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Photo: Chaffeezoo |
The kangaroo is a well-known animal in Australia, even depicted prominently in the national coat of arms.
Australia is a paradise for kangaroos, boasting over 50 species. They exhibit significant morphological differences, with sizes varying greatly. The Red Kangaroo and the Eastern Grey Kangaroo can be considered “giants,” reaching lengths of up to 2.76 meters and weighing between 75-80 kg. In contrast, the smallest kangaroo species, such as the Pygmy Possum, measures only about 5 cm in length and weighs around 4 grams. Some kangaroo species, like the rock wallaby, are highly adapted to withstand drought and heat, and even have the ability to drink seawater.
Kangaroos are excellent jumpers, relying on their strong hind legs to hop in search of food. They possess a long and powerful tail that helps maintain balance when sitting, creating a sturdy tripod posture with their legs. When jumping, the tail acts as a counterbalance, functioning like a “springboard” that allows the kangaroo to jump both far and fast. At high speeds, they can reach up to 60 km/h and leap over obstacles as high as 2-3 meters or as far as 7-8 meters. Interestingly, the slower a kangaroo moves, the more energy it expends; only when it accelerates does its energy consumption decrease.
Kangaroos inhabit grasslands and deserts. During droughts, they can conserve water and dissipate heat efficiently, and they even have the remarkable ability to dig deep wells, up to about 1 meter, in the desert for self-preservation. Typically, kangaroos are gentle and obedient creatures that do not initiate attacks. However, when provoked, they can become fiercely combative.
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| Image of a joey in the pouch of a Macropodidae (Photo: Animaldiversity) |
Kangaroos give birth to live young but lack a placenta. The mother is pregnant for only 4-5 weeks before giving birth to a tiny joey the size of a pencil tip, measuring about 2 cm and weighing between 0.5-0.75 grams; it is hairless and shapeless at birth. Thanks to the mother’s licking, the newborn uses its forelimbs and keen sense of smell to crawl into the mother’s pouch, where it latches onto a teat to “eat well and grow fast.” After about 200 days, the joey can peek its head out or even venture out to explore. However, at the first sign of danger, it quickly retreats back into the safety of the pouch, and the mother will hop away to escape. Once the joey reaches maturity and can fend for itself, it is no longer allowed in the pouch.
The reproductive capabilities of kangaroos are astounding. When one joey in the pouch becomes independent and starts foraging, the mother can give birth to a second joey and simultaneously be pregnant with a third.
According to fossil records, kangaroos have existed in Australia for about 25 million years.
