Kangaroo (Macropus Giganteus) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links

Kangaroos have a deep pouch on their front in which to carry their young. A baby kangaroo is called a joey. Kangaroos eat plants, nuts, berries and insects that the kangaroos rummage for in the arid wilderness.

Kangaroos are most well known for their ability to jump a phenomenal distance. The kangaroo is the largest of the marsupials, a group an animals that includes koalas and the common brushtail possum. Marsupials are distinguished by the pouch that these animals have on their bellies, in which they carry their young.

There are three main species of kangaroo in existence today and these are the red kangaroo, which is the largest and most well-known of all the kangaroo species. The Eastern grey kangaroo is known to be the heaviest species of kangaroo despite the fact that the red kangaroo is taller. The western grey kangaroo can be found in large numbers and can be anywhere in colour from grey to brown. The kangaroo is the national animal and emblem of Australia.

Kangaroos have large, flat feet which the kangaroos use in order to aid their movement which the kangaroos do by hopping. Despite the fact that kangaroos do not move about in the conventional way, kangaroos can often be seen running at high speeds, generally when the kangaroo is scared or being chased by oncoming predators.

Although kangaroos are not commercially farmed, wild kangaroos are often pursued by human hunters for sport, meat, fur and when farmers are conserving their grazing land for their sheep and cows. This method of sustainable hunting is said to have more health and environmental benefits than that of sheep and cattle.

The average age of a wild kangaroo tends to be less than 10 years, although some kangaroo individuals in the wild have been known to get closer to 20 years old. Kangaroos generally live to about the age of 23 when the kangaroo is in captivity.

Kangaroo Comments (8)

matt

"this website is really helpful!!!!!!! Thanks!"

eran

"who ever wrote kangaroos are they ugliest mammal in the world better say sorry cause i love kangaroos"

Anonymous

"This website is really good for my project on animals. Whoever made this website.. THANKS!! and I like kangaroos."

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Kangaroo Facts

Kingdom:

A level of classifying all living things on earth, as similar species are broken into 5 groups including plants, animals and fungi....

Animalia

Phylum:

A level of classifying animals within the animal kingdom. Phylum are further divided into subgroups called classes....

Chordata

Class:

A level of classifying animals in a phylum. Classes are then sub-divided into further groups known as orders....

Mammalia

Order:

A level used to classify animals. Classes are broken into sub-groups known as order, which are broken down further into families....

Diprotodontia

Family:

A level of classifying animals within an order. Orders are broken down in families and families are broken down further into smaller groups called genus....

Macropodidae

Genus:

A level of classifying animals within a family. Families are divided into sub-groups called genus which generally contain one or two animal species....

Macropus

Scientific Name:

Macropus Giganteus

Type:

Mammal

Diet:

Omnivore

Size:

0.6-1.5m (1.9-4.9ft)

Weight:

18-95kg (40-200lbs)

Top Speed:

55km/h (35mph)

Life Span:

4-10 years

Lifestyle:

Sociable

Conservation Status:

The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation s...

Threatened

Colour:

Tan, Brown, Grey

Skin Type:

Fur

Favourite Food:

Grass

Habitat:

The term habitat is used to describe a specific area where a particular animal lives, within an environment. Many animals have adapted to requiring specific conditions which can only be found in their natural habitat su...

Dry forests, desert and grassland

Average Litter Size:

Main Prey:

When an animal is referred to prey, it means that the animal is either hunted or caught for food. Animals that are referred to as prey are generally hunted by bigger animals, although there are a number of exceptions....

Grass, Seeds, Flowers

Predators:

When an animal is referred to as a predator, it means that the animal either hunts or catches other animals. Predatory animals are generally dominant within their environment and will generally hunt animals smaller than...

Human, Dingo

Special Features:

Pouch on female and hop on hind legs

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