The kangaroo is an interesting creature, to say the least, it’s also one of the most unique animals in Australia. It can be difficult to get all the facts on just how incredible kangaroos are and that’s why we’ve put together this list of 5 things you never knew about kangaroos! So check out these 5 facts and let us know if you have any other interesting things to add in the comments below!
#1 Kangaroos Can Swim
You might think a marsupial would be no match for Australia’s vast ocean and too heavy to swim, but it turns out there are species of kangaroo that can swim! Kangaroos can move their front legs in a sculling motion which allows them to propel through the water. It is thought that larger species of kangaroo prefer swimming over land for travel. So next time you visit Australia, keep an eye out for these amazing creatures as they are more diverse than originally thought. #2 Kangaroos Can Jump: You might not think it watching them hop around on land, but many species of kangaroo are gifted jumpers. They can clear incredible distances and heights when leaping from one patch of grass to another. Kangaroos are marsupials, which means that they have pouches where they are young and develop inside them. A kangaroo mother carries her joey until he is about six months old. After this time, she leaves him alone while she goes off to find food. When she returns, she carries her baby back to his pouch.
#2 Kangaroos Have Super Powers
You may not realize it, but kangaroos are powered by super-human strength. They can jump more than 5 feet high, 6 feet long, and 15 feet wide. Kangaroos also have built-in shock absorbers that allow them to land on their feet even after a 30-foot fall. Oh, and did we mention they can hop at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour? (Yep, that’s faster than Usain Bolt.)
Kangaroos can jump over four times their body length. They use their front legs and tail to help propel themselves forward. Their hind legs act like springs and store energy. This allows them to leap great distances.
#3 Kangaroos Greet Their Babies After Birth
Kangaroos are marsupials, meaning they have a pouch on their stomachs in which they can carry their young. When baby joeys emerge from these pouches, they are 1/6th of an inch long and completely blind. Kangaroo moms typically lick and groom their joeys to stimulate them and make sure they’re strong enough to hop out of their mothers’ pouches after only 2 months! A female will give birth every 12-18 months, so it’s no wonder that females who live alone don’t form friendships with other females – there would be too much competition for space! Kangaroos are herbivores, meaning that they eat only vegetation. They do not eat meat. They have sharp teeth to chew their cud. Cuds are chewed to aid digestion.
#4 The Baby Kangaroo Is Called A Joey
A newborn joey is not much bigger than a jellybean and can fit on your fingertip. It has no fur before it emerges from its mother's pouch, and its eyes are closed. After it's born, it spends its first few weeks in that pouch -- growing and developing as it nurses from its mother's milk. By 6 months old, however, joeys have developed most of their adult characteristics. They are still small enough to hold in one hand but weigh about 1 kilogram (2 pounds). So cute!
#5 There Are Two Kinds Of Kangaroos
When most people think of kangaroos, they think of these iconic animals. However, there are two kinds: Eastern grey and Western gray. Even more impressive is the presence of the red kangaroo found in Australia, much smaller than its 40-pound [40 kg] cousins. The Red Kangaroo was named one of Australia’s National Icons in 1934.
Kangaroos are omnivores, meaning that some species eat both animal and vegetable food. Other species are strictly vegetarian. Kangaroos have long ears that hang down and flap when they run. These flaps help them hear better. Kangaroos are nocturnal animals, meaning that they spend the majority of their lives asleep.
