Kangaroo animal. Kangaroo lifestyle and habitat. Curious facts about kangaroos Who hunts kangaroos from predators

Kangaroo (Macropus sp.) belongs to the type of vertebrates, the class of mammals, the subclass of marsupials, the order of two-incisors.
By the name of a systematic group, we can often judge the structural features of its representatives. In pinnipeds, the legs really resemble flippers. And in most artiodactyls, the hooves really consist of two halves. If we follow this logic, then it turns out that representatives of the marsupial order must have a bag. But firstly, the so-called brood bag is available only in females. Secondly, there are species that lack a bag, but are nevertheless considered marsupials. And finally, thirdly, there are species that have a brood bag, but have nothing to do with marsupials! Incredible, but true. No wonder scientists consider marsupials one of the most paradoxical groups.
Marsupials give birth to live cubs, but very tiny and absolutely helpless, more like worms. What prevents these animals from carrying offspring within themselves to comparative maturity? The answer to this question was found not so long ago. It turned out that the embryo in the marsupial's uterus is almost not connected with the mother, and after a while its supply of nutrients is depleted. At that stage of evolution, nature had not yet “figured out” how to provide the fetus with additional nutrition inside the mother. In addition, marsupials are simply unable to give birth to a large cub. The birth canal, along which the baby moves when born, is intertwined with them with a channel for urine output. Only a very small fetus can pass through.

That is why a bag was needed - an incubator with a built-in feeder and heating. Milk in marsupials is already “real” and flows from the nipples located in the bag. The baby firmly clamps the nipple in the mouth, and the mother regulates the amount of food entering there.
Today, the order of marsupials has about 250 species, 180 of which live in Australia and on the adjacent islands. The remaining 170 species can be found in South, Central and North America.
In fact, over 60 different species belong to the kangaroo family, with the most diverse habitat and, accordingly, a different way of life. The subfamily of real kangaroos includes animals of medium and large size - wallabies, kangaroos and wallaras.
But all have common features. All kangaroos have very long and strong hind legs, a long powerful tail, which is used to maintain balance when jumping, and a pouch on their stomach.
The symbol of Australia, the large red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest of the marsupials. Body length up to 1.65 m; tail - up to 1.05 m; the mass of the male is up to 85 kg, the female is up to 35 kg and easily jumps in length by 8-10 meters!
Small subspecies of kangaroos are commonly called wallabies. Rat kangaroos grow up to 50 cm in length. These animals with long hairless tails strongly resemble a rat in appearance. They live in bright areas such as savannahs.
A gray, or forest, kangaroo, standing on its hind legs, can reach 1.7 m. Gray kangaroos can move at speeds up to 65 km / h, running away from hunters or cars. "Big gray", despite its impressive size, is a creature quite peaceful and trusting.
Wallaroo, or mountain kangaroo (M.robustus), differs markedly from other large kangaroos in shorter and squat hind legs, powerful shoulders, more massive build and hairless nasal area. Wallaroo live in remote rocky areas of the mountains. Rough, tenacious soles of the paws give them the opportunity not to slip even on smooth stones. They feed on grass, leaves and roots, are able to do without water for a long time, and in order to quench their thirst, they often peel off the bark from young trees and lick the juice.
The only members of the tree-dwelling kangaroo family are the tree-kangaroos found in North East Queensland and New Guinea. These are animals reaching a length of about 60 cm, with brownish fur, hardly noticeable in the foliage of trees. Tree kangaroos are adjoined by New Guinean forest or shrub kangaroos. Thick fur protects them from endless rains, and strong claws make it easy to climb branches in search of young tasty leaves. After all, these cunning people meticulously choose only the freshest and most tender!
For the most part, kangaroos live in the open plains of central Australia. Kangaroos prefer plant foods: leaves, grass, berries, cereals, as well as the roots and rhizomes of plants, which they dig out of the ground with their front paws. In the treeless expanses of Australia, kangaroos play a role similar to that herds of herbivorous ungulates play in Africa.

In search of water and food, these animals are able to travel great distances. They move in huge leaps, pushing off the ground with their strong hind legs. The tail helps them keep their balance. Kangaroos are considered the best jumpers in the world, they can move at high speed for several hours. Their jumps reach 3 m in height and 9-12 m in length. It is almost impossible to catch up with such a jumper. Therefore, kangaroos most often flee from danger by flight.
Once, a red kangaroo, fleeing from farmers chasing him, jumped over a 3 m high fence. In 1974, a fisherman who sailed on a boat about 2 km from the coast near Melbourne caught a gray kangaroo from the water. He probably tried to swim to the nearest island.
Large red kangaroos are content with dry, hard and often prickly grass (for example, trio). Every day, an adult animal eats a portion of pasture mutton. Well adapted to drought, these animals can go without water for several days and get to it themselves when thirsty. To do this, they dig a well with their paws about a meter deep. During the daytime, the air temperature in their habitats can exceed 30 degrees Celsius, so the front paws of kangaroos are devoid of hair, and animals lick them to cool.
Kangaroos live in small groups led by adult males. They guard their females from males from other groups. Often there are violent fights between them.
In the season of love, males fight endless duels over females. Leaning on their tails, they stand on their hind legs and, like wrestlers, wrap their front legs around each other. To win, you need to knock the opponent to the ground and beat with your hind legs. Sometimes the case ends in serious injuries, especially since the legs have razor-sharp claws.
Kangaroo lives for about 15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. Age of puberty: between 18 months and 2 years. Mating takes place throughout the year. The duration of pregnancy is 33 days, and then the cub develops from 6 to 11 months in a bag on the mother's belly.
The kangaroo's belly pouch is a skin fold that is intended for the development of a cub in it. Most often, a kangaroo has one cub, less often twins, and only a musky kangaroo rat gives birth to several babies. Biologists have observed what happens when a large red kangaroo is born. Before his birth, the female licks her bag, cleaning it up.
A kangaroo is born naked, blind, helpless and very small. The size of a premature baby is no more than 1 g in weight and 2 cm in length! However, this kid immediately grabs the wool on the mother's stomach and crawls into the bag himself. Here he greedily grabs one of the four nipples with his mouth and literally sticks to it for the next two-plus months. Gradually, the cub grows, develops, opens its eyes, becomes covered with fur. Then he begins to make short sorties out of the bag, immediately jumping back at the slightest rustle.
A kangaroo leaves its mother's pouch at the age of 8 months. And immediately the mother gives birth to the next baby, who sneaks into the bag - to the other nipple. Surprisingly, from that moment on, the female produces two types of milk: more fat for feeding the older one and less fat for the newborn.
Kangaroos grab food with their forelimbs and bring it to their mouths, combing their hair. The rear, much longer, help them defend themselves with powerful blows that they distribute to the right and left in the fight against their own kind and other animals.
The tail is also used while running - it replaces the kangaroo steering wheel, helping to change direction, and when the kangaroos defend themselves, the tail serves as a reliable support.
In nature, kangaroos have very few enemies. These include dingoes, foxes and birds of prey. Kangaroos do not always flee from them, sometimes they can defend themselves. Powerful paws help in this kangaroo. The animal, leaning on its tail, raises its hind legs and inflicts strong blows on the enemy with them. With its sharp claws, the animal can even inflict mortal wounds on the enemy.
Against the dingo, he has another trick: he pushes him into the river and, leaning on top, strives to drown him. But the main enemy of the kangaroo, like all other animals in the world, is man. Cattle breeders (alas, not without reason) accuse kangaroos of grassland grassland and shoot them, as well as scatter poisonous baits. Official hunting for population control provides meat for pet food and leather for clothes and shoes. Rare species of kangaroos are protected by law, but these measures are not enough: most recently, for example, the broad-faced rat kangaroo disappeared from the face of the earth. The big gray kangaroo is also in a deplorable position.

1. Kangaroos are the most famous marsupials, which personify the entire order of Marsupials in general. Nevertheless, the vast family of kangaroos, numbering about 50 species, stands apart in this order and keeps many secrets.

3. Outwardly, kangaroos do not look like any animal: their head resembles a deer, their neck is of medium length, the body is slender in the front, and widens behind, the limbs are different in size - the front ones are relatively small, and the rear ones are very long and powerful, the tail is thick and long. The forelegs are five-fingered, have well-developed toes, and look more like a primate hand than a dog's foot. Nevertheless, the fingers end in rather large claws.

5. The hind feet have only four toes (the thumb is reduced), with the second and third toes fused. The body of the kangaroo is covered with short, thick hair, which protects animals well from heat and cold. The color of most species is protective - gray, red, brown, some species may have white stripes. Kangaroo sizes vary widely: the largest red kangaroos reach a height of 1.5 m and weigh up to 85-90 kg, while the smallest species are only 30 cm long and weigh 1-1.5 kg! All types of kangaroos are conventionally divided by size into three groups: the three largest species are called gigantic kangaroos, medium-sized kangaroos are called wallabies, and the smallest species are called rat kangaroos or kangaroo rats.

7. The habitat of the kangaroo covers Australia and the adjacent islands - Tasmania, New Guinea, in addition, kangaroos are acclimatized in New Zealand. Among kangaroos, there are both species with a wide range that live throughout the continent, and endemics that are found only in a limited area (for example, in New Guinea). The habitat of these animals is very diverse: most species inhabit light forests, grassy and desert plains, but there are also those that live ... in the mountains!

8. It turns out that kangaroos among the rocks are quite normal, for example, mountain types of wallabies can rise to the level of snows.

9. But the most unusual ... tree kangaroos that live in dense forests. On the branches of trees, they spend most of their lives and very dexterously climb in the crowns, and sometimes jump over the trunks with short jumps. Considering that their tail and hind legs are not tenacious at all, then such balancing is amazing.

10. All species of kangaroos move on their hind legs; during grazing, they hold their bodies horizontally and can rest their front paws on the ground, while alternately pushing off with their hind and forelimbs. In all other cases, kangaroos keep their bodies upright. Interestingly, kangaroos are not able to move their paws sequentially, as other bipedal animals (birds, primates) do, and push off the ground simultaneously with both paws. For this reason, kangaroos cannot move backwards. Actually, walking is unknown to these animals, they move only by jumping, and this is a very energy-consuming way of movement! On the one hand, kangaroos have phenomenal jumping ability and are capable of jumping several times their body length, on the other hand, they spend a lot of energy on such a movement, therefore they are not very hardy. Large species of kangaroos can withstand a good pace for no more than 10 minutes. However, this time is enough to hide from enemies, because the longest jump of the largest red kangaroo can reach 9 or even 12 m, and the speed is 50 km/h! In height, red kangaroos can jump to a height of up to 2 m.

11. In other species, achievements are more modest, but in any case, kangaroos are the fastest animals in their habitat. The secret of such jumping lies not so much in the powerful muscles of the paws as in ... the tail. The tail serves as a very effective balancer during the jump and a fulcrum when sitting, leaning on the kangaroo's tail unloads the muscles of the hind limbs.

12. Kangaroos are herd animals and stay in groups of 10-30 individuals, with the exception of the smallest rat kangaroos and mountain wallabies, which live alone. Small species are active only at night, large ones can be active during the day, but still prefer to graze in the dark. There is no clear hierarchy in the herd of kangaroos and, in general, their social ties are not developed. This behavior is due to the general primitiveness of marsupials and the weak development of the cerebral cortex. Their interaction is limited to tracking their fellows - as soon as one animal gives an alarm, the rest take to their heels. The voice of a kangaroo is similar to a hoarse cough, but their hearing is very sensitive, so they hear a relatively quiet cry from afar. Kangaroos do not have dwellings, with the exception of rat kangaroos, which live in burrows.

13. Kangaroos feed on plant food, which they can chew twice, burping out part of the digested food and chewing it again, like ruminants. The stomach of a kangaroo has a complex structure and is inhabited by bacteria that facilitate the digestion of food. Most species feed exclusively on grass, eating it in large quantities. Tree kangaroos feed on the leaves and fruits of trees (including ferns and vines), and the smallest rat kangaroos can specialize in eating fruits, bulbs and even frozen plant sap, in addition, they can include insects in their diet. This brings them closer to other marsupials - possums. Kangaroos drink little and can go without water for a long time, being content with the moisture of plants.

14. Kangaroos do not have a specific breeding season, but their reproductive processes are very intense. In fact, the body of the female is a "factory" for the production of their own kind. Excited males arrange fights during which they grapple with their front paws and hit each other hard in the stomach with their hind legs. In such a fight, the tail plays an important role, on which the males literally rely on the fifth leg.

15. Pregnancy in kangaroos is very short, for example, female gray gigantic kangaroos carry a cub for only 38-40 days, in small species this period is even shorter. In fact, kangaroos give birth to underdeveloped embryos 1-2 cm long (in the largest species). It is surprising that such a premature fetus has complex instincts that allow it to independently (!) Get to the mother's pouch. The female helps him, licking the path in the wool, but the embryo crawls without outside help! To appreciate the magnitude of this phenomenon, imagine that human babies were born 1-2 months after conception and found their mother's breasts blindly on their own. Having climbed into the mother's bag, the kangaroo cub sticks to one of the nipples for a long time and spends the first 1-2 months in the bag without getting out.

16. At this time, the female is ready to mate. While the older kangaroo is growing up, the younger one is born. Thus, two cubs of different ages can be in the female's bag at the same time. Having matured, the cub begins to look out of the bag, and then climb out of it. True, for a long time later, a completely independent cub, at the slightest danger, climbs into the mother's bag. The kangaroo pouch is formed by very elastic skin, so it can stretch a lot and withstand the heavy weight of a grown cub. Quokka kangaroos went even further, in which two embryos are conceived at once, one of which develops, and the second does not. If the first calf dies, the second one immediately begins to develop, so quokkas don't waste time mating again. However, in large kangaroos there are also cases of the birth of twins and triplets. The life expectancy of a kangaroo is 10-15 years.

17. In nature, kangaroos have many enemies. Previously, large kangaroos were hunted by dingoes and marsupial wolves (now exterminated), small marsupial martens, birds of prey, snakes. After the introduction of European predators to Australia and adjacent islands, foxes and cats joined their natural enemies. If small species are defenseless in front of predators, then large kangaroos can stand up for themselves. Usually, in case of danger, they prefer to flee, but a driven kangaroo can suddenly turn to the pursuer and “hug” it with its front paws, inflicting powerful blows with its hind legs. A blow from the rear leg can kill an ordinary dog, and cause serious injury to a person. In addition, there are cases when kangaroos escaped in reservoirs and drowned the dogs chasing them in the water.

Predators are not the only problem with kangaroos. Huge harm is done to them by food competitors brought by people: rabbits, sheep, cows. They deprive kangaroos of their natural food, which is why many species have been forced out into arid desert regions. Small species are not able to migrate over long distances, so they simply disappear under the onslaught of aliens. In turn, people consider kangaroos as their competitors and unwanted neighbors, so they hunt them in every possible way. If earlier kangaroos were hunted for meat and skins, now they are simply shot, poisoned by dogs or traps are set. Australia is a major global supplier of kangaroo meat. True, its palatability is inferior to the meat of livestock, so it is used in the production of canned food for the same dogs or as an exotic component of restaurant cuisine.

19. The total impact of all unfavorable factors is great, small kangaroo species are especially vulnerable, most of them are on the verge of extinction. Large species have adapted to live near people and can often be found on the outskirts of cities, rural farms, golf courses, and parks. Kangaroos quickly get used to the presence of people, behave calmly next to them, but do not tolerate familiarity: attempts to caress and feed animals can cause aggression. But you need to understand that such a reaction is due to the instinct to protect the territory. In zoos, kangaroos are more affectionate to the attendants and are not dangerous. They take root and breed well in captivity and attract many visitors. Together with the emu, the kangaroo flaunts on the coat of arms of Australia and symbolizes the eternal movement forward (since they do not know how to back away).

(small), wallabies (medium) and large kangaroos. Systematically, the family is divided into three subfamilies: musky kangaroo rats (Hypsiprymnodontinae), true kangaroo rats (Potoropinae) and kangaroos (Macropodinae). Body length 25-160 cm, tail 15-105 cm, body weight 1.4-90 kg. The head is relatively small, with a short or long muzzle. The ears are large or short. In all kangaroos, with the exception of tree kangaroos, the hind limbs are much longer and stronger than the front ones. Front five-fingered, with large claws. There is no first finger on the hind limbs (only musky kangaroos have it), the second and third are connected by a leathery membrane, the fourth is large, with a powerful claw, the fifth is of moderate length. The tail is strong, covered with hair, and in most species is not grasping. In a standing kangaroo, it performs the function of an additional support, and during jumps - a balancer. The fur is thick and soft, black, gray or red in different shades. Brood bag opens forward. There are 4 nipples, but usually 2 are functioning. Males have a single urogenital duct.

They are found in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Acclimatized in New Zealand. They inhabit different types of landscapes. Terrestrial and arboreal animals.

The first European to see a kangaroo was the Dutch navigator F. Pelsart in 1629, whose ship ran aground near the western coast of Australia. D. Cook first saw a kangaroo in 1770, and it was he who gave the name to the beast. According to legend, when Cook asked the name of the jumping animal, the natives answered “kangaroo”. Cook decided that this was the name of the beast. In fact, in the language of the local tribe, it meant "I do not understand." In 1773, the first living kangaroo was sent to England as a gift to King George III. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. attempts have been made to acclimate wallabies (in Germany) and gray giant kangaroos (in England). Kangaroos successfully bred and even endured harsh winters quite well. However, all of them were exterminated by poachers.

Kangaroos are active mainly at night. The day is spent in grass nests or burrows. They usually live in small groups consisting of a male and several females. Pregnancy lasts 22-40 days. There are 1-2 cubs in the litter, 7-25 mm in size, weighing 0.6-5.5 g. A newborn (almost an embryo) is practically devoid of hair, the hind limbs are poorly developed, bent and closed by the tail, claws are clearly visible on the forelimbs. While the eyes and ears of the embryo are completely undeveloped, it has open nostrils and a mature olfactory center in the brain. A newborn kangaroo makes its way to the bag, clinging to its mother's fur and orienting itself by smell. Between the moment of birth and the moment of attachment to the nipple in large kangaroos, 5-30 minutes pass. After attaching the cub, a thickening forms at the end of the nipple. It is impossible to separate a kangaroo from its nipple without damaging its mouth. Interestingly, the mother is more of a witness to the activity of the newborn than his assistant. Once in the mother's pouch, the kangaroo develops there for about six months, tightly adhering to the nipple. Then he starts to get out and try plant food, but he feeds on milk for another 1.5 months. In case of danger, it hides in a bag, the size of the inlet of which the mother can arbitrarily change.

Kangaroos are predominantly herbivores, but some also feed on insects and worms. With a calm movement, kangaroos make jumps up to 1.5 meters in length. Running away from danger, they jump 8-12 meters and reach speeds of up to 88 km / h, but quickly get tired. They can be easily overtaken even on a horse. Kangaroos have invented a peculiar way of fighting dogs. The animal pursued by the dogs runs into the water and waits for the approaching dog, then grabs it by the head and starts to drown. The dog immediately stops fighting and tries to jump ashore. If there is no water nearby, the kangaroo stands with its back to the tree and hits the enemy that runs up with its hind legs in the stomach. Small wallabies and cubs of large kangaroos can be eaten by a carpet python or wedge-tailed eagle. However, heat, drought and hunger are more terrible for kangaroos than predatory animals. To survive on dry, almost barren lands, kangaroos have learned to dig wells up to a meter deep. Kangaroo wells are used by wild pigeons, pink cockatoos, marsupial martens and emus. Small kangaroos live up to 8 years, medium ones up to 12 and large ones up to 16 years.

Musk kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus), 1 species, body length 25 cm, tail 15 cm. Outwardly similar to a rat. The head is short, the muzzle is pointed, the ears are bare, slightly pointed. The tail is bare and covered with scales. The back is reddish-gray, the belly is yellowish. It lives in the north-east of Queensland in rainforests, shrubs, along the banks of rivers and lakes. Active during the day. Kept singly or in pairs. It usually walks on four legs. In moments of danger - only on the rear. It feeds on insects, plant roots and berries.

Included in the Red Book.

Large rat kangaroo (Aepyprymnus rufescens), 1 species. Body length 52, tail 38 cm. Ears are wide and rounded. The fur is coarse, reddish-gray on the back, white on the belly. Distributed from eastern Queensland to eastern New South Wales. It occupies coastal landscapes, steppes, savannahs and light forests. Leads a solitary life. Sleeps in a grass nest during the day. Feeds on plant roots. Prior to the introduction into Australia, European foxes were numerous.

Tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus Muller), 7 species. Body length 50-90 cm, tail 43-85 cm. Head short and wide. The hind limbs are slightly longer than the large and strong forelegs. The claws are powerful and strongly curved. The fur on the back is black, brown or gray, the hair points forward. The belly is white, yellow or red. They live in the forests of North Queensland and New Guinea. Able to jump from tree to tree up to 9 m in length. Herbivorous. Polygamists. 2 subspecies are listed in the Red Book.

Rocky Kangaroos (Petrogale Gray), 7 species. Body length 38-80, tail 35-90 cm, weight 3-9 kg. The head is elongated, the ears are long. The claw on the middle finger of the hind limb is short. The hair on the back is directed with the tops forward (except for the ring-tailed one), the fur on the back is reddish-brown or gray, on the belly it is white. The range covers almost all of Australia. They prefer rocky landscapes. The ring-tailed kangaroo (P. Xanthopus) is listed in the Red Book.

Gray gigantic kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), body length 1.5 m, tail 90 cm. Males are a quarter larger than females. Ears are large and mobile. The hind limbs are long and powerful. The tail is long, powerful, thick at the base. The fur on the back is orange-gray or brown-red, on the belly is light.

Distributed throughout eastern Australia. Its usual biotope is the eucalyptus savanna, where it grazes in groups of 30-50 individuals. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. At the beginning of the year, the rut begins. At this time, fierce battles for possession of the female are possible between males. Pregnancy 30-40 days, 1 cub is born. 2 months kangaroo is in the mother's bag. In December, young kangaroos separate from their mothers and form a new flock.

Herbivorous. With a large number, it can cause significant damage to the crop. The peaceful and trusting nature of the gray kangaroo makes it a frequent prey for hunters. Fleeing, it is able to jump up to 9 m in length.

The large red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is found throughout Australia. Characterized by sexual dimorphism. The females are pale grey, the males are reddish-brown. Males have skin glands on the neck and chest that secrete a pink secretion. During the mating season, the hair on their neck acquires a pinkish tint. The red kangaroo prefers the vast inland plains, where it keeps in herds of 10-12 individuals. In places it is numerous and harms agriculture. It is the red kangaroo who uses boxing "techniques" to sort things out. Well tamed, friendly.

Animal Kangaroo

The kangaroo is a rather large animal, there are only about fifty species in it. All of them belong to the order of marsupials. Science divides the kangaroo family into several species depending on their size.

These are small kangaroos, or kangaroo rats, medium-sized wallabies and large, or gigantic kangaroos. If the family of kangaroos is divided according to a systematic method, then the subfamily of musky kangaroo rats, the subfamily of true kangaroo rats and the subfamily of kangaroos are distinguished in it.

The famous legend about the origin of the name of these animals still circulates in the world. It is associated with the arrival of explorers from Europe to the continent of Australia. For the first time in their lives, they had a chance to encounter this unique marsupial, and they began to ask the natives, what is the name of this beast? In response, scientists heard: Ken Gu Ru. This is how the name of the family was born, although, in fact, the literal translation of this phrase means: “I don’t understand.”

In nature, it is found around, which differ in size and weight. The average body length of these animals can vary from 5 to 160 centimeters, and their weight - from 1.5 to 90 kilograms. The largest are the red kangaroos, which can be taller than the average person. These are the largest marsupials in the world today.

The main habitat of kangaroos is the Australian continent and New Zealand, but they can also be seen in Tasmania, New Guinea, and the Bismarck Archipelago.

All kangaroos move on the ground with jumps, which are made by very strong and developed hind limbs. A long tail (from 15 to 105 centimeters in different species) helps them maintain balance when making jumps.

The physical abilities of kangaroos are amazing. This animal can easily jump over a barrier about three meters in height, and moves at an average speed of 60 kilometers per hour. In the presence of danger, kangaroos can move at speeds up to 90 km / h, however, they do not last long. Kangaroos get tired very quickly, so they can be easily overtaken.

Kangaroos have large developed ears, which serve as a means for them to determine the presence of predators near. If a kangaroo notices a danger in the form of a person or a predator, then it begins to strongly pound its paws on the ground, trying to warn its relatives about the approach of the enemy.

The head of a kangaroo is small, the muzzle can be either elongated or short. The forelimbs of the animal are rather weak, they have five fingers and long claws. With their help, animals from time to time will find out the relationship between themselves or fight with the enemy. The body of the animal is covered with thick and soft to the touch fur, the color of which can be black, red or gray.

All types of kangaroos are herbivores. Their main period of activity falls at night, during the day they hide in the shade of trees from the hot sun. Also during the day, kangaroos can be in their holes or nests made of grass. Kangaroos are social animals, they are rarely seen alone. The groups they form are small. They have a male surrounded by a certain number of females.

Usually kangaroos don't get along well with dogs and have developed their own way of dealing with them.

If several dogs attack a kangaroo, he tries to run away from them to the water and enter the pond. Then the kangaroo waits for the dog to also be in the water, approaches it closer and tries to drown it. In the event that there are no reservoirs nearby, the kangaroo searches for the nearest large tree, leans on it with its back and delivers a strong blow to the enemy with the help of its hind limbs.

If you think about what animals are famous for their jumping ability, then only one representative of the family comes to mind. We are talking about kangaroos, the presented individuals can jump 10 meters in length and even more. And in height, their jumps reach 2.5 meters and this is not the limit. Also, individuals can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, overtaking prey. In this material, we will consider everything that affects the discussed individuals, so that everyone can form their own opinion.

Description

1. There are quite a few varieties of the discussed individuals, the overall characteristics of the animals directly depend on this. On average, in terms of body weight, they are about 20-100 kg. with a body length of 25-150 cm. The tail plays a separate role, it serves as a balance and is 45-100 cm long. The largest members of the family live in Australia, they are red and large. Heavyweight kangaroos live in the east, they are called gray.
2. The fur is dense, gray, red or brown. It can also be combined. It must be soft and uniform. The upper part of the body of the discussed individuals is poorly developed, most of the load falls on the bottom. The head of a small format, in comparison with the body seems disproportionately small. The muzzle is short or elongated.
3. The forelimbs are shortened, poorly developed, not strongly muscular. They have 5 fingers, there is practically no hair, the claws are strong and long. Shoulders narrowed. The fingers of the animal are spaced at a certain distance, they grab food with them and comb their hair. Compared to the upper, the lower section of the body seems gigantic. She is muscular, strong and broad.
4. The hind limbs are strong and long, as is the tail. The thighs are widened and muscled, there are 4 fingers on the paws. Between the third and second there is a membrane, the fourth is equipped with a strong and long claw. Due to the special structure of the body, kangaroos can deliver serious blows to the enemy with the help of their hind limbs.
5. The tail acts as a balancer and a kind of steering wheel. Individuals quickly jump, moving forward, but due to the structure of the body they cannot move backward. Their shape of the limbs does not allow this, moreover, the tail interferes.

habitation

1. Kangaroos are known to all people as the jumping inhabitants of Australia, and this is partly true. However, the presented individuals also live in other territories, for example, in New Guinea, Tasmania and Bismarck. They also brought these representatives of the family to New Zealand.
2. Very often animals can be found near human dwellings. Similar marsupials are found on the outskirts of large cities and medium-sized settlements. They also prefer to live near the agricultural land of farmers.
3. Based on the observations made, we can conclude that these animals are characterized by a terrestrial lifestyle. They live on flat areas, next to bushes and among thickets of thorny grass. Tree-type kangaroos are excellent climbers, while mountain animals do well among rocks, stones and hills.

population

1. The main varieties of marsupials are not subject to the likelihood of extinction. However, for certain reasons, the number of goals is decreasing every year. This is due to the occurrence of forest fires, a decrease in the natural environment for the distribution of kangaroos, as well as hunting and other human activities. As always, it is people who bear the main danger to living beings.
2. In Australia, at the legislative level, it is forbidden to endanger kangaroos. The gray inhabitants of the western and eastern parts are considered protected. Wild individuals are constantly exposed to shelling as a result of hunting.
3. During the protection of pastures, farmers mutilate these animals. Poachers shoot because of the meat, which is considered a delicacy, as well as the skin, which is subsequently used for the production of leather products. Meat is distinguished by its low calorie content and taste.
4. Generally speaking, the individuals presented are not in danger. But they have enemies in their natural habitat. Animals are preyed upon by snakes, large birds, dingoes, and foxes. In order not to meet enemies, these individuals prefer to eat once a day in the evening, as soon as the sun sets.

Nutrition

1. To a greater extent, kangaroos prefer to eat grass, therefore they are considered herbivores. However, among the diversity of animals, there are varieties that are distinguished by their omnivorous nature. The largest red individuals lean on prickly and stiff grass. Individuals with a short muzzle feast on roots, tubers, bulbs and other underground parts of plants.
2. Certain species of animals eat mushrooms and are directly involved in sowing their spore powder. Small wallabies are content with herbal leaves, seeds, small fruits. If individuals live in forest parts with moderate humidity, they feed on fruits, foliage, and plants. Arboreal individuals eat bird eggs and the chicks themselves, gnaw the bark from the tree trunk.
3. Also, the diet may include clover, alfalfa, eucalyptus leaves, acacia, cereals, and other vegetation. Kangaroos consume cicadas, ferns. Smaller members of the family are more selective when it comes to food preferences. They go in search of a high quality forage base, often such food is digested for a long time.
4. Animals of large format can easily eat low-grade food, but compensate for this with a variety of vegetation. They go to pastures in the late afternoon, but it all depends on the weather conditions in the habitat. If it's hot outside, then the kangaroos will wait until the sun goes down, resting in the shade. Then in the late afternoon they go to look for food.
5. A distinctive characteristic of these animals is undemanding in terms of water consumption. Individuals may not lean on water for several months, in some cases even longer. The liquid is obtained from plant foods, and dew is also licked from grass and rocks. Some smart members of the species rip off the bark, then content themselves with the juice flowing from the tree.
6. Living in a dry area, large-format kangaroos have adapted to independently seek water. They begin to dig wells to a depth of 100 cm or more. Subsequently, these watering places are used by birds, martens, wild-type pigeons and other animals. The stomach of individuals can digest hard food, it is huge, but does not have many chambers. Some members of this family induce vomiting to get rid of food debris in the stomach. Then they chew it again for better absorption.
7. More than 40 varieties of bacteria live in the digestive system. They are responsible for the correct functioning and digestion of dietary fiber. Yeast bacteria are also present, which serve to create fermentation. If we talk about the nutrition of animals living in the zoo, they eat herbs, oats, nuts, seeds, breadcrumbs, vegetables and fruits, etc.

Lifestyle

1. If you really want to know more about the animals in question, your best bet is to head to Australia and visit a national park. In such a place, individuals behave in exactly the same way as in the wild. Kangaroos are animals that lead a herd lifestyle.
2. Most often they gather in small groups, in which there can be up to 25 individuals. However, mountain wallabies and rat kangaroos prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. They never form groups. There are also small representatives of this species. They are predominantly nocturnal.
3. Large individuals, on the contrary, can be active both during the day and in the evening. The animals in question graze in the moonlight when the heat subsides. Interestingly, the kangaroo herd has no leader. They are all equal. Such animals do not have a leader because they are primitive due to an underdeveloped brain.
4. However, the individuals under consideration have a fairly well-developed self-preservation instinct. It is enough for just one kangaroo to give an alarm signal, the whole group will immediately rush in different directions. The animal gives a voice that is somewhat reminiscent of a cough. In addition, kangaroos have excellent hearing. Therefore, they can hear the alarm signal at a sufficient distance.
5. It is worth noting that these animals are not used to settling in shelters. Only rat kangaroos live in burrows. As for natural enemies, such individuals have a lot of them. Initially, there were no European predators in Australia, later they were brought by people. Therefore, dingoes and marsupial wolves constantly hunted kangaroos. Small kangaroos were attacked by martens, birds of prey and even snakes.
6. As for large individuals, such kangaroos may well stand up for themselves. However, small representatives of the same species are practically helpless. Individuals do not belong to the daredevils, on the contrary, they always try to escape from danger. If the predator nevertheless overtakes its prey, the kangaroo tries to defend itself very fiercely.
7. It is quite interesting to watch how the animal defends itself. The kangaroo delivers a series of powerful blows with its hind legs, while the individual leans on the tail. Also, the kangaroo tries to grab the offender with its front paws. Many people know that a blow from an adult can easily kill a dog. A person can easily end up in a hospital with broken bones.
8. Locals claim that when a kangaroo flees from an enemy, it lures the predator into the water. As a result, the animal drowns the offender. Dingo dogs have suffered in this way more than once. Among other things, kangaroos try to stay away from people. Therefore, it is impossible to see the settlements of these animals nearby.
9. However, such individuals are often found near farms and on the outskirts of small towns. Kangaroos are not pets, but the presence of people does not scare them. Individuals quickly get used to the fact that people often feed them. However, they do not allow themselves to be petted.

reproduction

1. Such animals reach sexual maturity at about 2 years. Life expectancy is on average about 18 years. In some cases, some individuals even lived up to 30 years. During the mating season, males fight very hard for the attention of the female. Often this ends in serious injury.
2. After mating, the female most often has only 1 cub. Before the birth of the cub, the mother begins to carefully lick her bag. It is in it that the baby will continue to develop in the future. Pregnancy lasts only about 1.5 months.
3. As a result, a completely blind baby without hair is born. Further, the cub develops in the mother's pouch for about 11 months. Moreover, the young growth almost immediately sticks to one of the nipples and does not come off from it for about 2 months. During this time, the cub continues to grow, develop and grow hair.
4. Sometimes the baby is already starting to crawl out of the bag, but at the slightest rustle it immediately returns back. Already at the age of 8-10 months, the cub can leave the pouch for a long time, sometimes the mother begins to prepare for the next mating season.

Kangaroos can be considered unique animals. The development of babies takes place in a special bag from the mother. Such a pocket protects the young from various kinds of danger and unpredictable weather conditions. The female can prepare for the mating season only after she is sure that her cub is ready for independent life. Kangaroos are a symbol of Australia, but this does not mean that such individuals will be happy with any contact with a person.

Video: kangaroo (Macropus)