Australian Kangaroos

The kangaroo is one of Australia’s most iconic animals, and most species are endemic to Australia. There are over 60 different species of kangaroo and their close relatives, with all kangaroos belonging to the super family macropods, meaning great footed.

Terminology Kangaroos are often referred to as "roos". Male kangaroos are called bucks, boomers, jacks, or old men. Females are does, flyers, or jills, and the young ones are joeys.  The collective noun for kangaroos is a mob, troop, or court.

HABITAT Larger kangaroos do not live in the desert, as the food is too scarce. Most of the types of kangaroo prefer the grassland habitat in Australia. They graze on grasses and low vegetation in the early mornings and the evening while seeking shelter under trees during the middle of the day. Most are nocturnal but some are active in the early morning and late afternoon. . Larger species of kangaroo tend to shelter under trees or in caves and rock clefts.

FEEDING PATTERN AND DIGESTION Kangaroos have chambered stomachs similar to those of cattle They regurgitate the vegetation they have eaten, chew it and then swallow it again for final digestion. Different species of kangaroos have different diets, although all are strict herbivores eating a range of plants and, in some cases, fungi. Many species usually spend the days resting in shade, and the cool evenings, nights and mornings moving about and feeding. Because of its grazing, kangaroos have developed specialised teeth to chop and grind the grass.

Pouch of kangaroos The pouch is a distinguishing feature of female marsupials . The name marsupial is derived from the Latin marsupial, meaning "pouch". Marsupials give birth to a live but relatively undeveloped fetus called a Joey. When the Joey is born it crawls from inside the mother to the pouch. The pouch is a fold of skin with a single opening that covers the nipples. Inside the pouch, the blind offspring attaches itself to one of the mother’s nipples and remains attached for as long as it takes to grow and develop into a young replica of the parents.

Joeys excrete in the pouch. When they're small they don't produce much, and when they're bigger the pouch's lining absorbs some of it. As you can imagine, it gets kind of smelly in there, so moms clean out their pouches every now and then. Bucks (males) grow bigger and stronger throughout their lives.

Why can’t kangaroos walk backwards???

Kangaroos cannot walk backwards. The shape of their body and the length of their strong tail prohibits them from being able to step backwards. In addition, their legs cannot move independently on land, only when they swim. When walking, kangaroos support themselves with their front legs and tail while they pull their hind legs along. It is impossible for them to reverse this motion.

TYPES OF Kangaroos Red Kangaroo Western grey kangaroo Eastern grey kangaroo Antipoline Kangaroo

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum. It was produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the fictional Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.

KANGATARIANISM Kangaroo meat is now officially called australus. The term was penned by university professor Steven West. The aim was to avoid adverse reactions of diners thinking of eating a cute animal or eating Skippy. Kangatarianism is a diet exclusive of all kinds of meat except kangaroo meat.

SOME FACTS

A kangaroo can jump 45 feet! The faster kangaroos hop, the less energy they use. When they are in danger, kangaroos will beat the ground loudly with their hind feet, the sound is so loud that it can reach from north to south! Unlike other four legged mammals, kangaroos cannot walk backwards. There is a certain species of kangaroo that is only 2.5 centimeters long when it is born!

Presented by: Mahek Shashwat Kush Mayhur Mischty Jeet Joanna Kasak