Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
The Red Kangaroo is the largest living marsupial. Males range in total body length from 1,300 to 1,600 mm and females from 850 to 1,050 mm. Tail length is from 1,000 to 1,200 mm for males and 650 to 850 mm for females. They may weigh as much as 90 kg and may reach 1.8 meters in height when standing. Coat colour is usually reddish brown in males and bluish gray in females, although these colours are reversed in some areas, with females being reddish and males blue-gray. Red kangaroos are robustly built, with large, well-muscled tails and powerful hindquarters.
The tail is strong enough to support the kangaroo's body weight, acts as a balance when jumping, and is used, with the two legs, to form a tripod for resting.
Red kangaroos can be seen in large numbers in the drier parts of Australia, particularly in the isolated regions of the outback. They can be seen grazing singularly, or together in mobs of up to 1,000.
Most Australian zoos, wildlife parks and sanctuaries have red kangaroos on display. Many have free range enclosures where visitors can view the animals in habitats resembling their natural environment. Viewing at close range is normally restricted as red kangaroos are both large and strong and can cause severe injuries to people if the animal feels threatened.
![]()
|
![]()
Habitat
Red kangaroos live over most of the central part of Australia in areas where rainfall averages less than 500 millimetres. They prefer to forage in open plains habitats with neither trees nor bushes, but are seldom found in regions without shade and shelter from scattered trees.
Behaviour
Red kangaroos occur in small groups, averaging 10, called "mobs." These groups are made up mainly of females and their offspring, with one or several males. Females stay within their natal mob. Occasionally, large numbers of red kangaroos congregate in areas of excellent forage, sometimes numbering as much as 1,500 individuals. Red kangaroos are mostly crepuscular and nocturnal, resting in the shade during the day - but have been known to move about during the day. Most of their active period is spent in grazing. Most kangaroo species are relatively sedentary, staying within a relatively well-defined home range. This is also often characteristic of Macropus rufus populations, but they may travel widely in response to adverse environmental conditions. A red kangaroo was recorded travelling 216 km. Population densities have been estimated by two, separate studies at 4.18 individuals per square kilometre and 1 individual per 89 hectares.
Red kangaroo hind legs are powerful and the tail acts to balance the body in a bipedal hop as their legs propel them forwards. Large kangaroos can reach a running speed of 64kph, with leaps as long as 8 meters and as high as 3 meters, although 1.2 to 1.9 meters is more typical of an average pace. Red kangaroos also use their tail an a kind of 5-"legged" gait, where the forelimbs and tail balance the animal as the two rear legs are moved forward simultaneously.
Food Habits
Red kangaroos are exclusively plant-eaters, with a preferred diet of green herbage including grasses and dicotyledonous flowering plants. These herbivores can go without water for long periods of time by consuming moisture-filled succulent plants.
Conservation Status
Macropus rufus is not considered endangered. Nearly 3 million square miles of Australian territory now lies within the boundaries of excellent national parks. All Australian states regulate the hunting of kangaroos.
Kangaroos are sometimes considered pests by livestock owners because they compete for forage with livestock. In areas where vegetation is limited, kangaroos may cause reduce forage significantly. A fairly large Australian industry exists around the use of kangaroos for their skins and meat. Red kangaroos are also integral parts of the healthy ecosystems in which they live.
|
