How Fast Does a Kangaroo Run?

The kangaroo is one of the few animals that are unable to walk. Their feet simply are not designed for walking, but their strong hind legs equip them with the marvelous ability to hop. It is not unusual for kangaroos to leap 15 to 20 feet in a single bound. Once in motion, the kangaroo can hop for up to 20 miles before it needs rest, and can reach top speeds of 40 miles per hour.

Features

Kangaroos are the largest living marsupials. Marsupials give birth to undeveloped young and nurture them inside a special pouch on the underside of the mother's belly. Young kangaroos are hairless and blind; they weigh only .03 oz. They crawl to the pouch following a saliva trail created by the mother. The tiny baby attaches to the mother's nipple, but is unable to suckle at this time. The mother has special muscles that allow her to pump milk into the mouth of the young. A young kangaroo called a Joey remains in the pouch for 8 to 10 months depending on the species.

Geography

Kangaroos are native to Australia, New Guinea and a few off-shore islands. The large red-and-gray kangaroo lives in the grasslands and savannas across Australia. Rock wallabies live among rocks in the southern deserts, and the tree kangaroo sleeps happily in the canopy of rain forests during the day and climbs down to feed at night.

Time Frame

The large red-and-gray kangaroos can live 12 to 18 years in the wild. They stand 6 feet tall and weigh nearly 200 lbs. The oldest recorded kangaroo was 28 years old. Smaller species have a somewhat shorter life expectancy.

Considerations

Kangaroos are herbivores and feed primarily on grass, leaves, shoots and twigs. Some smaller varieties are omnivores and supplement their diet with insects and small grubs.

Kangaroos are social animals and form large groups (called mobs) of 10 or more members. The oldest male generally assumes the role as leader of the mob, and mates freely with all females in the group.

Although they are rather timid animals, kangaroos are fierce fighters when they are threatened. Their strong hind legs and shorter front legs, equipped with razor-sharp claws, make them a formidable opponent. Their major predators, besides man, are crocodiles and dingoes. When attacked by a group of dingoes, the kangaroo will attempt to pull them into the water and drown them.

Warning

Large kangaroos are routinely hunted and poisoned by farmers, because the animals tend to overgraze the land. Despite this, kangaroos continue to thrive.