: Least concern • Fun Fact: Like camels, kangaroos may go for periods of time without drinking water. Description Kangaroos are best known for their powerful hind legs, their large feet, and their long powerful tails. They use their legs and feet to hop around, which is their basic means of locomotion, and their tails for balance. Like other marsupium and it performs a number of functions. The female kangaroo's breasts, which she uses to nurse her young, are inside her pouch. The pouch also functions similarly to an incubator to allow a joey (baby) to fully develop. Lastly, the pouch has a safety function in that it helps to protect the female's young from predators. Kangaroos are usually between 3 to 7 feet in height. They can weigh up ...

Next stop, Down Under! Join us as we learn all about one of Australia’s most amazing animals with our cool kangaroo facts… Fast kangaroo facts Scientific name: Macropus Family: Macropodidae Classification: Mammal IUCN status: Least concern Lifespan (in wild): Up to 23 years Weight: Around 90kg Body size: Over 2m in height Top speed: 56km/h Diet: Herbivore – mainly grasses Habitat: Australian deserts and grasslands Kangaroos belong to the animal family Macropodidae , which literally means ‘ big foot .’ Thanks to their large feet and powerful hind legs, kangaroos can travel more than 56km/h and leap more than 9m in a single bound – that’s more than six ten-year-olds lying head to toe! They have small front legs and a long, strong tail which helps them balance while jumping. The tallest of all our planet’s marsupials, these amazing animals can stand over two meters tall . Kangaroos are found in Eastern troops or herds (or ‘mobs’ by Australians), typically made up of 50 or more animals. If threatened, kangaroos pound the ground with their strong feet to alert and warn the others in the group. And these cool creatures aren’t to be messed with – when they fight, they punch and kick with powerful blows, and will sometimes even bite. Males will often fight each other over access to females. Female kangaroos sport a pouch on their belly (made by a fold in the skin) to cradle baby kangaroos, called joeys. Newborn joeys are tiny, measuring just 2.5 centimetres, or about the size of a...

Why subscribe? • The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe • Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5' • Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews • Issues delivered straight to your door or device 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 Dendrolagusgenus, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. And, 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 ...

Few animals symbolize their continent quite like kangaroos, which serve as global icons for Australia. Despite their international fame, kangaroos are also commonly misunderstood, both at home and abroad. Did you know, for instance, that the animal we've come to revere as cute and cuddly is considered a pest by its human neighbors? They're widely disliked by farmers especially because they sneak into pastures and eat livestock feed. Jami Tarris / Getty Images Kangaroos are the largest marsupials alive today. The largest species of kangaroo (by weight) is the red kangaroo, which can stand more than five feet tall—not including a three-foot-long tail—and weigh 180 pounds. Eastern gray kangaroos can be taller, with some adult males reaching nearly seven feet, but they're also leaner, only weighing up to 120 pounds. Red, eastern gray, and western gray kangaroos are the most common species. Tier Und Naturfotografie J und C Sohns / Getty Images Kangaroos belong to the genus Macropus, which means "large foot." Other members of that genus include several smaller but similar-looking species, but the distinction between them is not exceedingly clear. The smallest members of the genus are wallabies, while species of intermediate size are called wallaroos. The term "kangaroo" is sometimes used broadly for any of these animals, although it's generally reserved for the four largest: red, eastern gray, western gray, and antilopine kangaroos. It's also used for tree kangaroos, which belon...

Kangaroos are large marsupials, which means that they have a pouch to carry their young, located on its lower abdomen. They have fur color ranging from red, to tan, to gray, and have a cream-colored belly. Their long, muscular tails are used to help them balance when hopping, their short front paws are used to grab things, and their long rear legs are used to jump about. Interesting Facts About the Kangaroo Marsupials as a whole are interesting, and kangaroos in particular are figureheads for this class of mammals. In addition to the unique trait of carrying their young in a pouch, kangaroos posses a number of impressive survival traits. • Macropod Family – Kangaroos belong to the family Macropodidae, which means “large foot.” They have a number of close relatives that resemble smaller versions of kangaroos. Some of these Macropod relatives include • Massive Marsupials – One species of kangaroo, the red kangaroo, is the largest marsupial in the world! These massive kangaroos can stand nearly 6 ft. tall, and weigh up to 190 lbs. when fully grown. • Not Ready! – When a female kangaroo is pregnant, she can delay the gestation, or development, of the baby. This frequently happens when resources are scarce, and the young is not likely to survive. • Population – In Australia, kangaroos are incredibly prolific. In fact, it is estimated that there are about 60 million kangaroos across the continent. This means that kangaroos outnumber humans in Australia by two to one. There are t...