Transcript File
SRA Horizons Stories International Wildlife September/October 1997 Welcome to the world of kangaroos! Where do kangaroos live? What makes a kangaroo a kangaroo? -- Strong back limbs -- Long back feet -- Ability to hop (most species) -- Inability to walk backwards -- Lack of thumb -- Powerful and long, clawed fourth toe, which does much of the work in completing the push of a hop -- Tail that helps with balance during fast hopping--and can function as a fifth leg during the animal's slow-speed gait, helping to stabilize the back end of the body while back limbs are in the air (most species) -- Mostly vegetarian diet -- Marsupial pouch for young -- Ability in adult females to be constantly pregnant and constantly lactating from first pregnancy until death (most species) What do kangaroos look like? What is a marsupial? STORY OF THE POUCH A newborn kangaroo is even more helpless than a human infant. A joey is blind and the size of a honeybee at birth. Usually the newborn is alone; twins are extremely rare. What is a mob? What do kangaroos sound like? THUMP IF YOU NEED ME Most kangaroos make few noises--even when they are hungry, excited or distressed. They do sometimes emit low grunts, and coughs can be signals of submission between males. Red kangaroos "click," while female grey kangaroos "cluck" to summon their young. When a kangaroo senses danger, it alerts its cohorts by thumping its feet on the ground. BODY LANGUAGE Think of a roo's swift, double-footed kick as a phrase in kangaroo body language. Behavioral scientists who study the creatures say the kick is one element in a vocabulary of visual glances, avoidance hops, hisses, jabs, punches, gentle touches and grooming. How large are kangaroos? The Older, The Bigger They are great boxers, and they get bulkier with age: Male red kangaroos are the George Foremans of the animal world. Five-year-old red kangaroo males average about 50 kilograms (110 lbs.) in weight. But 15-year-old males average about 75 kilograms (143 lbs.), and some weigh more than 80 kilograms (175 lbs.). Male kangaroos grow steadily bigger and stronger throughout their lives, although at a decelerating rate as they age. Even their forearms grow longer and more muscular. The big, older males can sport such broad chests, wide shoulders and long brawny forearms that although younger, smaller males may adopt challenging displays, they quickly back down from actual fights. What do kangaroos eat? Most kangaroos are herbivores, or plant-eaters. The larger species, such as the red kangaroos and gray kangaroos, are grazers, feeding on grasses and other vegetation in open forests and savannas. Medium-sized, forest-dwelling species—such as the swamp wallaby, tree kangaroo, and wallaroo—browse on leaves, shoots, and twigs. The small forest inhabitants—rat-kangaroos, bettongs, and musky rat-kangaroos—tend to be omnivores, eating both plants and small animals. Some of these small forest-dwellers specialize in eating fungi, tree gum residues, insects, worms, and even dead animals, or carrion. "Kangaroo," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. WELL DIGGERS Thirsty kangaroos sometimes dig into the ground to find water, excavating as deep as 4 feet. Once they have created a water-filled pit, other animals also benefit. http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/kangaroo.html