Red Kangarooアカカンガルー

Species Data

Classification

Diprotodontia / Macropodidae Source

Distribution

Found across most of mainland Australia, but absent from the fertile southwest, the eastern and southeastern coasts, and the northern rainforests. It favors arid grasslands and deserts with less than 500 mm of annual rainfall. Source

Did You Know?

• Males can weigh up to 90 kg, making the red kangaroo the largest living marsupial. They can bound at speeds of up to 60 km/h. Source
• To cope with heat, red kangaroos lick their forearms to wet them with saliva, using evaporative cooling as a distinctive thermoregulation behavior. Source
• Gestation lasts only about 33 days, and the newborn joey—weighing under 1 gram at birth—must climb unaided into its mother's pouch to continue developing. Source

FAQ

How big do red kangaroos get?

Males are considerably larger than females, reaching up to 1.6 m in body length and 90 kg in weight, making the red kangaroo the largest living marsupial. Females typically weigh 18–40 kg. Source

How fast can a red kangaroo move?

Red kangaroos can bound at speeds of up to 60 km/h, with males capable of leaps spanning 8–9 meters and reaching heights of nearly 3 meters when pressed. Source

How do red kangaroos raise their young?

After a gestation of only about 33 days, the tiny, underdeveloped joey—less than 1 gram at birth—crawls unassisted into its mother's pouch, where it continues developing while attached to a teat. Source