The largest marsupials, and the only large mammals that get around mainly by hopping on two legs. The name covers four big species: the red, antilopine, eastern grey and western grey kangaroo.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?Can be
Unprovoked attacks on people are very rare.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Night
Many kangaroos are nocturnal or crepuscular, resting in the shade on hot days and feeding in the cool of evening, night and early morning.
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?Yes
Wild kangaroos are shot for meat, which is valued for being low in fat, and they have always been an important food for Aboriginal Australians.
At a glance
Found inAustralia, New Guinea
HabitatGrassland, Scrub
ColoursBrown, Grey, Red
SizeLarge
Length1.3–1.6 m plus a 1.2 m tail (male red kangaroo)
WeightFemale red kangaroos 18–40 kg; males about twice that
Legs2
Covered inFur
Lives inmobs
Lives for8–12 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Australia and New Guinea.
- What it eats
- Mostly grass, cropped close to the ground with specialised teeth. Some species also eat a lot of shrubs.
Did you know
Physically cannot walk backwards.
Often confused with
- Wallaby
Wallabies are the smaller members of the same family. Kangaroos are the largest, with wallaroos in between.
Sources
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