Kangoroo Project

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Kangaroo (Grey)

Grey kangaroo:

Distribution: Mainly in eastern Australia & Tasmania.

Habitat: Open forest.

Description: Small head, large ears; short, slim forelimbs but long, powerful hindlimbs. Long, strong tail. Colour is mainly grey with whitish underparts.

Size: Length: 1.5m weight: up to 91kg

Life-span: Up to 18 years.

Food: Mainly grass & leaves.

The grey kangaroo, sometimes known as the great grey, is one of the best-known of all kangaroo species, along with the similar-sized red kangaroo. Its closest relative is the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus). In total there are 55 species of kangaroo, wallaby & wallaroo belonging to the family Macropodidae . They are all similar animals but differ in size & build, from the large red and grey kangaroos to the rabbit-sized rat kangaroos. In general, a wallaby is simply a small species of kangaroo, having bent feet.

Sociable grazers

The grey kangaroo is a sociable animal by nature and lives in a band or mob. An average mob is made up of a mature male, two or three females with young and two or three young males. Many mobs often graze together. They feed mainly late at night and early morning, resting during the heat of the day. Kangaroos often graze alongside sheep and cattle, and, because they have teeth in both upper and lower jaw, unlike sheep which have teeth in only the lower, they can crop grass more closely than sheep. Kangaroos can also survive on poor quality grass and go without water for 3 months long.

Sensitive jumpers

Really good eyesight, a good sense of smell and large, flexible ears, enable the kangaroo to quickly sence danger. An alarmed kangaroo thumps the ground with its hind legs, rather like a rabbit does, to warn the rest of the mob.

When feeding and moving slowly, kangaroos balance themselves on their small front legs and strong tail, swinging the large hindlegs forward. They then bring their arms and tail up to...