Surprised that it’s taken me this long to do an animal post about kangaroos. They are fairly popular and probably the most recognizable marsupial from Australia. Sure, the koala is big, but I think it’s easier to recognize a kangaroo as a silhouette. Now, there are four species and all are considered ‘least concerned’. So, let’s just see some interesting facts about these guys:
- A group of kangaroo is called a mob.
- Some species can jump over 30 feet long and 10 feet high. They can also reach a top speed of 40 miles per hour.
- Their tail is used for balance, especially when hopping.
- Kangaroos cannot hop backwards due to their tails and hind leg structure.
- They have the same bite force as a grizzly bear at 6x that of a human and a punch/swipe that is 8x that of a human.
- A kangaroo’s kick strength is enough to break ribs, damage internal organs, and disembowel. Probably doesn’t have to be said, but this can kill you.
- Kangaroos prefer to use their left hand when doing things like grooming. Their right hand is used less often and tends to be utilized for strength-based tasks.
- At 5 weeks old, a newborn joey (baby kangaroo) will crawl to their mother’s pouch. They will only be an inch-long.
- Females can utilize a process called ’embryonic diapause’. This is when they pause the development of an embryo in order for a current baby to use the pouch. After anywhere from days to months, development can continue as long as the older baby no longer needs the pouch.
- Kangaroo ears can swivel to pick up more sounds.
- They have chambered stomachs similar to cows and have a herbivore diet. Unlike other animals with this digestive system, they release very little methane. It is turned into acetate for extra energy.
- All of their current predators have been introduced to Australia by humans while their natural predators are extinct. Their biggest one is the dingo, which they have been known to kill through disemboweling kicks and even drowning.
Time for the fun of pictures and videoes:
Antilopine Kangaroo
Easter Grey Kangaroo
Red Kangaroo
Western Grey Kangaroo
Legends of Windemere 
Cool creatures. I always think of the one in Bugs Bunny cartoons that everyone thought was a big mouse.
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Classic. I think of that one or Kangaroo Jack.
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Kangaroos will always be fascinating, no matter how much we find out about other animals. Their meat is apparently very healthy. Attempts to farm them would never work as they just jump over the fence! Like other megafauna species there were once giant kangaroos.
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I’ve looked up pictures of mega kangaroos. Pretty scary to me. Not sure I’d eat a kangaroo either.
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That Roger Kangaroo video was terrific. These are fascinating animals.
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Totally agree.
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😊
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This was great, Charles. Now I know a group of kangaroos is called a mob. Thanks!
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You’re welcome.
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I didn’t know they had stomachs similar to cows. But then vegetation is difficult to digest, and all herbivores have some means of dealing with this problem. (Humans get over this by cooking.)
I wouldn’t like to have been tasked with getting Roger back to his enclosure! What if he became serious and speeded up? 40mph is fast!
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I definitely wouldn’t want that job.
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Such interesting creatures! Their heads/faces do look like deer, but that body is like nothing else.
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They’re truly unique. Maybe the bodies are like a humanoid rabbit?
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Pretty amazing creatures, especially the embryonic diapause!
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I agree. Didn’t know about that until I wrote the post.
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