Animals Directory

Archive for the ‘Kangaroo species’ Category

Scientific classification, so that species belonging to the same genus (group of closely related species) can be called kangaroo, wallabies or walaru, only depending on their size. For example, Macropus parma wallabies is known as the Parma, while Macropus antilopinus is known variously as walaru antelope antelope or kangaroo.

Macropodinae subfamily also includes species of kangaroos, and walarús walabís, other commonly known as tree kangaroos, Cuoco, and pademelones dorcopsis.

There are many so-called kangaroo species, and this is reflected three of them:

* The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), which is the largest of the kangaroos and the largest of the marsupials still in existence. Red Kangaroos occupy the arid and semi-central arid Australia. An adult male can measure 1.5 m in height and weigh 85 kg.
* The eastern gray kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), less known than the red kangaroo, but most frequently sighted, as its range covers the fertile eastern area of ​​Australia.
* The western gray kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), of smaller size and found south of Western Australia, South Australia near the coast and the Darling River basin.

Kangaroos have large powerful hind legs, large feet designed to jump, long, muscular tail for balance and a small head. Kangaroos are herbivores, eating grass and roots. All species are nocturnal and crepuscular, usually spending the day quietly and feeding in the afternoons and cold nights, usually in groups. They have a life expectancy of 18 years ago.

Kangaroos are found mostly in Oceania. Popularly known as the kangaroo is the animal most representative of Australia.

Origin of name

The word kangaroo derives from gangurru, a word of Guugu Yimidhirr (an Australian Aboriginal language), referring to the gray kangaroo. The name was first written (in English kangaroo by Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook) on August 4, 1770.

A widespread legend says that in fact the name kangaroo would come to ask the West the name of that animal and this be what the natives responded, and their meaning but would not be the name of the animal, but simply saying “do not understand their question

Reproduction

Reproduction is sexual and varies greatly with species. The red kangaroo is an opportunistic player, as they mate and reproduce when seasonal conditions are favorable for breeding of offspring. Grey Kangaroos breed all year round, but young calve in the summer months, as they leave the bag on the ideal time the spring. Other species have more restricted breeding season.

The courtship may last a few hours or extended 2 or 3 days. The male follows the female is in heat, often sniffing the urogenital opening of the bag and playing the female tail with his paw. The male makes wallabies characteristic sinuous lateral movements and with the tail, which produce clicks, the matching can be shorter or longer than one hour, as in the case of gray kangaroo.

In many species, such as Cuoco, mating takes place after birth (post partum estrus), but in these cases usually occur at rest a blastocyst, which develops later, when the previous birth rearing leave the pouch. The young are born between 28 and 36 days of mating. Remain in the bag about 8 months, but continue to nurse her back to about six months, at which time and another calf will be born. Young people often interact with their mothers until they reach sexual maturity.