We'll tell you everything you need to know about Australian kangaroos. We analyze their characteristics, the area they live in, their species, and more.
The kangaroos are a symbol of Australia, to the point that they're even featured on the country's flag. If you'd like to learn more about these endearing animals, don't miss today's post!
Australia is undoubtedly a fantastic place to live, which has about incredible places to visitThe areas where these animals live are a must-see. Let's go learn more about them.
Features
Kangaroos are characterized by having a small head, very long tail and large, muscular hind limbs. On the contrary, their hands are quite short and they use them to pick up food or defend themselves.
there are of different sizes and colorsThe largest specimens can reach nearly 2 meters and weigh over 100 kilos. The smallest, called wallabies, are about 50 centimeters tall and weigh 10 kilos.
Its marsupials. And, therefore, females have pouches where they carry their young after the first few months of birth. Their diet is herbivorous. And their life expectancy is around 15 or 20 years in the wild, and 25 to 30 years in captivity.
Jumping ability
Australian kangaroos are unique and amazing. To begin with, they move by jumping on their enormous legs instead of running, as is usual with most animals. They also use their tails to maintain their balance.
This allows them spend much less energy and travel long distances in search of food. To give you an idea, a kangaroo can easily maintain an average speed of 25 kilometers per hour. And when threatened, they can exceed 70.
On the contrary, their hind legs are so big they can barely walkIn fact, when they stand upright, they must support themselves on their tail to avoid falling. They find it impossible to walk backward, and only when swimming are they able to move their hind limbs independently.
Marsupial pouch
Another characteristic feature of Australian kangaroos is their marsupial pouch. It is a fold of skin that covers the mammary area of femalesIt's shaped like a pouch and functions as a kind of incubator, since the young are born while still in an embryonic state.
La gestation does not usually exceed 30 or 35 days, so baby kangaroos only have enough strength in their arms. With their help, they reach the pouch, where they remain for eight months until they are fully developed.
Once they can fend for themselves, they will continue to use the marsupial pouch to feed themselves for at least another 6 months. And also when the pack has to travel long distances, as it is an excellent means of transport for the younger members.
Behavior
Kangaroos in Australia unite in groups called mobsTheir numbers vary, being larger and more stable in the eastern region than in the western, but they usually number between 5 and 20 individuals. They are nocturnal and generally quite skittish. However, if cornered, they will defend themselves aggressively.
In large groups you can see more complex interactions and structuresSmell plays a fundamental role in organizing the mob, much more so than physical contact. Greetings between males and females are frequent, and the relationship between mothers and young is very close.
With regards to reproductionDuring the mating season, females do everything they can to attract the attention of males. They will fight each other in almost ritualistic combat that, to the human eye, is quite similar to boxing.
Finally, The winning kangaroo will approach the female, smell her and lick her.And if she decides to accept him and doesn't flee, copulation will begin. This courtship process is complex and can last several days, or longer if there are many rival males in the area.
Why do kangaroos live in Australia?
Marsupials They appeared 145 million years ago in the Cretaceous periodAnd for millennia they coexisted with placental mammals in the territories of present-day Europe, Africa, and North America.
At that time the world was made up of a single land mass called Pangea. Which gradually began to fragment, a process that continues to this day. In this way, most marsupials remained on the supercontinent of Gondwana.
Placental mammals are generally very adaptable. better to the habitat than marsupials. So they had no choice but to move forward to find food. When Gondwana split, they moved from the South American continent to Antarctica. And from there to Australia, which had warmer temperatures.
Finally, Antarctica and Australia separated, so marsupials were able to evolve in isolation from the world and without natural competitors. Meanwhile, on the rest of the planet, they practically became extinct.
This is why in Australia unique animals coexist. As is the case with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and Tasmanian devils. It also explains the presence of diverse ecosystems and such unique flora.
Where does your name come from?
At the end of the 18th century, the legendary explorer James Cook He was in Australia with the Guugu Yimithirr Aboriginal tribe, whose current descendants mostly reside in the town of Hopevale, in the state of Queensland.
Well, I kept asking them what those strange animals that moved forward with great leaps were called. They had pouches from which their young poked out. The Aborigines always responded the same way: Gangurru.
So Captain Cook adapted the word into English and called these marsupials kangaroo, from which the Spanish word "kangaroo" is derived. Curiously, years later, linguists discovered that Gangurru actually meant "I don't understand you." But it was too late to change that.
Kangaroo species from Australia
It should be noted that kangaroos They do not follow the usual scientific classification, but are organized according to their size. In this sense, the largest species of the Macropodinae subfamily are called kangaroos, while the smallest are called wallabies.
However, almost everyone refers to both groups simply as kangaroos. More than 50 different species coexist in Australia, including the red kangaroo and the grey kangaroo.
1- Lumholtzi tree kangaroo
This tree kangaroo has found its perfect habitat in the Atherton Tableland forests, in Queensland. It is characterized by being smaller than other species, with short but robust limbs.
Su fur is gray, with a black snout and tailAnd it prefers to live in the treetops. In fact, it can leap up to 6 meters from branch to branch. And when it senses danger, it can drop from heights of over 15 meters without suffering any harm.
2- Doria's tree kangaroo
On the contrary, Doria's tree kangaroo It stands out for its large sizeIt has a very robust build, with powerful claws for climbing trees and a large tail that it uses as a counterweight.
Has the black ears, brown tail and rounded snout. It's also easily recognized because its front and back legs are almost the same length. Its diet consists of leaves, flowers, and fruits. Interestingly, in addition to Australia, it can also be found in Asia.
3- Western grey kangaroo
One of the most common types of Australian kangaroosIts fur is very thick and its color varies between gray and brown, although it is usually lighter on the chest. It feeds on grass and the leaves of low trees.
Su constitution is formidable, growing up to a meter and a half tall and weighing over 50 kilos. This allows them to jump 10 meters. They prefer the southern lands of Australia and inhabit both open spaces and forests.
4- Reddish hare wallaby
Known as the western hare-kangaroo, it is the smallest of all the hare-wallabiesLike other members of its species, it is nocturnal and feeds on grasses, leaves and seeds.
Although it once lived throughout Western Australia, it now It is only found on Bernier and Dorre islandsIn fact, it's considered a vulnerable species. This means it will become extinct in the wild within a few decades.
5- Red kangaroo
The red kangaroo or Macropus rufus is the the world's largest marsupialThe male of this species reaches a height of 1,80 meters and can weigh over 100 kilos. Furthermore, when threatened, it adopts the typical boxing pose that has made kangaroos so popular.
It lives mainly in the dry and semi-desert areas of central and southern Australia, feeding on grass and roots. And although they are also nocturnal animals, they are especially active during dawn and dusk.
The best areas to see kangaroos in Australia
We can find kangaroos on islands in Oceania like New Guinea and Tasmania, as well as in some parts of Asia. However, almost all of these marsupials currently live in Australia.
–Melbourne
If you're looking for a city to see them in the wild, we recommend Melbourne. From here you'll reach Phillip Island, a stunning spot where you'll spot kangaroos, penguins, and other species. And since it's quite close, you can go and return in the same day.
Another option very close to Melbourne is to tour the Great Ocean Road off Cape OtwayThere's a eucalyptus forest where the main activity is searching for koalas. And if you continue further, you'll reach the town of Anglesea, one of the best places to see kangaroos in Australia.
-Queensland
An excellent alternative to Melbourne is to visit the Queensland coast. Especially the Coombabah Lake Conservation Park, which is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The scenery is simply spectacular, and if you're lucky, you'll see kangaroos hopping around all the time.
It is also highly advisable to drop by Stradbroke Island, which can be reached by ferry from Brisbane. A paradise island where you can admire lush nature and see kangaroos and wallabies roaming free.
- Sydney
Two and a half hours north of Sydney is Port StephensIt's an incredible place, full of small coastlines with turquoise waters and a very unique terrain. You'll also have the opportunity to spot dolphins, penguins, koalas, kangaroos, and other native species.
At the same distance, but in this case to the south, is Jervis Bay. Many claim it has the best white sand beaches in the world. And kangaroos are a regular feature of the landscape. Plus, right next door we can take Grand Pacific Drive. Peebly Beach is another of the most interesting places to visit in the country.
Requirements for traveling to Australia
To travel to Australia for tourism you will need a residence permit such as eTA or e-Visitor, both with a maximum duration of 90 days. If you want to extend your stay, study or work in the country, there are other options such as Work and Holiday Visa. In the website of the Australian Embassy in Spain you have all the info about it.
In any case, you will need a passport with sufficient validity for your stay. You must also have your plane ticket and prove that you have the financial resources to cover your trip.
Should I take out travel insurance?
Own Government of Spain recommends taking out travel insurance with maximum coverage. That includes the repatriation, cancellation costs and other guarantees. Because the Australian health service is of excellent quality, but its treatments are very expensive.
To give you an idea, just coming in for a consultation costs around 60 euros. And Spending a night in the hospital can cost up to 1.000 euros.That's not even considering transportation costs, as Australia has very sparsely populated areas with no hospitals nearby.
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