5 fascinating kangaroo facts

8/10/2021

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Nature Story: 5 fascinating kangaroo facts

Here are five cool facts about these amazing creatures!

#1 Males are boastful and they love to show off.

Kangaroos like to show off. A recent study found that kangaroos with larger biceps are actually preferred by females for mating. Flex!

#2 Kangaroos and wallabies are two different species.

Kangaroos stand at 8 feet tall while wallabies look like miniature kangaroos reaching only 12-24 inches. Wallabies also have different dentures and brighter coloring.

#3 The kangaroo hop is considered the most efficient way to get around.

They are the largest animal known to use this way of transportation but that doesn’t mean they’re unable to move their legs independently. Kangaroos are known to swim as well, which is the only time their legs are not moving at the same time.

#4 Although kangaroos are symbolically linked to Australia, the remote continent isn’t the only place where they can be found.

However, their habitat doesn’t stretch too far. You can find some in New Guinea and Tasmania, which are pretty close by.

#5 Kangaroos have specific names based on their age and sex.

Males are called jacks or boomers while females are referred to as jills or flyers. A large group of kangaroos is a troop while a smaller one is called a colony. Finally, babies are joeys.

Which fact surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

26 Comments

Joy Holbrook

Couple of things: Tasmania is an Australian state and a group of kangaroos of any size, is a mob.

Julie Domaille

My aussie cousins have always said a group of Kangaroos are called a mob

lmoores

Tasmania is a state of Australia not a separate country. Also a gathering of kangaroos is called a mob not a troop or a colony.

Colin Miles Coverdale

a large group of roos are definitely called a MOB!

Pat McLeod

Yeah. The Tasmanian reference was odd. As it’s part of australia. Only New Guinea should have been in that statement.

Ray Weeks

I concur with Joy - large group of Roos is more commonly called a Mob.

Nick Hand

Also, kangaroos and wallabies are NOT two species. Yes, they are separate species, but there are a lot more than just two species of them.

Julie Allen

And then there are wallaroos.

Joan Fuller

being from Tas i thought that there were only wallabies in tas no kangaroos

Eve

Thanks for the pics and info...and thanks to others who added some interesting comments.

Leapy Lee

So much of the information above is simply wrong. Surprisingly Tasmania is actually part of Australia and not a separate country or continent. The heights given for kangaroo and wallabies are simply wrong. Some marsupials and distinctive flora are found outside Australia due to the Wallace line. Australians refer to a group of kangaroo as a mob regardless of the size. This is one of the reasons I loathe seeing questions and articles about Australia written by people who clearly have no real knowledge of my beloved country.

Susan Lake-Harris

I'm sorry, some wallabies are nearly a foot taller than the two feet (60 cm height), mentioned in the text.

Suzanne Wilson

Any group of kangaroos is a 'mob' never a troop or a colony. I believe neither roos nor wallabies wear dentures. Their dentition of course may differ. And Tasmania is part of Australia!

Julie Allen

David Anderson, Neither did I and I have seen plenty of roos. Red kangaroos are the largest species and the average red kangaroo stands approximately 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall to the top of the head in upright posture.Large mature males can stand more than 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall, with the largest confirmed one having been around 2.1 m (6.9 ft) tall and weighed 91 kg (201 lb).

Lynda Wild

Joy Holbrook, How does the author of this not know Tasmania is a state of Australia 🤷‍♀️

Gary Chadwick

Tasmania isn't part of Australia, that's new to me! I'm originally from Tassie and always thought I was born an Australian. Kangaroos and Emus are 2 animals that can't move backwards which is part of the reason they appear on the coat of arms.

raymond parker

There was me thinking male and female kangaroos were called Bruce and Sheila respectively

Julie Allen

Pat McLeod, Only kangaroos in PNG are Tree kangaroos which live in lowland and mountainous rainforests in PNG, Indonesia and the far north of Queensland, They have adapted to life in the trees, with shorter legs and stronger forelimbs for climbing, giving them somewhat of the appearance of a cross between a kangaroo and a lemur. There are also Agile Wallabies in PNG.