Australia is the continent where Kangaroos hop around in hordes and they are endemic to this country. They are marsupials or a class of mammals that give birth to their young that underdeveloped. These macropods meaning ‘large foot' have large powerful hind legs with large feet that are adapted for the initial torque required to spring them forward on their rapid hopping sprees. They have long muscular tails that serve as rudders that help them balance while leaping around frantically. The head is rather disproportionately small. Like almost all marsupials the female Kangaroos have pouch that's called a marsupium in which the young ones known as joeys are carried till they are old enough to hop on their own.
The word kangaroo itself has been derived from an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by Guugu Yamithirr people who inhabited the present day Queensland. These people called these strange animals gangurru. There is a strange myth associated with this name which says that Kangaroo was a Guugu Yamithirr phrase that actually meant "I don't understand you". According to the popular legend one of the first settlers Lieutenant James Cook and naturalist Sir Joseph Banks happened to be exploring the area and chanced upon a kangaroo and asked one of the locals in that area what it was. The local replied by saying gangurru meaning "I don't understand you" in his native tongue. Lt Cook took this as the name of the animal and it stuck. However this myth was exploded much later in the 1970's by linguist John B Haviland during his research of the Guugu Yamithirr people.
There are 4 species of kangaroos, the red, grey, western grey, eastern grey and the antilopine kangaroo. The red kangaroo is the largest surviving marsupial in the world. These animals are found in arid and semi-arid parts of the country and the largest one grows up to 2 m in height and can weigh up to 90 kg. Their survival is being threatened and the numbers are dwindling.
The eastern grey as the name implies, is found in the fertile eastern regions. The western in turn is slightly smaller and found in the southern part of Western Australia. The antilopine is found in the grassy plains and woodlands in the north. Besides these there are over 50 smaller macropod species that closely related to the kangaroo.
The kangaroo moves around by hopping. They normally hop around at speeds of 20 to 25 km/h which can go up to an amazing 70 km/h , though over short distances. This method of locomotion is energy efficient and helps in scouting around for food and escaping from predators. These herbivores graze on a variety of grasses. Their teeth are well adapted to grazing and the grass is usually mown right from the base before being swallowed. These animals are sociable creatures and move in groups called mobs and typical reactions to a new entrant would be nose touching and sniffing enquiringly. Mothers groom the joeys during and after suckling. They do not mate for life and the males keep frequently changing partners at will. Courtship and scratching and pawing are common before copulation. Fights for supremacy among males are quite common but seldom are the fights violent. The gestation period is only 33 days and there can be a joey in the pouch and a new born as well and the mother produces two types of milk one for the new born and the other for the joey in the pouch.
The numbers keep dwindling as the kangaroos are hunted for their meat by humans. The kangaroos are also prone to attacks by Dingoes or wild dogs that are found I n Australia. More related shows are aired on TV by popular service providers like Verizon FiOS Bundles