Know Before You Go

There are four species of “great kangaroos” found in Australia. The “great kangaroos” are the western gray, the eastern gray, the antilopine and the red kangaroo. In addition to these four large species, there are dozens of smaller species in the same family–wallabies, tree kangaroos, rat kangaroos, wallaroos, honey possums, quokkas and pademelons. These distinctive marsupials are highlights for most visitors to Australia.

Large kangaroos can be up to 8 feet tall, weigh 200 pounds and their powerful bounds can carry them over 20 feet at a time. Oddly, the farther they jump, the less energy they expend. Their tendons are spring loaded, so every time they jump they are able to put that rebound energy right into the next leap.

Kangaroos are herbivores and, like cows, they regurgitate their food and chew it again to extract as many nutrients as possible from the low-value grasses.

Cartoon versions of these animals (which, honestly, are cartoonish enough in real life!) are often depicted wearing boxing gloves on their front paws. This is based on the actual battles for dominance between males where they lean back on their tails and “box” each other with their hind legs. No matter how nimble those huge hind feet might look in a fight, they do prevent kangaroos from being able to walk backwards.