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Mammal. With their powerful hind legs, kangaroos can jump 9 m (30 ft) in one hop and move 64 kilometers per hour (40 mph) when in a hurry. They need their tails to help them balance as this form of moving works better at fast speeds than slow speeds. But they can't walk backwards! Kangaroos need little water and can survive without it for months. They can also dig their own water wells. Like other marsupials, female kangaroos have a pouch in which they carry and nurse their young. Males are larger, some growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall and 136 kg (300 lb). Most kangaroos are shy and more active at night.
Scientific Name Lifespan
Family Macropodidae Average 6 to 8 years
Herbivore. Grazing on grass, leaves and roots, they swallow their food whole, regurgitating a cud to chew on.
Predators and Threats
Dingoes and humans. Habitat loss is also a threat.
A variety of habitats including forests, woodland areas, and savannas; Australia, Tasmania, and surrounding islands.