Phylum
Chordata
Family
Macropodidae
Class
Mammalia
Genus
Macropus
Order
Diprotodontia
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Size
Males up to 2 meters tall, 55-90 kg; females 1-1.5 meters, 18-40 kg
Coloration
Reddish-brown fur in males, bluish-grey in females; lighter underparts
Adaptations
Powerful hind legs for hopping, long tail for balance
Habitat
Arid and semi-arid plains, grasslands, deserts
Diet
Herbivorous
Grazes on grasses and shrubs, minimal water needs
Geographic Range
Inland Australia, excluding coastal/tropical
Reproduction
Single joey, 33-day gestation, pouch 6-8 months
Threats
Drought, habitat degradation, vehicle collisions
Interesting Facts
Outback Leapers: Red kangaroos hop 70 km/h, leaping 9 meters in Sturt National Park, their 90 kg bodies grazing 5 kg of grass daily. Their millions-strong population, with 50 million across Australia, faces 10,000 vehicle collisions yearly, yet thrives in arid plains.
Delayed Breeders: Females use embryonic diapause in Flinders Ranges, pausing pregnancy during drought, birthing 10 joeys over a lifetime in Alice Springs. This adaptation, unique to marsupials, ensures survival, maintaining stable populations despite harsh climates.
Best Places to Sight
Sturt National Park in New South Wales northwest corner has vast plains for kangaroo sightings at dawn and dusk
Flinders Ranges National Park in South Australia rugged Outback near Wilpena Pound offers grasslands and waterholes for kangaroo sightings
Alice Springs Desert Park in Northern Territory Red Centre has a semi-natural setting with wild kangaroos in MacDonnell Ranges