Kangaroos

Kangaroos belong to the small number of marsupial species, all unique to the ancient assemblage of countries known to scientists as Gondwana, and including South America and New Guinea. They are characterized by giving birth to very immature young which complete their growth and development attached to a nipple in the mother’s pouch.

In Australia ‘kangaroo’ is used as a generic term covering different species of kangaroo, wallaby, and wallaroo of large and medium size. All belong to the family Macropodidae and most to the genus Macropus. The distinction between species is mainly one of size, itself a function of habitat. Largest and fleetest are the red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) of the wide open plains of inland Australia. Somewhat smaller are the western and eastern grey kangaroos (M. fuliginosus and M. giganteus). The wallaroo or euro (M. robustus) and the agile wallaby (M. agilis), relatively common in northern Australia and southern New Guinea, inhabit more rugged, rocky terrains. Another widespread species is the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor.