The kangaroo is an amazing marsupial mammal. Description of kangaroo, photo, video

There are a huge number of different animals on our planet, but, perhaps, without kangaroos, life on earth would be less interesting. Kangaroo – marsupial and its genus contains more than fifty species.

Kangaroos inhabit many dry areas of the earth. There are a lot of them in New Guinea, they settled on the Bismarck Islands, they can be found in Germany and even in good old England. By the way, these animals have long adapted to life in countries where winter is quite cold, and snowdrifts sometimes reach the waist.

Kangaroo– unofficial symbol Australia and their image, paired with the Emu ostrich, is included in the coat of arms of this continent. They were probably put on the coat of arms due to the fact that these representatives of the fauna can only move forward and it is not in their rules to move back.

In general, it is impossible for a kangaroo to move backwards, because it is hampered by a long, thick tail and massive hind legs, the shape of which is very unusual. Huge, strong hind limbs enable kangaroos to jump at distances that no other animal species existing on earth can reach.

So, a kangaroo jumps three meters in height, and its jump reaches 12.0 m in length. And it should be noted that these animals can develop a very decent speed - 50-60 km/h, which is the permitted speed of a passenger car within the boundaries of cities. The role of a certain balance in an animal is played by the tail, which helps to maintain balance in any situation.

Kangaroo animal It has interesting structure bodies. Head, somewhat reminiscent of appearance deer, extremely small in size when compared with its body.

The shoulder part is narrow, the front legs are short, covered with hair, poorly developed and have five fingers, at the ends of which there are sharp claws. Moreover, the fingers are very mobile. With them, the kangaroo can grab and hold whatever it decides to use for lunch, and also do its “hair” - the kangaroo combs its fur with the help of its long front fingers.

The body in the lower part of the animal is much better developed than the upper part of the body. The thigh, hind legs, tail - all elements are massive and powerful. The hind limbs have four toes, but interestingly, the second and third toes are united by a membrane, and the fourth ends with a tenacious, strong claw.

The entire body of a kangaroo is covered with thick, short hair, which protects the animal from the heat and keeps it warm in cold weather. The coloring is not too bright and there are only a few colors - sometimes gray with an ashy tint, brown-brown and muted red.

The size range is varied. Large specimens are found in nature; their mass reaches one hundred kilograms and their height is one and a half meters. But also in nature there are species of kangaroos that are the size of a large rat and this, for example, is characteristic of kangaroos from the rat family, although they are more often called kangaroo rats. At all, kangaroo world As animals it is very diverse, there are even marsupials that live in trees - tree kangaroos.

Pictured is a tree kangaroo

Regardless of the species, kangaroos can move only using their hind limbs. While on the pasture, when the kangaroo eats plant food, the animal holds its body in a position almost parallel to the ground - horizontally. And when the kangaroo does not eat, the body takes a vertical position.

It should be noted that the kangaroo cannot move its lower limbs sequentially, as many species of animals usually do. They move by jumping, pushing off simultaneously with both hind legs.

It was already mentioned earlier that it is for this reason that a kangaroo cannot move backward - only forward. Jumping is a difficult and very expensive activity in terms of energy consumption.

If a kangaroo takes a good pace, it will not be able to withstand it for more than 10 minutes and will become exhausted. Although, this time will be quite enough to escape, or rather, gallop away from the enemy.

Experts who study kangaroos say that the secret of the animal’s incredible jumping ability lies not only in its powerful massive hind legs, but also imagine in its tail, which, as was said earlier, is a kind of balancer.

And when sitting, this is an excellent support and, among other things, when kangaroos sit leaning on their tail, they thus allow the muscles of the hind legs to relax.

Character and lifestyle of a kangaroo

To understand more deeply what a kangaroo animal, then it is better to go to Australia or visit a zoo that has these creatures. Kangaroos are considered animals that lead a herd lifestyle.

They mostly gather in groups, the number of which can sometimes reach up to 25 individuals. True, rat kangaroos, as well as mountain kangaroos, are relatives of the kangaroo family and are solitary by nature and do not tend to lead a group lifestyle.

Small-sized species prefer to be active at night, but large species can be active both at night and during the day. However, kangaroos usually graze under moonlight when the heat subsides.

No one occupies a leading position in a herd of marsupials. There are no leaders due to the primitiveness of animals and underdeveloped brains. Although the instinct of self-preservation in kangaroos is well developed.

As soon as one relative gives a signal about the approaching danger, the entire herd will rush in all directions. The animal gives a signal with its voice, and its cry is very reminiscent of a cough when a heavy smoker coughs. Nature has endowed marsupials with good hearing, so they can recognize even a quiet signal at a considerable distance.

Kangaroos do not tend to live in shelters. Only kangaroos from the rat family live in burrows. IN wildlife Representatives of the marsupial breed have countless enemies.

When there were no predators in Australia yet (predators of the European breed were brought to the continent by people), they were hunted by wild dingoes, wolves from the marsupial family, and small kangaroo species they were eaten by marsupials, of which there are incredibly many in Australia and from the order of carnivores.

Of course, large species of kangaroo can give a good rebuff to an animal attacking it, but small individuals are not able to protect themselves and their offspring. It would be hard to call a kangaroo a daredevil; they usually run away from their pursuer.

But when a predator drives them into a corner, they defend themselves very desperately. It is interesting to observe how a kangaroo defending itself, as a retaliatory blow, inflicts a series of deafening slaps in the face with its hind limbs, while “gently” hugging the enemy with its front paws.

It is reliably known that a blow inflicted by a kangaroo can kill the first time, and a person, when meeting an angry kangaroo, risks ending up in a hospital bed with fractures of varying severity.

Interesting fact: local residents say that when a kangaroo escapes persecution, they try to lure the enemy into the water and drown it there. At least, dingoes have experienced this many times.

Kangaroos often settle close to people. They are often found on the outskirts of big cities, near farms. The animal is not a pet, but the presence of people does not frighten it.

They very quickly get used to the fact that a person feeds them, but kangaroos cannot stand a familiar attitude towards themselves, and when trying to pet them, they are always wary, and sometimes they can attack.

Nutrition

Plant food - daily diet kangaroo. Herbivores chew their food twice, like ruminants. First they chew, swallow, and then regurgitate a small part and chew again. There are bacteria in the animal's stomach special type, which significantly facilitate the digestion of tough plant foods.

Kangaroos living in trees naturally feed on leaves and fruits growing there. Kangaroos, belonging to the rat family, prefer fruits, roots, and plant bulbs, however, they also like insects. Kangaroos cannot be called a water drinker, because they drink very little and can for a long time do without life-giving moisture at all.

Reproduction and lifespan of kangaroos

Kangaroos do not have a breeding season as such. They can mate all year round. But nature has fully endowed animals with reproductive processes. The body of a female individual is, in fact, a producer of offspring, put on a wide stream, like a factory for producing cubs.

Males every now and then arrange mating fights and the one who emerges victorious does not waste time in vain. The gestation period is very short - pregnancy lasts only 40 days and one, less often two cubs, up to 2 centimeters in size, are born. This is interesting: The female can delay the appearance of the next offspring until the first litter is weaned.

The most amazing thing is that the offspring is actually born as an underdeveloped embryo, but instinct allows them to find their own way into the mother’s pouch. The mother helps a little along the first path in life, licking the baby’s fur as he moves, but he overcomes everything else on his own.

Having reached the warm mother's pouch, the baby spends the first two months of life there. The female knows how to control the bag with the help of muscle contractions and this helps her, for example, to close the marsupial compartment during rain and then the water cannot soak the small kangaroo.

Kangaroos can live on average fifteen years in captivity. Although there are cases where the animal lived to an advanced age - 25-30 years and by the standards of a kangaroo became a long-liver.

How diverse the world is, how many amazing plants and animals live on our planet! And so a prominent representative nature, the kangaroo can safely be considered another of its miracles. Surely everyone knows in which country the kangaroo lives. Of course, in Australia. But many may have a question about where kangaroos live, besides Australia. And they also live in Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and Tasmania. In total there are more than fifty species of these animals. They all vary in size and weight. Eat giant kangaroos: red and gray, there are kangaroo rats, wallabies - medium-sized individuals, and others.

Kangaroo: description of the animal

This animal is a marsupial. The growth of gigantic kangaroos is quite impressive. Males grow from one hundred to one hundred and seventy centimeters in height, and weigh from twenty to forty kilograms. Females are slightly smaller, their height is from seventy-five centimeters to one meter, their weight is from eighteen to twenty-two kilograms. The coat color ranges from light gray to reddish red. All kangaroos have a naked black nose and long ears. Thanks to such ears, the animal can catch even the most faint sounds, which allows you to hear the approach of the enemy in time.

Kangaroos have very long hind legs and a tail, thanks to which the animal maintains balance while moving. And they move exclusively by jumping. Thanks to its powerful hind legs, the animal reaches speeds of up to 60 km/h when running, and up to 90 km/h when running away from a predator. But at this speed the animal can only run for a short time. Its front legs are short, with very long claws, with which they defend themselves from predators and dig holes in search of water. And thanks to their claws, males sort things out with each other.

The question arises: how long do kangaroos live? And they live for about eighteen years. They reach sexual maturity at about two years of age. Animals can mate throughout the year. The female's pregnancy lasts thirty-two days. A baby kangaroo is called a joey. He is born blind and without fur, and also absolutely tiny - two and a half centimeters. Immediately after birth, the cub crawls to its mother's pouch, where it remains for up to six months. Having reached the age of six months, the baby begins to take his first steps, but still returns to the pouch. There he lives for up to nine months. It should be noted that only females have a pouch. It has four nipples. The female simultaneously produces several types of milk for different ages your cub. The fact is that she, having still quite little cub, may be pregnant. And the bag can contain several cubs of different ages at once. The female kangaroo can regulate the size of her bag - making it larger or smaller. Joey is growing and therefore needs more space, but when the mother moves, the walls of the pouch are compressed so that the baby does not jump out.

Animal lifestyle. Where do kangaroos live in Australia?

Animals live in rocky areas of the continent. There they feel more secure. Kangaroos are social animals. The family consists of a male and several females. When the cub reaches sexual maturity, he leaves the family and creates his own. These animals feed exclusively plant foods. During drought, they can independently obtain water by digging deep (up to one meter deep) holes. They can also get the water they need from food. Animals lead night look life. It is at dusk that they go out to pastures to eat lush grass, and during the day they rest in the shade of trees, hiding from the scorching sun. If any animal hears the approach of an enemy, it immediately begins to loudly knock with its hind legs, warning its relatives of the danger. From time immemorial, on the continent where kangaroos live, there were no predators, and the animals felt absolutely safe.

But with the arrival of Europeans on the island, a threat loomed over the kangaroos. Some brought dogs went wild - they began to be called And now they have become the main enemies of the kangaroo. When attacked by a predator, the animal tries to lure it into the water and drown it. If there is no body of water nearby, then the kangaroo runs to the nearest tree, rests its back against it and delivers a crushing blow with its hind legs. And the paws are really strong. A kangaroo can easily jump over a three-meter fence. Where the kangaroo lives, others large predators No. But animals may be subject to another misfortune. Very dangerous for kangaroos are midges, which clog the eyes, causing severe inflammation. The animal may go blind!

Kangaroos trust people and are practically not afraid of them. Very often these animals can be found in the park or forest. If you go to where kangaroos live and you are lucky enough to meet them, then there is a high probability that the animal will even allow itself to be photographed.

History of the name of the animal

The animal received such an eccentric name - “kangaroo” - thanks to the discoverers of a continent unknown at that time. When the Europeans saw these amazing animals, they asked the aborigines: “Who is this?” To which the locals responded, “Ken Gu Ru,” which translates to “we don’t understand.” The sailors thought that this was the name of the animal. That’s how the name “kangaroo” stuck to him.

Kangaroo Island

Near Australia there is an island where kangaroos live. This territory has not yet been fully developed by humans, so animals feel very good here. The fauna in this area is presented in its original form. The number of kangaroos on the island is very large.

Wallaby

Wallaby is a marsupial belonging to the Kangaroo family. It represents exact copy a gigantic kangaroo, only in a reduced form. These animals reach seventy centimeters in height and weigh up to twenty kilograms. There are up to fifteen species of this animal, some are on the verge of extinction - such as striped wallabies. Almost nothing remains of the once abundant species. They are found only on two islands located off the west coast of Australia. There are mountain wallabies, and there are swamp wallabies. They do not differ in appearance and habits - only in their habitat.

Where do wallabies live?

Mountain wallabies live in bushland and are found throughout Australia. Like their brothers, giant kangaroos lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. They feed on lush grass, tree bark and young shoots. Swamp wallabies live on wet plains.

The amazing thing is that wallabies can be kept in quality pet. They are easily tamed. But to do this, you need to take an animal that has not yet been weaned off milk and feed it yourself from a bottle. Otherwise, the animal will be very difficult to tame.

Kangaroo rat

The second name of the animal is musk kangaroo. This animal is small in size. Its body reaches a length of forty centimeters, a third is the tail. It is covered with dark thick fur, on which red specks can be seen. The fur on the hind legs is dark brown, but the feet are completely bare. In appearance, the animals are very similar to ordinary kangaroos. The animals live in hard-to-reach thickets along river banks. These animals lead a daily lifestyle, lazily digging into plant waste looking for insects earthworms and plant tubers. They also eat grass, tree bark and palm tree fruits. Females carry their young in a pouch.

Brush-tailed kangaroo

This marsupial is the size of a rabbit. Its fur is quite long, the upper part is dark in color with black speckles, and the fur on its belly is off-white. This species of kangaroo gets its name from the ridge of shaggy black hair on part of its tail. Its body length is sixty-seven centimeters, of which thirty-one is the tail. The animal digs holes in the ground, which it lines with grass and branches, creating a kind of nest. The brush-tailed kangaroo chooses a place for its bed in dense thickets grass, so it is very difficult to see it in the wild. They lie in nests and come out to feed at night. The animals feed on grass and plant roots, which they very deftly dig out of the ground.

Australia is the country where kangaroos live - amazing place. And if you have the opportunity to visit this wonderful continent, go. At least to see the wonderful kangaroos with your own eyes.

1. Kangaroos are the most famous marsupial animals, 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.

3. Externally, kangaroos do not resemble any other animal: their head and neck resemble those of a deer middle length, the body is slender in the front and widens in the back, the limbs are of different sizes - the front ones are relatively small, and the rear ones are very long and powerful, the tail is thick and long. The front paws are five-fingered, have well-developed toes, and look more like a primate hand than a dog's paw. Nevertheless, the fingers end in rather large claws.

5. The hind legs have only four toes (the thumb is reduced), with the second and third toes fused. The kangaroo's body is covered with short, thick hair, which protects the animals well from heat and cold. The color of most species is protective - gray, red, brown, some species may have white stripes. The sizes of kangaroos vary widely: the largest red kangaroos reach a height of 1.5 m and weigh up to 85-90 kg, and the smallest species are only 30 cm long and weigh 1-1.5 kg! All types of kangaroos are conventionally divided into three groups by size: the three largest species are called gigantic kangaroos, the medium-sized kangaroos are called wallabies, and the smallest species are called rat kangaroos or kangaroo rats.

7. The kangaroo's habitat 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, living throughout the continent, and endemics, found only in a limited area (for example, in New Guinea). The habitat of these animals is very diverse: most species inhabit open forests, grassy and desert plains, but there are also those that live... in the mountains!

8. It turns out that a kangaroo among the rocks is a completely normal phenomenon, for example, mountain views Wallabies can rise to the level of snow.

9. But the most unusual... are tree kangaroos that live in dense forests. They spend most of their lives on tree branches and very deftly climb in the crowns, and at times jump over trunks in short jumps. Considering that their tail and hind legs are not at all tenacious, then such balancing is amazing.

10. All types of kangaroos move on their hind legs; while grazing, they hold their body horizontally and can rest their front paws on the ground, while alternately pushing off with their hind and forelimbs. In all other cases, kangaroos hold the body in vertical position. Interestingly, kangaroos are not able to move their paws sequentially, as other two-legged animals (birds, primates) do and push off the ground with both paws at the same time. For this reason, kangaroos cannot move backwards. Actually walking is unknown to these animals; they move only by jumping, and this is a very energy-consuming method of movement! On the one hand, kangaroos have phenomenal jumping ability and are able to make jumps several times greater than their body length, on the other hand, they spend a lot of energy on such movement, so they are not very durable. Large species of kangaroo can maintain a good pace for no more than 10 minutes. However, this time is enough to hide from enemies, because the length of the jump of the largest red kangaroo can reach 9 and even 12 m, and the speed is 50 km/h! Red kangaroos can jump up to 2 m in height.

11. Other species have more modest achievements, but in any case, kangaroos are the fastest animals in their habitat. The secret of such jumping ability lies not so much in the powerful muscles of the paws, but in... the tail. The tail serves as a very effective balancer during jumping and as a fulcrum when sitting; leaning on the kangaroo's tail relieves the muscles of the hind limbs.

12. Kangaroos are herd animals and live 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 kangaroo herd and in general their social connections are not developed. This behavior is due to the general primitiveness of marsupials and poor development cerebral cortex. Their interaction is limited to monitoring their fellow animals - as soon as one animal gives an alarm, the rest take to their heels. The kangaroo's voice 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 homes, with the exception of rat kangaroos, which live in burrows.

13. Kangaroos feed on plant foods, which they can chew twice, regurgitating part of the digested food and chewing it again, like ruminants. The kangaroo's stomach has a complex structure and is populated with bacteria that facilitate the digestion of food. Most species feed exclusively on grass, eating it in large quantities. Tree kangaroos they 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.

14. Kangaroos do not have a specific breeding season, but their reproductive processes are very intense. In fact, the female’s body is a “factory” for the production of its own kind. Excited males engage in fights, during which they lock their front paws together and hit each other hard in the stomach with their hind paws. In such a fight, the tail plays an important role, on which the males literally rely on their fifth leg.

15. Pregnancy in kangaroos is very short, for example, female gray giant kangaroos carry a baby 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 most large species). It is surprising that such a premature fetus has complex instincts that allow it to independently (!) reach the mother’s pouch. The female helps him by licking a path in the fur, but the embryo crawls without outside help! To appreciate the scale of this phenomenon, imagine if human children were born 1-2 months after conception and independently found their mother's breasts blindly. Having climbed into the mother's pouch, the baby kangaroo attaches itself to one of the nipples for a long time and spends the first 1-2 months in the pouch.

16. At this time, the female is already ready for mating. While the older kangaroo is growing up, the younger one is born. Thus, the female’s pouch can contain two cubs of different ages at the same time. Having matured, the cub begins to look out of the bag, and then climb out of it. True, for a long time after, a completely independent cub, at the slightest danger, climbs into the mother’s pouch. The kangaroo's pouch is formed by very elastic skin, so it can stretch greatly and withstand the heavy weight of a grown cub. Quokka kangaroos went even further, in which two embryos are conceived at once, one of which develops, and the second does not. If the first baby dies, the second one immediately begins to develop, so the quokkas do not waste time mating again. However, in large kangaroos there are also cases of twins and triplets being born. The lifespan of a kangaroo is 10-15 years.

17. In nature, kangaroos have many enemies. Previously, large kangaroos were hunted by dingoes and marsupial wolves (now exterminated), small ones were hunted by marsupial martens, birds of prey, and snakes. After the introduction of European predators to Australia and the adjacent islands, foxes and cats joined their natural enemies. If small species are defenseless against predators, then large kangaroos can fend for themselves. Usually, in case of danger, they prefer to flee, but a driven kangaroo can suddenly turn to the pursuer and “hug” him with his front paws, delivering powerful blows with his hind paws. A blow from the back leg can kill an ordinary dog ​​and seriously injure a person. In addition, there are cases where kangaroos escaped into ponds and drowned dogs chasing them in the water.

Predators are not the only problem with kangaroos. Enormous harm is caused to them by food competitors introduced by people: rabbits, sheep, cows. They deprive kangaroos of natural food, which is why many species have been pushed into arid desert areas. Small species are not able to migrate over long distances, so they simply disappear under the pressure of aliens. In turn, people view kangaroos as their competitors and unwanted neighbors, so they hunt them all possible ways. If earlier kangaroos were hunted for meat and skins, now they are simply shot, poisoned by dogs or set in traps. Australia is a major global supplier of kangaroo meat. True, his taste qualities inferior to meat livestock, therefore it is used in the production of canned food for the same dogs or as an exotic component of restaurant cuisine.

19. The total impact of all unfavorable factors is great, small species of kangaroos are especially vulnerable, most of them are on the verge of destruction. Large species have adapted to live near people and can often be found on the outskirts of cities, rural farms, golf courses, and parks. Kangaroos quickly get used to the presence of people; they behave calmly around them, but do not tolerate familiarity: attempts to pet and feed animals can cause aggression. But you need to understand that such a reaction is due to the instinct of protecting the territory. In zoos, kangaroos are more affectionate to staff and are not dangerous. They take root and reproduce well in captivity and attract many visitors. Together with the emu, the kangaroo appears on the coat of arms of Australia and symbolizes eternal movement forward (since they cannot back away).

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 maintain balance.

Therefore, it is impossible to catch up with the animal, especially since during its flight it is capable of anything: once a large red kangaroo, fleeing from farmers, jumped over a three-meter fence. If someone who wants to taste 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 order of two-incisors (they have two large incisors on the lower jaw). This word is used in two meanings:

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

Representatives of the family live both in arid regions and tropical forests on the territory of Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, on the Bismarck Islands. IN late XIX- beginning of the 20th century They took root well on the territory of Germany and England, reproduced successfully and even tolerated snowy winters well, but they were powerless against poachers, who completely exterminated them.

Description

Depending on the species, representatives of the family have a length from 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 the resident of the Australian continent - the great red kangaroo, and the heaviest is the eastern gray kangaroo. The fur of marsupials is soft, thick, and can be gray, black, red and their shades.

The kangaroo is an interesting animal because its upper part is poorly developed. The head is small, the muzzle can be either long or short. 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, and combing fur.

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

This structure makes it possible to successfully defend itself using powerful blows with its hind legs, and move quickly (in this case, the tail replaces the marsupial’s steering wheel). These animals are unable to move backwards; their tail and the shape of their hind legs do not allow them to do so.

Lifestyle

Marsupials prefer to be nocturnal, appearing in the 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 wants to taste kangaroo meat), the message about this is immediately transmitted to the rest of the pack by striking the ground with its hind legs. They often use sounds to convey information - grunting, sneezing, clicking, hissing.

If the area has favorable living conditions (abundance of food, absence of 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 kangaroo chicks growing in the pouch. At the same time, the male very jealously protects 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 travel several tens of kilometers in search of the best feeding areas).

Despite the fact that marsupials are not particularly smart, they are very resourceful and know how to adapt well: if their usual food is no longer enough, they switch to other foods, eating plants that even animals that are not picky about food (for example, dry, hard food) do not eat. and even prickly grass).

Nutrition

Eating marsupials with leaves trees and shrubs, bark, roots, shoots; some species hunt for insects and worms. They either dig up food or cut it off with their teeth, and it is worth noting that they usually either do not have upper fangs at all, or they are poorly developed, but they have 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 easily go for several days and even months without water (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 (at the same time helping other animals suffering from lack of water). During this time, they try not to waste energy: during the dry months, they move less and spend more time in the shade.

Reproduction

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

A female usually gives birth to only one baby kangaroo, less often twins. Before the baby is born, the mother carefully licks the pouch (a fold of skin on the abdomen intended for the development of a baby kangaroo) and makes it clean.

Pregnancy lasts from one to one and a half months, so the baby 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 it is born, it immediately clings to its mother’s fur and crawls into the pouch, in which it 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 initial stage He is not yet able to suck milk; the liquid is released on its own under the influence of a special muscle). By this time, the baby is developing, growing up, gaining sight, growing fur and begins to leave the shelter for a short time, while he is very alert and jumps back at the slightest sound.

After the baby kangaroo begins to leave the pouch for a long time (between 6 and 11 months of age), the mother gives birth to the next baby. Interestingly, the female is able to delay the birth of a baby kangaroo until the previous baby leaves the pouch (it is either too small, or there are unfavorable weather conditions, for example, drought). And then, in case of danger, he will remain in 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 full fat milk, from another - the newborn eats milk with less fat content.

Relationships with people

In nature, the large kangaroo has few enemies: kangaroo meat only attracts 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 damaging crops in 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 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. Clothes, shoes and other products are made from animal skins. Animals are often hunted for sport, so many species are found only in uninhabited areas

If you think about which animals are famous for their jumping ability, then only one representative of the family comes to mind. We are talking about kangaroos, the presented individuals can jump 10 meters in length and even more. And their jumps reach 2.5 meters in height and this is not the limit. Also, individuals can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, overtaking prey. In this material we will consider everything that affects the individuals under discussion so that everyone can form their own opinion.

Description

1. There are quite a lot of varieties of the individuals under discussion, and the overall characteristics of the animals directly depend on this. On average, in terms of body weight they are about 20-100 kg. with a body length of 25-150 cm. The tail has a separate role, it serves as a balance and is 45-100 cm in length. The largest representatives of the family live in Australia, they are red and large. Heavy kangaroos live in the east and are called gray kangaroos.
2. The fur is compacted, gray, red or brown. Can also be combined. It must be soft and uniform. Top part The bodies of the individuals under discussion are poorly developed, most of the load falls on the bottom. The head is small in size and seems disproportionately small compared to the body. The muzzle can be short or elongated.
3. The forelimbs are shortened, poorly developed, and not very muscular. They have 5 fingers, practically no hair, and the claws are strong and long. The shoulders are narrowed. The animal's fingers are spaced at a certain distance; they grab food with them and comb their hair. Compared to the top, the lower section of the body seems gigantic. She is muscular, strong, wide.
4. The hind limbs are strong and long, as is the tail. The thighs are wide and muscular, and there are 4 toes on the paws. There is a membrane between the third and second, the fourth is equipped with a strong and long claw. Due to the special structure of the body, kangaroos can inflict serious blows on the enemy using their hind limbs.
5. The tail acts as a balancer and a kind of rudder. Individuals jump quickly, moving forward, but due to the structure of the body they cannot move backward. Their limb shape does not allow this, and their tail gets in the way.

Habitat

1. All people know kangaroos as the jumping inhabitants of Australia, and this is partly true. However, the presented individuals also live in other territories, for example, in New Guinea, Tasmania and Bismarck. These representatives of the family were also brought to New Zealand.
2. Very often animals can be found near human dwellings. Similar marsupials are found on the outskirts of large and medium-sized cities settlements. They also prefer to live near farmers' farmland.
3. Based on the observations made, we can conclude that these animals are characterized by a terrestrial lifestyle. They live in flat areas, near bushes and among thickets of thorny grass. Tree kangaroos are great at climbing trees, while mountain animals thrive among rocks, stones and hills.

Population

1. The main species of marsupials are not at risk of extinction. However, for certain reasons, the number of goals is decreasing every year. This is due to the occurrence of forest fires, a decrease in the natural habitat of kangaroos, as well as hunting, etc. human activity. As always, it is people who pose the main danger to living beings.
2. In Australia, it is prohibited by law to endanger kangaroos. The gray inhabitants of the western and eastern parts are considered protected. Wild animals are constantly exposed to shelling as a result of hunting.
3. While protecting pastures, farmers mutilate these animals. Poachers shoot for the meat, which is considered a delicacy, as well as for the skin, which is subsequently used for the production of leather goods. The meat is distinguished by its low calorie content and taste.
4. Generally speaking, the presented individuals are not in danger. But they have enemies in natural environment a habitat. Snakes hunt animals large birds, dingoes, and also foxes. To avoid encountering enemies, these individuals prefer to eat once a day in the evening, as soon as the sun sets.

Nutrition

1. To a greater extent, kangaroos prefer to eat grass, so they are considered herbivores. However, among all the diversity of animals, there are varieties that are distinguished by their omnivorous nature. The largest red individuals lean on the prickly and tough grass. Individuals with a short snout feast on roots, tubers, bulbs and other underground parts of plants.
2. Certain species of animals eat mushrooms and are directly involved in sowing their spore powder. Small wallabies are content with grass leaves, seeds, and small fruits. If individuals live in forest areas with moderate humidity, they feed on fruits, foliage, and plants. Arboreal individuals eat bird eggs and the chicks themselves, and gnaw the bark from the tree trunk.
3. The diet may also include clover, alfalfa, eucalyptus leaves, acacia, cereals, and other vegetation. Kangaroos consume cicadas and ferns. Small members of the family are more selective when it comes to food preferences. They go in search of food supply High Quality, often such food takes a long time to digest.
4. Large animals can easily eat low-quality food, but compensate for this with a variety of vegetation. They go to pastures in the late afternoon, but it all depends on weather conditions in the habitat area. If it's hot outside, then kangaroos will wait until the sun goes down, resting in the shade. Then in the late afternoon they go looking for food.
5. A distinctive characteristic of these animals is their undemanding nature in terms of water consumption. Individuals may not touch water for several months, in some cases even longer. The liquid is obtained from plant foods, and dew is also licked from grass and rocks. Some clever members of the species tear off the bark, then content themselves with the sap flowing from the tree.
6. Living in arid areas, large kangaroos have adapted to search for water on their own. They begin to dig wells to a depth of 100 cm or more. Subsequently, these watering holes are used by birds, martens, wild pigeons and other animals. The stomach of individuals can digest hard food; it is huge, but does not have many chambers. Some individuals of this family induce vomiting to get rid of food debris in the stomach. They then chew it again for better absorption.
7. IN digestive system There are more than 40 species of bacteria. They are responsible for the correct functioning and digestion of dietary fiber. Yeast bacteria are also present and serve to create fermentation. If we talk about the diet of animals living in the zoo, they eat herbs, oats, nuts, seeds, crackers, vegetables and fruits, etc.

Lifestyle

1. If you really want to know more about the animals in question, your best bet is to head to Australia and visit national park. In such a place, individuals behave exactly the same as in wild conditions. Kangaroos are animals that lead a herd lifestyle.
2. Most often they gather in small groups, which can number up to 25 individuals. However, mountain wallabies and rat kangaroos prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. They never create groups. There are also small representatives of this species. They are predominantly nocturnal.
3. Large individuals, on the contrary, can be active both during the day and in the evening. The animals in question graze in the moonlight when the heat subsides. The interesting thing is that the kangaroo herd has no leader. They are all equal to each other. Such animals do not have a leader because they are primitive due to their underdeveloped brain.
4. However, the individuals in question have a fairly well developed instinct of self-preservation. It is enough for just one kangaroo to give an alarm signal, and the whole group will immediately rush in different directions. The animal makes a voice that is somewhat reminiscent of a cough. In addition, kangaroos have excellent hearing. Therefore, they can hear the alarm signal at a sufficient distance.
5. It is worth noting that these animals are not accustomed to living in shelters. Only rat kangaroos live in burrows. Concerning natural enemies, then such individuals have a lot of them. Initially, there were no European predators in Australia; later they were brought by people. Therefore, dingoes and marsupial wolves constantly hunted kangaroos. Small kangaroos were attacked by martens, birds of prey and even snakes.
6. As for large individuals, such kangaroos can easily fend for themselves. However, small representatives of the same species are practically helpless. Individuals are not daredevils; on the contrary, they always try to escape from danger. If the predator nevertheless overtakes its prey, the kangaroo tries to defend itself very fiercely.
7. It is quite interesting to watch how the animal defends itself. The kangaroo delivers a series of powerful blows with its hind legs, while the individual rests on its tail. The kangaroo also tries to grab the offender with its front paws. Many people know that a blow from an adult can easily kill a dog. A person can easily end up in the hospital with broken bones.
8. Local residents claim that when a kangaroo escapes from an enemy, it lures the predator into the water. As a result, the animal drowns the offender. Dingo dogs have suffered in this way more than once. Among other things, kangaroos try to stay away from people. Therefore, it is impossible to see settlements of these animals nearby.
9. However, such individuals are often found near farms and on the outskirts of small towns. Kangaroos are not pets, but the presence of people does not frighten them. Individuals quickly get used to the fact that people often feed them. However, they do not allow themselves to be petted.

Reproduction

1. Such animals reach sexual maturity at approximately 2 years. Life expectancy on average is about 18 years. In some cases, some individuals even lived up to 30 years. During the mating season, males fight very hard for the attention of the female. This often ends in severe injuries.
2. After mating, the female most often gives birth to only 1 cub. Before the baby is born, the mother begins to carefully lick her pouch. It is in it that the baby will continue to develop in the future. Pregnancy lasts only about 1.5 months.
3. As a result, a completely blind baby is born without hair. The baby then develops in the mother's pouch for about 11 months. Moreover, the young almost immediately attach themselves to one of the nipples and do not come off it for about 2 months. During this time, the cub continues to grow, develop and acquire fur.
4. Sometimes the baby already begins to crawl out of the bag, but at the slightest rustle he immediately returns back. Already at the age of 8-10 months, the cub can leave the pouch for a long time, sometimes the mother begins to prepare for the next mating season.

Kangaroos can be considered unique animals. The development of babies occurs in a special pouch in the mother. This pocket protects the young animals from various types of danger and unpredictable weather conditions. The female can prepare for the mating season only after she is sure that her cub is ready for independent life. Kangaroos are a symbol of Australia, but this does not mean that such individuals will welcome any contact with humans.

Video: Kangaroo (Macropus)