KANGAROO is the largest marsupial (an animal that carries its young in a pouch in the abdomen). Kangaroos are native to Australia and neighboring islands. There are many different kinds and sizes of kangaroos. The smallest, called wallabies, are as small as a rabbit.
The largest, called the great kangaroos, may grow 7 feet tall and weigh about 200 pounds. Fossil bones left in rocks show that one kangaroo that lived long ago grew twice as large as any living kind of kangaroo.
The kangaroo has large powerful hind legs, and small front legs. It also has a long, thick, powerful tail. It moves in a series of leaps, using its strong hind legs.
The leaps may be only a few feet long, or several times as long as the animal. Large bkangaroos can hop along at speeds up to 25 miles an hour. Some kangaroos live in trees, and can leap as far as 50 feet to the ground.
The kangaroo usually sits in a watchful, upright position ,resting on its tail and two hind legs.
When grazing, it may drop their hindpaws and forepaws. The animal’s head is small, and looks like a deer’s. Most species have large ears that stand straight up, and a long muzzle like a deer.
Baby kangaroos are called joeys. There may be three in a litter, but rarely do the parents raise more than one.
Joeys are very tiny and undeveloped when they are born. Usually they are only about an inch long. But they can always find their own way into the mother’s pouch, which is like a pocket in her abdomen. There she feeds and cares for them until they are able to hop about with their parents. They may remain in the pouch for weeks, and sometimes as long as 6 months.
The kangaroo is timid, and does not like to attack other animals. It depends on its keen sight, hearing, and smell, and on its great speed to escape from its enemies.
But, if cornered, it will defend itself vigorously.
It can strike hard blows with its strong hind legs, while it sup ports itself on its powerful tail. The kangaroo’s feet make good weapons. Each foot has four toes, one of which has a long claw that is especially dangerous.
Kangaroos are gentle in captivity. They can be tamed, and have been trained to perform in boxing acts in circuses. Kangaroos live about 15 years.
Kangaroos do not live in any one place, but travel from place to place in groups, called mobs. At one time many kangaroos traveled in these mobs. But today the mobs are quite small.
The kangaroo eats herbs and grasses. It has very sharp teeth, and clips the vegetation closer to the ground than do most grazing animals. For this reason kangaroos have become a nuisance to stock raisers, and have been killed.
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