Where do kangaroos live. Description of the animal and lifestyle

Kangaroo is a marsupial animal, there are about sixty different species. This is one of the most amazing mammals living on the planet.

There are terrestrial species - some live on plains overgrown with shrubs and grass, others in rocky areas, and some species can climb trees. They are extremely shy and cautious, usually kept in groups.

Cubs are born very quickly - only 30-40 days, kangaroos are born very small - the length of the newborn cub is no more than 3 cm.

These animals have striking differences from representatives of other fauna of the globe. For example, they can move exclusively forward - a huge tail and an unusual structure of the hind legs prevent them from moving backward.

Individuals of one of the species reach a weight of 90 kg, while representatives of another species do not exceed a weight of 1 kg. The kangaroo has two types of milk for feeding the cubs - there are always two of them in the animal's bag, one of which has almost grown up, and the second is a newborn. The photo shows two babies of different sizes peeking out of a kangaroo bag.

Kangaroos are very smart animals - the inhabitants of those places where these mammals live, have repeatedly observed how, fleeing from a chase, a kangaroo lures the enemy into a pond, and then tries to drown.

Dingoes - wild dogs hunting kangaroos, have been subjected to such a fate more than once.

Images of a kangaroo and an emu adorn the Australian national emblem.

Where does the kangaroo live

Habitats, as a rule, are arid territories of the planet - these animals inhabit Australia, New Guinea, are found on the Bismarck Islands, in Tasmania, are found in England and Germany.

Kangaroos have adapted to live even in cold climates - they also live in countries where snow drifts in winter sometimes reach the waist.

Description of the body structure of a kangaroo

This animal has unusually long and strong hind legs, they allow it to jump in length over a distance of up to 12 m and reach a speed of about 60 km / h, but the kangaroo will not be able to move at a frantic pace for more than 10 minutes.

The kangaroo balances with the help of a huge, powerful tail - thanks to it, the beast can maintain balance in almost any situation.

The shape of the head of a kangaroo is a bit like the head of a deer; compared to the body, it seems very small.

The shoulders of the animal are disproportionately narrow, the forelimbs are short, they are not covered with fur, on each paw there are five very mobile fingers pumped with claws - they are necessary to hold food and comb out the hair.

The lower part of the body is much more developed than the upper. Thanks to the powerful tail, the animals sit - when relying on the tail, their lower limbs rest.

There are four fingers on the lower paws, while the second and third are connected by a membrane, and on the fourth there grows a well-developed razor-sharp claw.

Kangaroo fur is thick, short, it saves from the heat in the summer, warms in the cold season. The color is not very bright - from gray to ash-brown, some species have red or brown hair.

The growth of a kangaroo depends on the species - the length of the body can be 1.5 m, and there are individuals the size of only a rat - these are representatives of the rat family - the so-called kangaroo rats.

The animal moves only on its hind legs and only by jumping - it cannot move its legs in turn one after another. And in order to eat food located not on a tree, but on the ground, it brings the body to a position almost parallel to the ground.

Habits and lifestyle

These mammals live in herds, the livestock of a group of kangaroos can number up to 25 animals. But two species - rats and wallabies - lead a solitary lifestyle.

Small species are active at night, representatives of large species are active at any time of the day, but still graze at night - when it becomes cool.

There is no head of the herd, since these animals are primitive, with a poorly developed brain, although they have a well-developed self-preservation instinct. As soon as one of the relatives warns of danger, the herd rushes to their heels.

Kangaroos signal with a cry similar to a hoarse cough, they have excellent hearing, so these animals hear signals even at a very long distance.

Kangaroos live in open spaces, digging holes is characteristic only of representatives of the rat species, therefore, in nature, kangaroos have many enemies.

While in their homeland - in Australia - predators that were brought there by a man did not start up, only dingoes and marsupial wolves hunted kangaroos, and marsupial martens, predatory birds and snakes posed a danger to small species.

As a rule, kangaroos do not attack the pursuer, but save themselves by flight. If the enemy drives the animal into a corner, then the kangaroos are able to give a powerful rebuff in an unusual way - hugging the enemy with their upper paws, the lower kangaroo strikes.

A kangaroo dingo can be killed with a couple of blows, and a person who falls into the clutches of an angry animal will end up in the hospital with multiple fractures.

It is not uncommon for kangaroos to live not far from people - a herd can be found on the outskirts of towns, near rural farms.

Kangaroo is a non-domesticated mammal, but the proximity of a person does not frighten him. They are accustomed to being fed, letting a person close, but they practically do not allow themselves to be stroked and can go on the attack.

What do kangaroos eat

These are ruminants, they chew food twice, after swallowing, they belch out part of the portion and chew it again. In the stomach of a kangaroo, special bacteria are produced that help digest tough plants.

Tree-dwelling species eat fruits and foliage, while the rat subspecies feeds on roots and insects.

Kangaroos can not drink for a long time, so they consume little water.

Reproduction and longevity

Kangaroos do not have a seasonal breeding season, they mate throughout the year. Males are characterized by mating battles, the winner fertilizes the female, and after 30-40 days cubs are born - always no more than two, the body length of a newborn kangaroo is 2-3 cm.

Kangaroo females have an amazing ability - while the older cub is fed with milk, the female can delay the birth of the next one.

In fact, the cub of this animal is an underdeveloped embryo, but immediately after birth, it is able to independently move into the bag, where it will grow and feed for two months.

The bag reliably covers the cub - by contraction of the muscles, the female can close and slightly open the marsupial compartment on the belly. In the wild, the average life expectancy of a kangaroo, depending on the species, is 10-15 years, and in captivity, some individuals lived up to 25-30.

Despite the fact that the brain of these mammals is poorly developed, like any other living creature on the planet, kangaroos are characterized by a certain ingenuity and a well-developed self-preservation instinct.

Unfortunately, these interesting and unusual animals have not escaped participation in the food chain of the globe. Their meat is edible and has been eaten by Australian Aborigines for centuries.

And some Australian scientists even believe that kangaroo meat is less harmful than lamb and beef. Since 1994, its export has been established to Europe.

Photo kangaroo

Kangaroos are the best jumpers on our planet: the length of one jump is three meters in height and about twelve in length. They move in huge leaps at a speed of about 50 km / h, pushing off the surface with strong hind legs, while an important role is played by the tail, which plays the role of balance and helps to maintain balance.

Therefore, it is impossible to catch up with the animal, especially since during the flight it is capable of anything: once a large red kangaroo, running away from farmers, jumped a three-meter fence. If someone who wants to eat kangaroo meat is lucky enough to overtake him, the marsupial will use its hind legs. To do this, it will transfer the entire weight of the body to the tail, and freeing both hind legs, inflict terrible wounds on the enemy.

Kangaroos are called marsupial mammals from the group of two-cutters (they have two large incisors on the lower jaw). The word is used in two meanings:

1. They are applied in a broad aspect to all representatives of the kangaroo family, and this is from 46 to 55 species. It includes a family of herbivores that move by jumping, have undeveloped forelegs, and vice versa, extremely developed hind legs, and also have a strong tail that helps to maintain balance while moving. Because of this structure, the body of the animals is in an upright position, while leaning on the tail and hind legs. Thus, three species are distinguished: kangaroo rats are the smallest individuals; wallabies - are of medium size, outwardly resemble a smaller copy of large animals; large kangaroos are the marsupials of Australia.
2. They call the largest representatives of marsupials from the long-legged family, which are an unofficial symbol of Australia: they can be seen on the coat of arms, coins.

Representatives of the family live both in arid regions and tropical forests in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and the Bismarck Islands. At the end of XIX - beginning of XX century. they took root well in Germany and England, successfully bred and even endured snowy winters well, but they were powerless against poachers, who completely exterminated them.

Description

Depending on the species, members of the family have a length of 25 cm (plus 45 cm - tail) to 1.6 m (tail - 1 m), and weigh from 18 to 100 kg. The largest individual is considered to be a resident of the Australian continent - a large red kangaroo, and the heaviest - an eastern gray kangaroo. The fur of marsupials is soft, thick, it can be gray, black, red colors and their shades.

Kangaroo animal is interesting because its upper part is poorly developed. The head is small, the muzzle can be both long and shortened. The shoulders are narrow, the front legs are short, weak, hairless, have five fingers, but are armed with very sharp claws. The fingers are very mobile and the animal uses them for grasping, feeding, combing wool.

But the lower part of the body is developed: the hind legs, a long thick tail, the hips are very strong, they have four fingers on the foot, while the second and third are connected by a membrane, and the fourth has a strong claw.

Such a structure makes it possible to successfully defend themselves with the help of powerful blows with the hind legs, and move quickly (while the tail replaces the steering wheel of the marsupial). These animals are unable to move backward - this is not allowed by their too large tail and the shape of the hind legs.

Lifestyle

Marsupials prefer to be nocturnal, appearing on pastures at dusk. During the day, they rest in burrows, nests made of grass, or in the shade of trees.

If one of the animals notices any danger (for example, a dingo dog wanted to taste kangaroo meat), a message about this is immediately transmitted to the rest of the pack by hitting the hind legs on the ground. To convey information, they often use sounds - grunting, sneezing, clicking, hissing.

If favorable conditions for living are observed in the area (an abundance of food, no danger), marsupials may well form a large community of one hundred individuals. But, usually they live in small flocks, which consist of a male, several females and kangaroos growing up in a bag. At the same time, the male very jealously guards the flock from other males, and if they try to join, fierce fights occur.

These animals are characterized by attachment to a certain territory, and they prefer not to leave it without special reasons (the exception is the huge red kangaroo animals, which are able to overcome several tens of kilometers in search of the best food sites).

Despite the fact that marsupials are not particularly smart, they are very resourceful and able to adapt well: if their usual food ceases to be enough, they switch to other foods, while eating plants that even unscrupulous animals do not eat (for example, dry, hard and even thorny grass).

Food

Marsupials feed on leaves of trees and shrubs, bark, roots, shoots, some species hunt insects and worms. They either dig food or cut it with their teeth, while it is worth noting that they usually have no upper fangs at all, or they are poorly developed, but there are two large incisors on the lower jaw (another interesting fact is that they, in unlike most mammals, teeth are constantly changing).

Marsupials are very well adapted to drought, so they can do without water for several days and even months (they take most of the liquid from plant foods).

If they still feel very thirsty, they dig a well a meter deep with their paws, and get to the precious moisture (along the way, helping other animals suffering from lack of water). At this time, they try not to waste energy: during the drought months, they move less and spend more time in the shade.

reproduction

The ability to reproduce offspring begins as early as one and a half to two years (they live from 9 to 18 years, there have been cases when individual specimens have lived to be thirty). At the same time, the males are fighting so fiercely for the female that the collision often ends in severe injuries.

The female is born basically only one kangaroo cub, less often - twins. Before the baby is born, the mother carefully licks the pouch (a leather fold on the abdomen intended for the development of the baby kangaroo) and cleans it.

Pregnancy lasts from one to one and a half months, so the kangaroo is born blind, without hair, its weight does not exceed one gram, and its length is no more than three centimeters in large species. As soon as he is born, he instantly clings to his mother's wool and crawls into a bag in which he spends about eleven months.

In the bag, he immediately grabs one of the four nipples and does not tear himself away from it for two and a half months (at the initial stage, he is not yet able to suck milk, the liquid is secreted by itself under the influence of a special muscle). By this time, the baby develops, grows up, begins to see clearly, becomes overgrown with fur and begins to leave the shelter for a short time, while he is very alert and jumps back at the smallest sound.

After the kangaroo begins to leave the pouch for a long time (at the age of 6 to 11 months), the mother gives birth to the next cub. Interestingly, the female is able to delay the birth of a kangaroo cub until the previous baby leaves the bag (it is either still too small, or there are adverse weather conditions, such as drought). And then, in case of danger, he will be in the shelter for several more months.

And here an interesting picture is observed when the female begins to produce two types of milk: from one nipple, the already grown cub receives more fat milk, from the other, the newborn eats milk with a lower fat content.

Relationships with people

In nature, a large kangaroo has few enemies: kangaroo meat attracts only foxes, dingoes and birds of prey (and even then, marsupials are quite capable of protecting themselves with the help of their hind legs). But relations with humans are tense: pastoralists, not without reason, accuse them of spoiling crops on pastures, and therefore shoot them or scatter poisonous baits.

In addition, most species (only nine are protected by law) are allowed to be hunted to regulate their numbers: kangaroo meat, which contains a huge amount of protein and only 2% fat. It is worth noting that kangaroo meat has long been one of the main sources of food for the natives. Animal skins are used to make clothes, shoes and other products. Animals are often hunted for sport, so many species are found only in uninhabited areas.

There is an interesting myth. When the English navigator, discoverer, the famous James Cook, for the first time on the ship Endeavour, sailed to the eastern coast, then new to everyone, of the continent and was surprised to find there many types of previously unknown plants and unusual representatives of the fauna, one of the strange-looking, original animal, the first thing that caught his eye was a creature that quickly moved on its hind legs, deftly pushing them off the ground.

It is not surprising that the discoverer of the continent was interested in: what is the name of the outlandish jumping creature, which to some of his people even seemed to be an overseas monster, and he received an answer from the native: "Gangurru". That is why, as the legend says, Cook decided that it was customary to call these animals that way, although the savage only told him that he did not understand him.

Since then, the name has been assigned to this outlandish representative of the fauna for Europeans: Kangaroo. And although later linguists doubted the truth of the described historical myth, this does not mean at all that the animal itself is not interesting, and the story about it is not pure truth. But now the image of this creature flaunts on the state emblem of Australia, being the personification and symbol of the mainland once discovered by Cook.

Kangaroo is an unusual and even in a sense fantastic creature. This is a marsupial animal, classified as a mammal, and therefore, like all relatives from this class, it produces live offspring. It only gives birth to cubs at an unusually early stage and carries them to the final formation in a bag - a convenient skin pocket located on the belly of these creatures. Marsupials are found only on the American and Australian continents, and on the lands of the latter they live most of all.

This continent, once discovered by Cook, is generally famous for its huge number of endemics, that is, specimens of fauna found only in these parts. The representative of the animal kingdom we are considering is one of them. Of the other marsupials of this part of the world, one can single out the wombat as an example - a furry animal that spends its life underground. Koala is another animal, kangaroo-like in the sense of having a skin pocket on the abdomen. In total, there are approximately 180 species of marsupials in Australia.

Kangaroos move by jumping

A remarkable part of the body of a kangaroo is their incredibly muscular, powerful hind legs with developed muscles on the hips and four-toed feet. They allow this outlandish beast to give a reliable rebuff to its offenders with their blows, as well as move with impressive speed only on two legs, while using its long tail as a rudder to help balance and correct the trajectory of movement.

It is also curious that, in contrast to the lower part of the body, which is excellently developed, the upper one seems to be underdeveloped. The head of a kangaroo is small; the muzzle may be shortened, but also long, depending on the variety; shoulders are narrow. Short front legs, not covered with hair, are weak. They are equipped with five fingers, ending in fairly long, sharp claws.

These fingers of these animals are just very developed and mobile, with which such creatures are able to grab surrounding objects, hold food and even comb their own fur. By the way, the fur of such animals is soft and thick, it can be red, gray or black in color in various shades. The legs of a kangaroo can kill a person, and the claws allow you to disembowel animals that are not very large in size.

Kinds

The name "kangaroo" is sometimes customary to refer to all members of the family bearing the name: kangaroos. But more often this word is used, meaning the largest species of the indicated family (they will be described later), and small kangaroos are usually called differently. In fact, the size of the members of different species varies quite significantly.

Kangaroos can measure no more than 25 cm, as well as up to one and a half meters or more. The largest are considered to be large red kangaroos, and members of the forest gray variety are the champions in weight (individuals of 100 kg are noted among the indicated ones). These animals are Australian endemics, but they are also found on the islands adjacent to the indicated mainland: in Tasmania, New Guinea and others. All features of their appearance are clearly visible photo of a kangaroo.

In total, fourteen genera are known in the kangaroo family. Some of them are represented more extensively, while others are less, but the number of species of kangaroos in the total count is huge. Let's describe some of them in more detail.

1. red big kangaroo. This species belongs to the type of gigantic kangaroos, individual specimens of it have an average weight of 85 kg, as well as an almost meter long tail. Such animals are found either in the northern part of the continent in tropical forests or along the east coast in the south of the mainland, preferring to inhabit the fertile areas of the specified area. Jumping on their hind legs, they are able to move many tens of kilometers in an hour. Animals have a wide muzzle, and their ears are pointed and long.

Big red kangaroo

2. Eastern gray kangaroo- the species is very numerous, and the population of its individuals consists of up to two million. Members of this species, which are second in size after the above-described brethren, are closest to humans in terms of habitat, since they prefer to inhabit the densely populated areas of Australia. They are found in the south and east of the continent.

Gray eastern kangaroo

3. wallaby- small kangaroos that form a group of species. They have a height of no more than 70 cm, but they are especially large, while the mass of some may not exceed 7 kg. However, despite their size, such animals jump skillfully. Champions of the human race would envy them. Kangaroo jump length this type can be up to 10 meters. They are found in the steppes, swamps and mountains, both on the mainland of Australia itself and on nearby islands.

Wallaby female with a cub in a bag

4. kangaroo rat more similar not even to the two animals mentioned in the name, but to rabbits. By the way, such creatures lead a life quite appropriate, living in grassy thickets, looking for and arranging their dwellings there.

kangaroo rat

5. Quokka- babies from this family with a weight of about 4 kg and the size of a cat, defenseless creatures that have an external resemblance to other kangaroos, but also with mice.

Quokka

Lifestyle and habitat

These creatures could well serve as a symbol of perpetual motion. They are able to jump to a height exceeding their own height twice, and this is not the limit. In addition, the kangaroos of most species are not at all harmless and deftly fight, especially the largest of them. It is curious that, striking with their hind legs, in order not to fall, they have a habit of leaning on their tail.

There are many species of such animals, and each of them inhabits its own corners of the Green Continent, but most of all they prefer pastures and shrouds, settle on flat areas, frolicking in thickets of grass and shrubs. Some varieties also perfectly adapt to life in swamps and in the mountains among hills, stones and rocks. Often in australian kangaroo can be found near settlements and detect their presence in the lands of farms and even on the outskirts of cities.

Most kangaroos are naturally adapted for movement on the ground, but there are exceptions to this rule. These are tree kangaroos that live in the forests of the tropics and spend most of their existence in those places in the trees.

The population of these animals is numerous, and there are no noticeable reductions in it. However, still enough individuals die every year. Blame the flattering fires. A good reason for the decline in the number of kangaroos is also human activity, and of course the hunt for these representatives of the animal kingdom.

Although killing and harming kangaroos is prohibited under Australian law. However, such regulations are often violated by farmers for their own benefit. In addition, poachers and lovers of delicacies shoot these animals for their incomparable meat. Of the natural enemies of these animals, foxes, dingoes, large and can be called.

Food

They only eat kangaroos once a day. This happens just after sunset. It is safer for them to act this way. This is all the more expedient, since by this time in tropical regions the heat is on the wane.

In terms of nutrition kangaroo – animal harmless and prefers a menu of vegetable delicacies. Larger species feed on tough prickly grass. Those that naturally have a short muzzle usually prefer to include bulbs, tubers and roots of a wide variety of flora in their diet. Some of the kangaroos love mushrooms. Small varieties of wallabies feed on fruits, seeds, and grass leaves.

Kangaroo eats leaves

Such food does not differ in calories. However, kangaroos seek to compensate for this shortcoming with a variety of herbs and plants. True, predatory habits are inherent in tree kangaroos. In addition to bark, they can eat chicks and bird eggs.

These representatives of the animal world of the Green Continent drink surprisingly little, getting enough moisture for their bodies with dew and plant juices. However, during dry periods, the acute need for water still begins to affect. In such unfavorable times, large kangaroos are saved by digging wells. They are quite deep, it happens that they go underground to a depth of 100 meters or more.

Reproduction and lifespan

Kangaroo mating takes place during the rainy season. During the dry period, they cannot physically reproduce, since males lack the ability to produce seminal fluid. A feature of the gestation process is the early birth of cubs, after a month has passed after conception, and bear them in bag. Kangaroo in this sense, it is similar to many representatives of the animal world of Australia.

After birth, a small baby, whose size is only about 2 cm, nevertheless turns out to be so viable that it climbs on its own into the skin pocket of the kangaroo, equipped with strong muscles, where it continues to grow and develop, enjoying milk from four maternal nipples. There he spends up to six months.

Female kangaroo with a cub

Really, kangaroo – marsupial, but not only this is its amazing features. The fact is that the female of these representatives of the fauna is able to regulate the process of her own pregnancy, delaying its development for reasons of expediency. The reason for this may be the unwanted birth of two kangaroos at once.

If the first developing fetus dies due to various circumstances, the development of a reserve embryo in the body of a mother kangaroo resumes and ends with the birth of a new offspring. Another pregnancy can occur even at the moment when the first kangaroo still lives in the bag and develops beautifully. In this case, when the second baby appears, the mother's body begins to produce milk of two different types in order to successfully feed both babies of different ages.

The features of the females of these living beings also lie in a close relationship with their offspring throughout their lives. Nature helps mother kangaroos even regulate the process of giving birth to cubs that are comfortable for her. At the same time, female kangaroos appear in females at a younger age, and in a later period, kangaroos-boys are born.

And it really makes sense. When the kenguriha reaches old age, she helps to raise the daughters of kangaroo grandchildren. Speaking about the life expectancy of these creatures, it should always be clarified: which type of kangaroo is meant, because the representatives of each of them have an individual physiological program.

Long-lived record holders are large red kangaroos, which in some cases in captivity can survive up to 27 years. Other species live less, especially in the wild. There, their lifespan is about 10 years, not to mention the fact that it can be significantly reduced due to accidents and illnesses.

A kangaroo is an animal that has two long hind legs and two short front legs. The tail of the animal, like the ears, is long. Thanks to their ears, kangaroos can hear faint sounds, which is important in the wild.

The name "marsupial" was given to the animal because on its stomach there is a bag for cubs, which resembles a bag in its appearance. In this bag, small kangaroos are even before their birth, and then they spend all the time, some can stay there for up to 250 days.

Kangaroos are animals that live in Australia. They are not very afraid of people, you can meet a funny animal in crowded places and in the forest. In nature, there are 3 types of kangaroos: western gray, eastern gray and western red. Other species (wallabies, kuoka, kangaroo rats) are relatives of the marsupial animal.

In South Australia, Kangaroo Island is one of the largest islands on the mainland. The island got its name because there are a lot of kangaroos on its territory. It was discovered in 1802 by a sailor from England - Matthew Flinders.

Nowadays, on the island, in addition to kangaroos, you can see a wide variety of wild animals and birds. Kangaroo Island has not yet been fully mastered by man, which is why representatives of the animal and plant world are still found here in their primitive form.

Video: The ubiquitous kangaroos is a very interesting film.

Video about Kangaroo Island: Kangaroo Island, Australia — Lonely Planet travel video.

Boxing or kangaroo against man. Everything happened in the circus and no one was hurt, kangaroos generally love boxing. If you don't believe me, watch the previous video:

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.

Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus).

Outwardly, kangaroos do not look like any animal: their head resembles a deer, their neck is of medium length, the torso 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.

Front paw of a large gray or forest kangaroo (Macropus giganteus).

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.

The brush-tailed kangaroo (Bettongia lesueur) is a representative of small rat kangaroos. Due to its tiny size, it is easy to mistake it for a rodent.

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 endemic species 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!

Mountain kangaroo, or wallaroo (Macropus robustus) among the rocks.

It turns out that the kangaroo among the rocks is a common sight, for example, mountain views of wallabies can rise to the level of snows.

Kangaroo in a snowdrift is not such a rare occurrence.

But the most unusual are 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.

Tree kangaroo Goodfellow (Dendrolagus goodfellowi) with a cub.

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, they keep the body 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, they cannot back away. 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.

Jumping red kangaroo amaze with its power.

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 tail, these animals unload the muscles of the hind limbs.

Kangaroos often rest lying on their side in a sybarite pose, scratching their sides in a funny way.

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 brethren - 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.

The yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus), also called the ring-tailed or yellow-footed kangaroo, has taken a liking to the rocks.

Kangaroos feed on vegetable 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.

A female kangaroo with a baby in a pouch.

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 struggle, the tail plays an important role, on which the combatants literally rely on the fifth leg.

Male large gray kangaroos in a mating match.

Pregnancy in these animals is very short, for example, females of the giant gray kangaroo bear 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.