Message on the theme of animals of Australia kangaroo. Kangaroos are the best jumpers on the planet. Animal lifestyle. Where do kangaroos live in Australia?
Australia's most famous marsupial is, of course, the kangaroo. This animal is the official symbol of the Green Continent. His image is everywhere: on the national flag, coins, commercial products ... In their homeland, kangaroos can be found near settlements, in farmlands and even on the outskirts of cities.
Types of kangaroos and their habitats
In total, there are more than 60 species of kangaroos - from dwarf ones, no larger than a hare, to giant ones, whose growth reaches two meters. Photos and names of the most famous representatives of the kangaroo family (Macropodidae) are presented below.
Tree kangaroos Claw-tailed kangaroos Bush kangaroos Striped kangaroos Red kangaroos Wallabies Philanders Potoroo
Kangaroos live throughout Australia, New Guinea and the islands.
Potoroo (10 species) in addition to Australia are also found in Tasmania. They inhabit rainforests, moist hardwood forests and bushes.
Bush and forest kangaroos inhabit New Guinea. Also, only in New Guinea live 8 out of 10 tree species.
Philanders are found in eastern Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. They are associated with moist dense forests, including eucalyptus.
Claw-tailed species inhabit desert and semi-desert areas, their range is limited to Australia.
The red kangaroo and other representatives of the Macropus genus (gray kangaroo, common wallaroo, nimble wallaby, etc.) are found from deserts to the outskirts of Australia's humid eucalyptus forests.
Feral populations of these animals exist in some countries and outside of Australia. For example, the brush-tailed rock wallaby has found shelter in Hawaii, the red-and-gray wallaby in England and Germany, and the white-breasted wallaby in New Zealand.
Musk kangaroo rats are usually classified in the Hypsiprymnodontidae family. Their distribution is limited to the rainforests in the east of Cape York Island.
What does a kangaroo look like? Description of the animal
The kangaroo has a long massive tail, thin neck, narrow shoulders. The hind limbs are very well developed. Long, muscular thighs accentuate a narrow pelvis. On the even longer bones of the lower leg, the muscles are not so strongly developed, and the ankles are designed in such a way that they prevent the foot from turning to the side. When the animal is resting or moving slowly, its mass is distributed over long, narrow feet, which creates the effect of a stop-walk. However, when this marsupial jumps, it rests only on 2 toes - the fourth and fifth, while the second and third fingers are reduced and turned into one process with two claws - they are used to clean wool. The first finger is completely lost.
The front limbs of a kangaroo, unlike the hind limbs, are very small, mobile and somewhat reminiscent of human hands. The hand is short and wide, with five identical fingers. With their front paws, animals can grab food particles and manipulate them. In addition, they open the bag with them, and also comb the fur. Large species also use the forelimbs for thermoregulation: they lick their inner side, while saliva, evaporating, cools the blood in the network of superficial skin vessels.
Kangaroos are covered with thick hair 2-3 cm long. The color varies from light gray through many shades of sandy brown to dark brown and even black. Many species have blurred light or dark stripes down the back, around the upper thighs, around the shoulders, or between the eyes. The tail and limbs are often darker in color than the body, while the belly is usually light.
Males are often brighter than females. So, for example, male red kangaroos are sandy-red, while females are blue-gray or sandy-gray.
The body length of these marsupials is from 28 cm (for musk) to 180 cm (for red kangaroo); tail length from 14 to 110 cm; body weight - from 0.5 to 100 kg in the same species.
Jumping record holders
Kangaroos are the largest mammals that move by jumping on their hind legs. They can jump very far and fast. The usual length of the jump is 2-3 meters in height, and 9-10 meters in length! They can reach speeds up to 65 km / h.
However, jumping is not the only way they move. They can also walk on four limbs, while moving their legs together, and not alternately. In medium and large kangaroos, when the hind limbs are raised and carried forward, the animal rests on the tail and forelimbs. In large species, the tail is long and thick, it serves as a support when the animal is sitting.
Lifestyle
Some of the largest species of these animals form groups of 50 or more individuals, and they can repeatedly leave the group and rejoin it. Males move from one group to another more often than females; they also use large areas of habitat.
Large social species live in open areas. They used to be attacked by terrestrial and aerial predators such as dingoes, wedge-tailed eagles and marsupials (which are now extinct). Living in a group gives marsupials undeniable advantages. So, for example, dingoes are unlikely to approach a large herd, and kangaroos can spend more time feeding. The size of the groups depends on the density of the population, the nature of the habitat and other factors.
However, most small species are solitary animals. Only occasionally you can meet 2-3 individuals in one company.
As a rule, kangaroos do not have dwellings, with the exception of musky kangaroo rats. Some species, such as the brush-tailed ones, take refuge in burrows that they dig themselves. Rock kangaroos hide for the day in crevices or piles of stones, forming colonies.
Kangaroos are usually most active during the twilight and night hours. During the day, in the heat, they prefer to rest somewhere in a shady place.
diet
The basis of the kangaroo diet is plant foods, including grass, leaves, fruits, seeds, bulbs, mushrooms and rhizomes. Some smaller species, notably the potoroo, often diversify their plant-based diet with invertebrates and beetle larvae.
Short-faced kangaroos prefer the underground parts of plants - roots, rhizomes, tubers and bulbs. It is one of the species that eats mushrooms and spreads spores.
Small wallabies feed mainly on grass.
In wooded habitats, the kangaroo's diet includes more fruit. In general, plants of many species are eaten: marsupials eat their various parts depending on the season.
Wallaroo, red and gray kangaroos prefer the leaves of herbaceous plants, not missing also the seeds of cereals and other monocots. Interestingly, large species can only eat grass.
The most selective in their food preferences are small species. They seek out high quality foods, many of which require careful digestion.
Procreation. The life of a kangaroo in a bag
In some species of kangaroo, the mating season is timed to a certain season, while others can breed all year round. Pregnancy lasts 30-39 days.
Females of large species begin to bear offspring at the age of 2-3 years and remain reproductive activity up to 8-12 years. Some rat kangaroos are ready to breed as early as 10-11 months old. Males reach sexual maturity a little later than females, but in large species, older individuals do not allow their participation in reproduction.
At birth, the kenurin has a length of only 15-25 mm. It is not even fully formed and looks like a fetus with underdeveloped eyes, rudimentary hind limbs and a tail. But as soon as the umbilical cord breaks, the baby, without the help of the mother on its forelegs, makes its way through her hair to the hole in the bag on her belly. There it is attached to one of the nipples and develops within 150-320 days (depending on the species).
The bag provides the newborn with the right temperature and humidity, protects, allows you to move freely. The first 12 weeks, the kangaroo grows rapidly and acquires characteristic features.
When the baby leaves the nipple, the mother allows him to leave the bag for short walks. Only before the birth of a new cub, she does not allow him to climb into the bag. The kangaroo takes this prohibition with difficulty, since it was previously taught to return at the first call. Meanwhile, the mother cleans and prepares the bag for the next cub.
The grown up kangaroo continues to follow the mother and can stick its head into the bag to feast on milk.
This baby in a bag is already able to move independentlyThe period of milk feeding lasts many months in large species, but is rather short in small rat kangaroos. As the baby grows, the amount of milk changes. At the same time, the mother can simultaneously feed the kangaroo in the bag and the previous one, but with different amounts of milk and from different nipples. This is possible due to the fact that the secretion of each mammary gland is independently regulated by hormones. In order for the older cub to grow quickly, it receives full-fat milk, while the newborn in the pouch is provided with skim milk.
In all species, only one cub is born, with the exception of the musky kangaroo, which often has twins and even triplets.
conservation in nature
Australian farmers annually kill about 3 million large kangaroos and wallaras, because they are considered pests of pastures and crops. Shooting is licensed and regulated.
When Australia was first settled by the first aliens, these marsupials were not so numerous, and in the second half of the 19th century, scientists even feared that kangaroos might disappear. However, the arrangement of pastures and watering places for sheep, along with a decrease in the number of dingoes, led to the flourishing of these marsupials. Only in New Guinea, things are different: commercial hunting has reduced populations and threatened the extinction of tree kangaroos and some other species with a limited distribution.
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The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial mammal on the planet.
Due to its large stature and incredibly strong hind legs, it is the undisputed animal champion in the long jump.
Kangaroo is an unofficial symbol of Australia - it is even depicted on the coat of arms of this state.
Appearance
The body size of an adult male is one and a half meters, not counting the tail, the length of which reaches another one meter. The animal weighs 80 - 85 kilograms. The fur is short and thick, brown-red.
Powerful hind legs and large heavy tail allow the kangaroo to jump superbly. In case of danger, in one jump, he can cover a distance of up to 12 meters in length and up to 3 meters in height. If it is necessary to fight back, the animal suddenly leans on its own tail, and with its liberated hind legs it painfully beats the enemy.
The front clawed feet are excellently adapted for digging up edible roots. Females have a convenient bag - a deep fold of skin on the abdomen, in which the mother carries the kangaroo.
Habitat
The only continent inhabited by kangaroos is Australia. Animals are accustomed to arid conditions in the steppes and semi-deserts, so they can do without water for a long time. During a long drought, they dig wells and extract water from them. These wells are then used by pink cockatoos, marsupial martens, emus and other steppe inhabitants.
Lifestyle
Kangaroos forage at night and rest in burrows or grass nests during the day. They live in groups of 10 - 12 individuals. A male is at the head of a small herd, he has several females and small cubs. The leader is very jealous - he strictly ensures that other males do not enter his territory. Otherwise, the case ends in a serious duel.
During the sweltering heat, they try to move less, breathe often, open their mouths wide and lick their paws. If there is no way to hide in the shade from the scorching sun, they dig shallow holes in the sand.
Kangaroo animal feed on plant foods. In addition to steppe grass, they are very fond of finding cereals, roots and tubers in pastures and homesteads, which cause significant harm to Australian farmers.
Enemies
In the wild, the red kangaroo has few enemies: dingoes, foxes and. If necessary, the marsupial can perfectly stand up for itself, using fighting techniques with the help of its hind legs. They successfully flee, reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour.
The main enemy of the kangaroo is man. Farmers and pastoralists deal with pesky pasture-eating animals in various ways. The Australian red kangaroo is of great interest to hunters - its dietary meat is rich in proteins and contains only 2% fat. Skins are used to make clothes, shoes and other products.
reproduction
Kangaroo pregnancy does not last very long - from one to one and a half months. A tiny and completely helpless cub is born, only 3 centimeters in size. He immediately fits into the bag and spends the next two and a half months there, feeding on his mother's milk.
The voice of a baby kangaroo
Having got a little stronger, the kangaroo begins to make short sorties, instantly jumping back at the slightest danger. Usually he hides in a bag for up to 8 months or just warms himself in it. After that, the cub begins to gradually gain independence. The life expectancy of a kangaroo is about 20 years.
- The history of the word "kangaroo" is associated with a fascinating legend. James Cook, being on the new continent for the first time and noticing an unusual animal, asked a local resident what it was called. The aborigine replied: "Ken-gu-ru", that is, "I don't understand you", and Cook decided that this was the name of an exotic beast.
- The principle of carrying a cub in a bag on the stomach formed the basis of modern baby carriers, which are called kangaroo backpacks.
There are many unusual and mysterious animals in Australia, and a special place among them is occupied by kangaroos, or rather, the kangaroo family, which includes large and medium kangaroos, wallaroos and wallabies. There are also kangaroo rats, small animals similar to wallabies, but this is an independent family in the suborder Macropodiformes of the order of Dictate marsupials, which includes kangaroos.
The most famous features of kangaroos are the presence of a bag for carrying cubs and a characteristic way of movement, jumping, which allows you to quickly move and overcome various obstacles. Someone, perhaps, will remember the difficult nature of the kangaroo, leading to skirmishes and fights of adult males. But in fact, these animals still have many differences and unusual features. Some of their secrets are still a mystery to scientists.
This article does not promise a complete set of encyclopedic knowledge about the kangaroo, but is intended to tell in detail about this animal, the myths associated with it, as well as interesting facts about the kangaroo.
Appearance
Firstly, the kangaroo family is very diverse and includes more than 50 species from the smallest, up to 30 cm tall, to giant animals over 1.5 meters, reaching a weight of 90 kg. The largest members of the family are gray and red (red) kangaroos, some males of which grow up to 3 meters and weigh up to 100 kg. The physique of all members of the family is similar - powerful developed hind legs, a thick tail and small, human-like hands. The appearance determined the characteristic way of movement - springy jumps on the hind legs. Jumps of some adults reach 12 meters in length and 3 meters in height, in case of danger, kangaroos reach speeds of up to 60 km / h. A thick tail during the jump serves as a balancer, and in a calm state - an additional support, standing on its hind legs and using the tail of a kangaroo, they keep the body in an upright position. In case of danger, kangaroos inflict strong blows with their hind legs, often breaking the bones of the attacking animal. The front, underdeveloped paws with sharp claws are used to dig up roots and succulent stems.
Kangaroos cannot move backwards. The Australians noticed this and, together with the emu, which also cannot walk backwards, placed a kangaroo on the unofficial part of the Australian coat of arms above the motto "Australia, forward!", Thus symbolizing progress, only forward movement followed by the country.
Habitat
An amazing feature of kangaroos is that they can do without water for a long time, sometimes for months. They take water from plants, sometimes during dry periods, peel off the bark of trees and lick the juice. Suffering from the heat, kangaroos lick the skin, cooling in this way, but they drink water in extremely rare cases.
Kangaroos are social animals, they live both in small groups, consisting of a male with several females and cubs, and in large flocks of up to 100 kangaroos. In case of danger, kangaroos warn their fellow tribesmen by tapping their paws on the ground. Only mountain kangaroos, wallaroo, prefer to live alone. Old male wallaroos are also very aggressive. If other types of large kangaroos do not attack themselves, preferring to run away from danger, and use their special fighting techniques - claws and powerful kicks as protection, then wallaras are very pugnacious. Vallarus scratch and bite, but surprisingly, they never use their strongest tool - their legs. Why is a mystery! In Australia, kangaroo fights are widespread, they are arranged as entertainment for tourists, and for the inhabitants of the country this is a whole industry with bets on the tote.
reproduction features
Another amazing feature of kangaroos is their breeding system. Like all marsupials, their cubs are born very premature and are finally formed in their mother's pouch. But, a new kangaroo cub appears every year, as soon as the previous one finally leaves the bag. It turns out that immediately after birth, and at the marsh wallaby the day before, female kangaroos mate. The new embryo freezes in development and remains in this state until a certain “signal” - the bag is released. Thus, a caring mother can have 3 cubs at the same time - one adult who has just left the pouch, the second growing up in the pouch and the third - an embryo in pause mode.
By the way, only the female kangaroo has a bag, and she controls it using special muscles. Thus, the mother herself decides when to release the cub into the wild. When swimming, these muscles reliably protect the cub, so that not a single drop of water seeps inside. Inside the bag there are 4 nipples, each of which produces milk that differs in composition, which is required at different age periods of the cub. If a mother has 2 babies of different ages, then each will receive their own milk, which is required for development. Previously, there was an opinion that the cubs were immediately born in the bag, but in fact, a tiny born, completely unformed baby crawls into the bag along a path licked in fur and clings to the nourishing nipple. He can’t suck himself yet, so the mother, controlling the muscles of the nipple, injects milk, the nipple swells and wedges in the baby’s mouth. In such a "suspended" position, the cub will be until it grows up.
Kangaroos are also very loving and caring mothers. Not only do they feed and protect already grown cubs, let them into their bag in case of danger or simply when they need their mother's warmth, even if the younger brother is already growing in the bag. During the attack, leaving the chase, the female imperceptibly throws the cub out of the bag into the bushes or tall grass, saving him from persecution and diverting attention to herself. Later, she will definitely return for him if she herself manages to escape.
natural enemies
In nature, kangaroos have few natural enemies. Young kangaroos of smaller species are attacked by dingoes, foxes, or birds of prey. After the extermination of the main enemy of the kangaroo, the marsupial wolf, there were no serious opponents. Most of all they are bothered by sand flies, swarming in clouds near water bodies. Insects bite animals, stick to the eyes and often lead to blindness.
The scale of kangaroo populations depends on the species. Larger species have grown exponentially in recent years, and it is estimated that there are now three times as many kangaroos in Australia as there are people. Some species have become extinct or have been extirpated. Other species are shot for valuable fur and meat. Kangaroo meat is considered very healthy, as it contains a minimal amount of fat. If you do not regulate the number of some species, then highly prolific, kangaroos cause great harm to pastures and crops. Some types of kangaroos are specially bred on farms. Medium-sized wallabies are often caught for zoos in other countries, where they take root and breed well. In captivity, kangaroos are easily tamed and even interact with visitors.
And finally, we note that in Australian English, the male, female and child types of kangaroos use their own words. Males are called old man or "boomer", females - "doe" or "flyer", and the cub - "joey".
Kangaroo- jumping animals with a bag on their stomach. They are found only in distant Australia.
When the navigator Cook set foot on the Australian coast, he saw strange animals. They were as tall as him, and jumped like grasshoppers. Cook asked who it was, and the local natives called the word "kangaroo". Cook and his comrades decided that this was the name of the animals. Later it turned out that this word meant: "I do not understand." But it was too late, all over the world they got used to calling this marsupial mammal that way. Australians are proud that it lives only in their country, and even placed its image on their flag.
Appearance and features
This animal differs in that it has very powerful hind legs and a long tail. When the kangaroo sits, it rests comfortably on its tail, and during the jump it pushes off with it, as with another leg. He can jump very far and high, sometimes 10 meters. The front paws serve the kangaroo mainly for food. But not only. Sharp claws on the paws can protect from offenders. The most interesting feature of this animal is the bag in which the mother carries the babies. The bag is smooth inside and covered with fur along the edges so that the cub does not freeze. Males do not have such a bag.
Nutrition
Marsupials are not carnivores at all. They eat grass, sometimes they eat fruits. But without water, they can live for a very long time, like camels.
The appearance of the baby
Mother kangaroos have babies every year. Only after being born, they themselves climb into the bag and live there for 8 months, eating their mother's milk. After all, a small cub is born completely naked. And its size is no bigger than a peanut. It takes a lot of strength to grow up and become as tall as an adult man. Mom protects her son or daughter, cleans and closes the bag when it's cold or raining. If there are kangaroos of different ages in the bag, there will be separate milk for each of them. Different fat content, just like in the store.
Types of kangaroos and where they live
We all know the red kangaroo, but in fact there are more than 50 species of these marsupials. They are huge, twice as tall as a person, and very small, like our hare. And the colors of all species are different, gray, red, and even red. They live in the steppes, mountains, deserts, and some species even on trees.
Friends and Enemies
Usually these animals live in packs, they have one leader and several females. Predators are afraid of them and do not attack. But sand flies are very harmful. They fly into the eyes of animals, and can even blind them.
Where they feed them and show them to all visitors. And they are friendly to tourists, and even allow themselves to be photographed. Interestingly, there are more kangaroos in Australia than people.
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Kangaroo (Macropodinae) is a subfamily of marsupial mammals. Body length from 30 to 160 cm, tail - from 30 to 110 cm, kangaroos weigh from 2 to 70 kg. 11 genera, uniting about 40 species. Distributed in Australia, on the islands of New Guinea, Tasmania, on the Bismarck archipelago. Most species are terrestrial forms; They live on plains overgrown with dense tall grass and shrubs. Some are adapted to climbing trees, others live in rocky places.
Twilight animals; usually kept in groups, very cautious. Herbivorous, but some eat worms and insects. They breed once a year. Pregnancy is very short - 30-40 days. They give birth to 1-2 underdeveloped cubs (in a giant kangaroo, the body length of a cub is about 3 cm) and carry them in a bag for 6-8 months. For the first months, the cub is tightly attached to the nipple with its mouth and milk is periodically injected into its mouth.
The number of kangaroos is very different. Large species are heavily exterminated, some small ones are numerous. At high concentrations, kangaroos can harm pastures, some species destroy crops. Object of trade (use valuable fur and meat). Kangaroos are caught for zoos, where they breed well.
The kangaroo was first described by James Cook. There is a very common legend on this subject, according to which, when asked by the researcher: “What kind of animal is this?”, The leader of the local tribe answered: “I don’t understand”, which for Cook sounded like “kangaroo”. However, there is another version of getting the name of the legendary Australian jumper - it is believed that the word "gangurru" means the animal itself in the language of the natives of northeastern Australia.
There are many varieties of kangaroos in the world. It is customary to distinguish about 60 species of these animals. The largest kangaroo, Red or Gray, can weigh up to 90 kg (the male is always larger than the female, so it makes sense to determine the weight limit based on it), the smallest is about 1 kg (female).
Kangaroo is the only large animal that moves by jumping. In this, he is helped by strong muscular legs with elastic Achilles tendons, which act like springs during the jump, and a long powerful tail, adapted to maintain balance during jumping. Kangaroo makes standard jumps within 12 meters in length and 3 in height. Fully transferring the weight of its body to the tail, the kangaroo, with the help of the released hind legs, can fight with its opponent.
Kangaroos live in the Australian bush. They can also be seen on the beaches or in the mountains. Kangaroos are generally very common in the wild. During the day they like to rest in shady places, and at night they are active. This habit, by the way, often causes accidents on rural Australian roads, where kangaroos blinded by bright headlights can easily collide with a passing car. A special kind of tree kangaroo has also adapted to climbing trees.
Kangaroos can develop great speed. So the largest Red Kangaroos, usually moving at a speed of 20 km / h, can, if necessary, cover short distances at a speed of 70 km / h.
Kangaroos don't live long. About 9-18 years, although there are known cases when individual animals lived up to 30 years.
All kangaroos have bags. No, only females have bags. Male kangaroos do not have a pouch.
Kangaroos can only move forward. The large tail and the unusual shape of the hind legs prevent them from moving backward.
Kangaroos live in herds. If you can call it that, a small group of a male and a few females.
Kangaroo is a herbivore. Basically, they feed on leaves, grass and young roots, which they dig with their front, hand-like paws. Musk rat kangaroos also eat insects and worms.
Kangaroos are very shy. They try not to approach the person themselves, and not to let him close to them. Less shy can be called animals fed by tourists, and the friendliest on this list will be individuals living in special wildlife reserves.
Female kangaroos are constantly pregnant. The kangaroo's pregnancy itself lasts about one month, after which the kangaroo stays in the bag for about 9 months, occasionally getting out.
Kangaroos give birth a few weeks after conception. The female kangaroo does this in a sitting position, sticking her tail between her legs. The cub is born very small (no more than 25 grams) and gains further strength in the mother's pouch, where it crawls immediately after birth. There he finds extremely nutritious and, very important for his immature immune system, antibacterial milk.
Female kangaroos can produce two types of milk. This happens because two babies can be in a kangaroo bag: one is a newborn, the second is almost an adult.
A kangaroo cub that gets out of the bag may die. In fact, this applies only to the smallest, not yet formed kangaroos, which cannot live outside the protective and nutritious environment of the mother's body. Kangaroos at the age of several months may leave the rescue bag for a short time.
Kangaroos do not hibernate. Pure truth.
Kangaroo meat can be eaten. It is believed that it was kangaroos that served as the main source of meat for the Aborigines of Australia over the past 60 thousand years. Currently, a number of Australian scientists, referring to the small amount of harmful gases emitted by kangaroos in the process of life, propose to replace them in the food chain with all the usual, but extremely harmful, cows and sheep. Actually, the kangaroo meat industry in modern history dates back to 1994, when active supplies of kangaroo meat went to the European market from Australia.
Kangaroos are dangerous to humans. Basically, kangaroos are quite shy and try not to approach a person even at close range, but a few years ago there were cases when brutalized kangaroos drowned dogs and attacked people, mostly women. Most often, the cause of animal bitterness is called ordinary hunger in the arid regions of Australia.