To begin with, not all Red Kangaroos are actually the vibrant shade of red that you might imagine them to be. Their color can vary from region to region. Males can be seen sporting shades of red, such as pale red and brick red, and sometimes, they can also have a hint of brown in them. The females, on the other hand are a bluish gray, earning them the name “blue flier.”
The Red Kangaroo, also known as Macropus rufus (“macropus” meaning “big foot” and “rupus” meaning “red”) is the largest mammal in Australia, not to mention the largest marsupial in the world. They can be found in the arid open grasslands and deserts of Australia. Males can grow to be as tall as 2 meters and weigh up to 90kg, while females rarely exceed 30 kg. However, what they lose in size they make up for it in speed. The female is lighter, and consequently faster than the male.
Red kangaroos have long ears, long feet, thick tails, and powerful back legs. This tail is used to balance the top half of their body when they are in motion. Their smaller front legs, which don’t seem very useful, lend support to them when they bend over to graze. Females have a pocket of skin on the lower part of their stomachs, known as pouches, which is used to carry their young. The legs of a kangaroo cannot move independent of each other, and for this reason, they have to hop everywhere. They can bound 25 feet in a single leap and achieve speeds of over 56 kilometers an hour.
Red kangaroos are herbivores and survive on leaves, roots, and grass. They don’t chew their food, but swallow it and regurgitate a cud to chew it later. They don’t need a lot of water and it’s possible to carry on for months without drinking. The moisture from the plants they eat keeps them well hydrated. Red kangaroos are also known to dig their own water wells.
Kangaroos are sociable by nature and gather in groups that can go upto 100 known as “mobs.” The mob is ruled over by one dominant male. Kangaroos usually graze at night, preferring to remain inactive during the day. While grazing red kangaroos are always on the lookout for danger. If they spot a threat, they communicate with the rest of its group by stamping their feet.
Red kangaroos mature sexually by the age of 2 or 3. During the mating season, males fight each other over potential mates. They use their front paws to box their opponents and their hind legs land lethal double kicks.
Females have only one baby at a time, which at birth is just about the size of a cherry! This tiny kangaroo baby is known as a “joey.” It climbs into its mother’s marsupial pouch and once in, it latches onto the mother’s teat and suckles her. For the first four months, the baby suckles the mother continuously and doesn’t let go off the teat. Joeys are weaned around the age of one, but most of them stay pretty close to their mothers for the next six months.
