Australian Marsupials - Kangaroo
Eastern Grey Kangaroo with Joey in Pouch
Kangaroo is Uniquely Australian
The Kangaroo is a uniquely Australian animal.
It may surprise you to know that there are over 50 kinds of animals that can be described as Kangaroos.
Starting from one of the smallest which is arguably the potoroo or Rat Kangaroo through the Wallaby species right up to the big boy of the Kangaroo family - Red Kangaroo.
The male Red Kangaroo can grow to stand over 6 feet (close to 2 meters) and weighing in at 200 pounds (close to 90 kg).
The female Red Kangaroo is nowhere near the size of the male of the species.
Kangaroos are also marsupials. This means that the female raises its young in a pouch attached to the Mother Kangaroo's tummy!
The embryonic joey has no back legs and starts on a journey that could cost its life.
The Mother Kangaroo sensing birth is imminent assumes a position on it's back with its legs apart and Tummy exposed.
The joey is born normally (sort of) and then the journey of a lifetime begins!
Joey on Kangaroo Mothers Teat
A Joey's first trip. An amazing journey and fraught with danger!
When the baby Kangaroo (Joey) is born it is hairless and blind and still very much in an embryonic state.
In this state, it has to survive a journey that it alone can travel. If the Joey falls there is no help, it will die!
Somehow through instinct, they climb up, it has been likened to swimming, as the mother will lick the fur and the joey to keep it moist, and somehow manage to find there way to a 'pouch' situated on the Mothers tummy. The journey over a distance of approximately 20cm can take up to 3 minutes to complete!
Once In the pouch, the Joey will find a 'teat' (the mother kangaroo has four) and feeds on its mothers milk coming from this teat until it reaches enough maturity to venture away from the pouch.
Apparently, the teat swells in the Joey's mouth to stop it coming out of the Joey's mouth and not be able to feed.
Even when the young Joey leaves the pouch they can still be seen suckling from their Mother.
The Joey will remain in its mum's pouch from anywhere between 6 and 12 months and is accomplished by Mum Kangaroo releasing the muscles of her pouch and the ungainly Joey spilling onto the ground in a not very graceful manner.
The first outing of the Joey is usually short and it climbs back into the safety of mums pouch until Mum thinks it is time to try again.
Bennett's Wallaby in the Snow
Kangaroo or Wallaby
Some people have asked what is the difference between a Kangaroo and a Wallaby?
Ok here is the explanation as best I can do! All of these animals belong to the family called 'Macropods' which simply means 'big feet'. The difference then is in the weight of the animal.
Any 'Macro Pod' species that measures in weight under 20kg is
regarded as a Wallaby, this smaller species includes 'rock wallabies',
'Swamp Wallaby' and 'Quokkas'. There is another species smaller than the Wallaby and is prefixed with 'rat'
Species that weigh over 20kg are referred to as Kangaroos and includes such species as: Red Kangaroo, Grey Kangaroo
Kangaroo or Wallaby
Any 'Macro Pod' species that measures in weight under 20kg is regarded as a Wallaby, this smaller species includes 'rock wallabies', 'Swamp Wallaby' and 'Quokkas'. There is another species smaller than the Wallaby and is prefixed with 'rat'
Species that weigh over 20kg are referred to as Kangaroos and includes such species as: Red Kangaroo, Grey Kangaroo
Kangaroos on the Hop
Kangaroo Mobility
Kangaroos when they graze move around using all four legs and their tail for balance.
However when they decide to get somewhere in a hurry it is a whole new game plan! They 'Hop'
It is estimated that the 'cruising' speed of one of the larger Red Kangaroos can be somewhere up around the 15-20 miles per hour (24-32km/hour) mark. This is due to it's powerful hind legs and huge tail.
The big Red Kangaroo has been clocked at 40 miles per hour( 64km/hr) in short bursts and can cover 35 feet (10.7metres) in one of its long 'hops'
The Australian Coat of Arms
Kangaroo Steak and Salad
Interesting facts about Kangaroos and Wallabies
Here are some interesting facts that you may not know about the Australian Marsupials, Kangaroos and Wallabies:
- The Kangaroo image along with the Emu appears on the Australian Coat of Arms.
- Although it has been a source of food for our indigenous Australian throughout the ages, it has only been legal to eat Kangaroo meat in Australia since 1980. I have never tried it myself but it is said to be sweeter than beef and much healthier being high in protein and only about 2% fat content.
- Kangaroo 'leather' is a great alternative to other materials.
- Is there any other country that eats the animal that is on it's Coat of Arms ?
- Due to a particular bacteria in their stomach the farts and burps of Kangaroos are free of methane gas. So unlike cows and sheep Kangaroos are non-polluters.
- You may fear that the Joey will fall out of the pouch. Well fear not! The mother Kangaroo has a row of muscles across the top part of the pouch which she can tension or let loose whenever she feels like. She has such control that she can relax just enough for the joey to pop his head out and get no further.
- Kangaroos have the ability to 'suspend' their pregnancy. When mum Kangaroo already has a Joey or in bad conditions like droughts the pregnancy can be put on 'pause' until conditions improve.
- Considering the dryness of Australia Kangaroos are very fortunate that they require very little water to survive, they have been compared to camels. It is believed that a Kangaroo can get enough moisture from vegetation to keep it going and losing up to one fifth of its body weight will do no long term damage!
- Kangaroos are grazers and have thin sharp teeth so that they can feed on the short grass that is the only food sometimes available to them in bad drought times. The interesting thing is that as their teeth wear out they move towards the front of the mouths and fall out being replace by new teeth moving out from the back. It is believed that they get 16 new molars throughout their life.
- Kangaroos have very sensitive hearing and seem to be always twitching their ears. They have the ability to rotate their large ears independently and can turn them 180 degrees if so required.
Are Kangaroos Dangerous
I have often been asked if Kangaroos are dangerous? My answer is always the same. "Never trust an animal in the wild" If the question was "Can a Kangaroo hurt you?" I would say to you "My Bloody Oath"
With it's huge back toes and large claw on each foot a Kangaroo can rear up, balance on it's tail and strike you a massive blow down your body.
You must remember these marsupials can grow to 7 feet tall so at full stretch they are taller than a man.
The two Kangaroos fighting in the picture below, indicate this and they appear to be trying to establish who will be the "Head of the Mob" or the "Alpha Male' as it is often called!
Kangaroos are believed to be quite smart.
I have anecdotal evidence that when being harassed by a dog a Kangaroo lured the dog into a dam and when the dog attacked the Kangaroo in the water he grabbed the dog with its front legs and rearing up, balanced on it's tail, and with it's hind claws cut open the dogs stomach.
The image of the hind claw below will give you an indication of how dangerous these animals can be.
I must add though that in captivity Kangaroos are usually quite timid and get on well with the Human race.
Even in the bush they tend to not be aggressive and when approached will generallly run away.