Red Kangaroo

by Kenny Roopchand

Physical Description

Red Kangaroos weigh 180 pounds however female weighs less
Long hind legs and feet
Long thick tail which helps them jump
Bipeds
Short red fur
In Eastern Parts Males are red and females are a Bluish-Grey
Males are 65 inches tall, women smaller
Naked muzzle
Black and white marks on side of muzzle
Velvety fur
Small, short front limbs with claws

Lifespan

Red kangaroos in the wild can live up to 15 years
In captivity they can live much longer

Habitat

Red kangaroos live inland Australia
Live in Shrub lands
In arid grasslands
In Mallee scrubs
Mulga country
Desert
Biomes
Able to survive 40° c by using shade and avoiding activity during the day
Concentrate urine to conserve water because of this they are able to tolerate severe dehydration
Regulate body heat with saliva
Their red fur camouflages with the red soil of the Australian desert

What red kangaroos eat and what eats them

They are herbivores

They eat low herbaceous plants

Eat a variety of grasses

When water is available they will drink it however they eat enough green so they don’t have to do so

Feed in groups of 10 called a mob

Graze in night time sometimes from late evening till morning

Eagles and dingoes will eat the red kangaroos

Tasmanian devils used to be a major predator of the red kangaroo however since they are scare in number they don’t pose as any big threat

Men such as sheep farmers shoot the red kangaroos on contact. This is because the farmers can’t afford high enough fencing so the kangaroos will jump the fence and graze in their fields. This makes man a major threat to the Red kangaroos

When kangaroos are forced to they will try to fight off the predator

They are in the middle of the food chain as you can see in this diagram

Reproduction

Red kangaroo Females can usually have one baby at a time however on rare instances they can have twins. Although they usually only have one baby at a time they can nurse more.
Red kangaroo reproduction is not casual because away times other males will drive the mating male away from the mating female.
When it comes to breeding rights male s will fight. They will lock forearms and try to push each other off balance. If fighting continues they will deliver forceful kicks to their foes stomach area.
They have one of the least complex courtship activities.
Females mature at 18 months
Males mature at 2 years
When pregnant females are about to give birth they usually separate from the mob with a couple males.
Pregnancy lasts 30-42 months to have birth
When the Joey (baby kangaroo) comes out of the mother it is usually the size of a lima bean
The mother is maternal until its old enough to live on its own this is usually a year

Uses of the Red Kangaroo

They are used for their velvety like skin
Their meat is used to feed many people in Australia

Interesting information about the Red Kangaroo

Kangaroos mobs are lead by the oldest kangaroo in the mob, he is called the boomer
Kangaroos travel at 40 mph
They can jump 25 feet long and 10 feet high
Red kangaroos communicate by thumping their tail
A red kangaroos 2^nd and 3^rd claw are fused together to be used as a grooming claw (to comb and clean themselves with)

Sources:

http://www.home.mira.net/~areadman/red.htm
http://www.red-kangaroos.com
http://www.pbs.org
World Book, 1989

BACK