Red Kangaroo

By: Isabelle May

The Red Kangaroo

Classification

• Kingdom- Animalia• Phylum- Chordata• Class- Mamalia• Order- Diprotodontia• Family- Macropodidae• Genus- Macropus• Species- Rufus• Scientific Name: Macropus rufus-Closely related to: Grey Kangaroos, and other

marsupials.

Physical Characteristics • Size: Male = about 200lb Female= about 77lbs

• Tail Length: Male = about 2.4-3.3 ft. Female= about 2.2-3ft.

• Height: Male= 6ft or more Female= 4.5ft or more

o Pelage= Short coat Texture like soft wool Surface of nose is hairless

o Color: Males= Red coat Females = Smokey Blue

Differences: Males much larger! Males can be called Bucks, Boomers, or Jacks. Females can be called Does, Flyers, or Jills.

Distribution

• Arid, open plains in inland Australia- Dry plains- Shrub land

Habitat

• Grassy Plains• Scattered trees for shade• Arid grassland• Shrub land• Able to cope with extreme heat• Desert dwellers

Status

• The Red Kangaroo is of Least concern• The population is stable!

• About 4,148,316 Red kangaroos

Reproduction Can have joeys all year round, if conditions are good, Female becomes fertile at 30 months, males around 28-39

months. Has one joey at a time, however as one gets older and is out

of the pouch more often, another joey may be born but remain in pouch.

Parental Care• Male kangaroo has no part in raising the joey.• A joey stays with the mom for around 1 year.

• Mothers teach joeys how to box

Longevity & Mortality

• Have been recorded to live 27 years in captivity.

• Lives around 22 years in the wild.

• Males and females live around the same length of time.

Seasonal Patterns

• No behavior change, goes to water sources. • Does not hibernate, or undergo torpor.

Diet

• Grasses• Leaves• Roots• Low herbaceous plants

Predators

• The main predator is the Dingo.

• Also killed by humans.

Human Relationships

• Humans interact with the Red Kangaroo in zoos, and when hunting.

Fun Facts• They can not hop backwards.• Are very good swimmers• It is legal to own a kangaroo in the state of Washington!!!!

Works Cited• Works Cited• Bishop, Nic. Marsupials. Broadway: Scholastic, Inc., 2009. Print.• Burt, Denise. Kangaroos. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 2000. Print.• Denver Zoo. Citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities, 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/dzoo_red_kangaroo.pdf>.• Environment & Heritage. NSW Government, 6 Sept. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wildlifemanagement/KMPPopulationEstimatesWest.htm>.• Fun Facts About Kangaroos. OurAmazingPlanet.com, 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/2820-kangaroos.html>.• IUCN Red List. Species Survival Commision, 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/>.• Kangaroo. N.p., 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://www.thejunglestore.com/Kangaroos>.• Kangaroo, Red. Atlanta Fulton County Zoo, Inc., 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/animals/mammals/kangaroo>.• Murray, Peter. Kangaroos. Chanhassen: The Child's World, 2006. Print.• Red Kangaroo, Macropus rufus. San Diego Zoo. Global, Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

<http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/red_kangaroo/red_kangaroo.html>.

The End

• Thank you very much for listening, and I hope you learned something.