Lessons from the Kangaroo Family: Be Fearless (1 of 2)

KANGAROO FAMILY: Be Fearless

When people think “Kangaroo”, they often imagine a large deer-like Mammal hopping around like a Frog on two legs. Of course, the Kangaroo must have a large pouch with a Joey (Baby) sticking out. Rounding out this picture would be two Kangaroos off boxing each other.

Also, in the popular imagination, Kangaroos live only in Australia. On the contrary, They also live in New Guinea. Transported to New Zealand in the 1870s by Sir George Grey, Swamp and Parma Wallabies flourish on Kawau Island. Escaping from a British zoo, a group of Wallabies now have small established territories in Scotland and England.

This large and varied Family of Marsupials ranges from the large Great Kangaroos to the small Rat-kangaroos. The scientific name for Kangaroo, Macropodidae, is from Greek for “long foot.” With their muscular tails for balance, They hop with these long powerful hind feet.

The stereotypical Kangaroos are the Great Kangaroos -- Greys, Reds, and Wallaroos. The largest of all Marsupials, Great Kangaroos can travel distances without expending much energy. Using the strong tendons in their hind legs, They effortlessly bound across the Australian countryside.

Besides balancing and resting, Kangaroos use their tails in other ways. Rat-kangaroo (Potoroos and Bettongs) use their tails to gather nesting materials. Meanwhile Nail-tail Wallabies have a horny spur hidden in the hair at the tip of their tails. Among the Forest Wallabies of New Guinea, Dorcopsis only touches the tip of his tail on the ground while resting to keep it out of reach of Leeches, unlike Pademelon, whose tail becomes leech infested from lying on the swampy ground.

The most specialized of Kangaroos are Rock-wallabies and Tree-kangaroos. Rock-wallabies can leap up sheer rock faces, and then jump from ledge to ledge. Using their tails for balance and their short toenails for gripping, Rock-wallabies hop up tall rock cliffs.

Meanwhile, Tree-kangaroos live in the rain forests. Although They have the large hind legs of “regular” Kangaroos, Tree-kangaroos also have very long tails for balance, and strong forearms for holding onto branches. Bold and agile, They leap from a high tree to the ground or to another tree further away.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:

Finding Your Animal Teachers

Animals For Everyone: Mammals

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