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Macropus rufus

2022-07-15 23:26:27 257

Macropus rufus Life habits and morphological characteristics

The red kangaroo is 100-160 cm long, with a tail length of 75-120 cm and a weight of 23-70 kg. The male is 130-160 cm long and weighs 70-90 kg, while the female is much smaller. The red kangaroo is named after its red or reddish brown body color. However, the female is blue-gray in color and has black whisker marks on both sides of the nostrils, which is a unique feature of the red kangaroo.
Although the adult red kangaroo is strong and healthy, the newborn kangaroo is really pitifully small, about 25 cm long and weighing 0.7-1 gram, about the size of a broad bean or a finger, and only one-third of the weight of the female. At this time, the kangaroo is hairless, red all over, with closed eyes and ears, and does not look like a kangaroo at all.
Red kangaroos are herbivores, with green herbs as their preferred food, including grass and dicotyledonous flowering plants. These red kangaroos can go a long time without drinking water by eating succulent plants full of water.

Macropus rufus Distribution range and habitat

Red kangaroos are widely distributed in mainland Australia, only rarely in the southern, east coast and northern rainforests. They prefer to forage in open plain habitats without trees and bushes, but are rarely found in areas without shade and shelter from scattered trees.

Macropus rufus Detailed Introduction

The common large kangaroo is called the red kangaroo, which is also the most famous one. Its image is widely known by people all over the world. Look at its unruly temperament, sparse stubble, and strong chest. Its muscles are coiled and its veins are exposed. It looks very social at first glance.

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They are good at jumping, can jump 7-8 meters away, 1.5-1.8 meters high. If they go to the Olympics, they will definitely win the "double jump championship". Kangaroos like to form "small groups", often living in small groups in grassland areas, jumping around at night to forage for various grasses, wild vegetables, etc.

Red kangaroos are usually quiet and docile, but they will use their hind feet to kick people when they have no way out. Their hind feet are so powerful that they can kill people in one go. When males fight to win, their movements are like boxing.

Kangaroos cannot tolerate others challenging their authority, especially strong male kangaroos. They don't even allow other kangaroos to look directly into their eyes, because this behavior is a symbol of provocation in their eyes. Once other kangaroos do this, they will inevitably be attacked.

In the zoo, many senior kangaroo keepers know this knowledge, and try to avoid eye contact with kangaroos at work, otherwise they will be attacked mercilessly.

Kangaroo: Look at me, you little one!

Roger, the star of the kangaroo world, has a daily routine of beating other kangaroos, beating the keeper dad, and squeezing iron buckets.

Listed in the "Red List of Threatened Species of the World Conservation Union" (IUCN) 2015 ver 3.1 - Least Concern (LC).