Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
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The Red Kangaroo is part of the genus Macropus. It holds the
title of the largest marsupial in the world. Kangaroos are most
well known for their large pouch which serves as protection for
their young and plays a major role in their
reproductive cycle.
Along with their pouch, kangaroos are well known for their large
feet and long thick tail, which helps with balance during
locomotion. The Red Kangaroo inhabits the northern/central portion of
Australia, known as the Australia Savanna.
Kangaroos are often called different names based on age and sex.
Younger, newborn kangaroos are referred to as "joeys." Adult
males can be called "boomers", "jacks", "bucks," or "old men"
while females have coined the names "does," flyers," and "Jills."
If kangaroos are traveling in a group, they are referred to as a
"mob."(Bradtke, 2005)
While bipedal hopping may seem ineffective, an adult kangaroo
can reach speeds up to 35 mph. Contrary to popular belief,
females are actually faster than males, due to their lighter,
less muscular frame. It has also been seen that they can jump 25
feet in a single hop! An average life span for a Red Kangaroo is
23 to 25 years, the first year being the hardest due to their
dry grassland habitat. There is an increasing popularity for
kangaroo fur and meat for consumption.
For information on a variety of other organisms, visit MultipleOrganisms.net. These are all student-created websites based on a wide range of organisms as part of UW-La Crosse' Organismal and Animal Biology classes.