These animals represent an interesting divergence in the evolution of Macropods—the family of marsupials that includes kangaroos and wallabies. These adorable hoppy creatures make up for a large amount of Australia’s animal population. Males reach maturity at 4 years while females become mature at 2 years age. Tell a Friend; Tree kangaroos inhabit the lowland and mountainous rainforests of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the far north of Queensland, Australia. Males are slightly larger than females. Agile Wallaby. They can even jump from 18m (60 feet) in order to safely land on the ground. Kangaroos can’t walk backwards. ✦ Tree kangaroos are predominantly solitary animals that come together for the sole purpose of mating. They spend most of their time in trees. Young tree kangaroos are weaned when they are approximately 13 months old. ✦ Tree kangaroos have been listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ by, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Tree Kangaroos can move their hind legs independently so that they are able to climb up and over branches. They are also indigenous to Tasmania, New Guinea, and other islands in the region. The kind of kangaroo found in New Guinea is called a Tree Kangaroo. The two most significant threats to tree-kangaroos are habitat loss and hunting. So, let us today learn 40 interesting kangaroo facts. Tree kangaroos are found the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Australia, and some of the islands in the region. Kangaroos barely emit any methane. The various species of tree kangaroos inhabit the lowland rain forests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Umboi, New Britain, West Papua, north-east Queensland, and some parts of Indonesia. In 1990, a new species of tree kangaroo was discovered in the Torricelli Mountains of Papua New Guinea. Tree kangaroos primarily eat tree leaves. Interesting Facts About Kangaroos for Your Children. Fun Facts about Tree Kangaroo! This comprises around 50 species inAustralia and a dozen or more in New Guinea.Some of the smaller species, such as Yellow-footed Rock-Wallabies, Burrowing Bettongs, accompanied Pig-footed and Golden Bandicoots, Bilbies and possibly Hairy-nosed Wombats into extinct… Like other tree-kangaroos it has longer forelimbs and shorter hindlimbs than terrestrial kangaroos and a long bushy tail. Kangaroos barely emit any methane. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The tree kangaroo has 12 sub species, and each and every one of them is endangered. They have large and strong tail and long legs used for jumping. It is a macropod which means "big foot". Home » Animals » 10 Fun Facts About Kangaroos. ✦ These animals continue to be poached for their meat and fur by the indigenous communities. Curly whorls on the tree kangaroo’s back fur let water run right off it. The average size can be from 16 to 30 inches long for the Tree Kangaroo. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Eastern Gray is the heaviest (around 200 pounds) and the Red Kangaroo is the largest (9 feet) species. Matschie’s tree-kangaroos communicate with each other primarily through chemical cues as well as visual displays, touch and vocalizations. The tail has a black patch at the base and a light patch on the upper part. Newborn joeys are tiny, measuring just 2.5 centimetres, or about the size of a grape – cute! Tree kangaroos live solitary or in small family groups of usually just the mother, father and joey. It … Certain conservation programs are working on safeguarding these species and protecting their dwindling population. The muzzle and forehead of the animal are greyish, while hands and feet are black. So far so good, we have had more than enough of the basic facts about tree kangaroos. Interesting Kangaroo Facts: Depending on the species, kangaroo can grow 1 to 8 feet in height and reach weight of 40 to 200 pounds. The largest kangaroo, as well as the largest marsupial, is the red kangaroo, according to National Geographic. Most tree-kangaroos are considered threatened due to hunting and habitat destruction. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For high rise living, Tree Kangaroos must be agile and nimble, therefore they have regained the ability to walk. The two most significant threats to tree-kangaroos are habitat loss and hunting. Some really interesting facts about animals that you will enjoy reading are presented in the following article. These are the red kangaroo, the eastern gray kangaroo, the western gray kangaroo, and the antilopine kangaroo. For you who have been in Australia, these 10 facts about kangaroos can give information that you didn’t know about kangaroos. It is only 6 to 8 inches (15.24 to 20.32 cm… For many people, the Australian outback means only one thing – Kangaroos! Tree kangaroos can jump from a height of 59 feet without being hurt. The joey remains in the pouch for about 8 to 9 months. Newborn kangaroos are one inch… Interesting Facts about Zebras. Tree kangaroos play an important role in the culture and diet of the indigenous people, and unsustainable hunting practices threaten the survival of tree kangaroos. The length from the red kangaroo's head to its rump is 3.25 to 5.25 feet (1 to 1.6 meters) long. Read on and enjoy a variety of interesting information about kangaroos. Tree kangaroos are marsupials so a majority of their physical development occurs in the mother’s pouch. Locomotion on the ground is by hopping, as with true kangaroos. Kangaroos are botanicals that eat herbs, flowers, algae, ferns, and even insects. The forehead and muzzle are greyish. The species found in Papua New Guinea is the Tree Kangaroo. Kangaroos can go months without drinking. This “in and out” phase lasts for one or two months. Tree kangaroos are no exception! 7. Date: October 07, 2014 Tweet. It has a relatively small head, stout body and a thick furry coat. It is mostly dark brown above and lighter fawn on chin, throat and lower abdomen. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Living up in the foliage, these species look like a cross between a kangaroo and a lemur. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Many live in remote or hard-to-reach areas. Fun Kangaroo Facts for Kids. Some interesting kangaroo facts. This arboreal species spends most of its life in the canopy of the Australian rainforest. They are very agile and are able to leap 9 metres (30 ft) down to another branch and have been known to drop as far as 18 metres (59 ft) to the ground without injury. Tree kangaroo is mammal that belongs to the kangaroo family. Female tree kangaroos have a gestation period of 20 to 45 days. Come learn about these animals, where they live, what they look like and some other interesting facts about them. The tree kangaroo is an arboreal mammal and marsupial, which carries its underdeveloped young one in its pouch (marsupium). Phylum: ChordataClass: MammaliaInfraclass: MarsupialiaOrder: DiprotodontiaFamily: MacropodidaeSubfamily: MacropodinaeGenus: Dendrolagus. Kangaroos can be red, grey or brownish in color. The tree kangaroo has the appearance of a huge rabbit. 2. Kangaroos are marsupials and belong to the Family Macropodidae (i.e. These animals represent an interesting divergence in the evolution of Macropods—the family of marsupials that includes kangaroos and wallabies. Come learn about these animals, where they live, what they look like and some other interesting facts about them. Kangaroos are mostly found in Australia but they are also found in one other place – Papua New Guinea. They also have a sponge like grip on their paws and soles of their feet. These distinctive marsupials can leap 9 m in a single jump, keep their young warm in cosy pouches and live in groups known as mobs. Papua New Guinea is home to as many as 14 subspecies of tree kangaroos. The hands have individual fingers that move independently which provide greater dexterity and grip. The animals have flexible ankles and use both bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion in the canopy. Kangaroos are known for their hopping, using their powerful hind legs to spring forward, they can clear up to 8 metres in a single hop and can jump 1.8 metres high. The smaller ones are usually called Wallabies. Kangaroo teeth. Red kangaroo moves by jumping. They just sleep on whatever branch they feel safe in. After the infant initially leaves the pouch, it will continue to return to the pouch to nurse. Since their tails are heavy, they tend to hop and walk with their tails up while on the ground. The Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo lives only in a small area of northern Queensland in Australia. Kangaroos eat early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Kangaroos can be red, grey or brownish in color. 1. Interesting facts about pigeons and doves, Interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers. Would you like to write for us? The kangaroo has short, rounded ears. Interesting facts that kangaroos have broken down into two prominent families – the Macropodidae and the Potoroidae. Here is a list of fun facts about kangaroos for kids: Kangaroos are basically mammals that belong to the family Macropodidae. The smaller fellows of the macropod family are kind of diverse in terms of size and appearance. The term ‘Dendrolagus’, originated from the Greek word: ‘dendron’ meaning ‘tree’ and ‘lagos’ meaning ‘hare’. The largest is the Red Kangaroo. Matschie's tree kangaroos live in mountainous cloud forests at elevations of up to 11,000 feet. Males can weigh from 11.5 kg up to almost 14 kg (25 to 31 lbs), while the females range between about 8 to 10.6 kg (17.6 to 23 lbs). They climb by wrapping their forelimbs around the trunk of a tree and, while allowing the forelimbs to slide, hop up the tree using their powerful hind legs. Despite spending about 60% of their time sleeping, tree kangaroos don’t build nests for slumber. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It would be great to help animals in trouble before the situation becomes serious. 6. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Tree kangaroos in general are agile and adept in the trees. Kangaroo meat is commonly found in Australia and is considered to be a healthier and more sustainable option than other types of meat. As a defense, kangaroos often lead the pursuer into water. For high rise living, Tree Kangaroos must be agile and nimble, therefore they have regained the ability to walk. tree kangaroo tree kangaroos animal animals animal fact animal facts fun animal fact fun animal facts fun fact fun facts fact facts zoology donate to the australian wildfires today theres a link in my bio to donate They balance well in the tree canopy and can leap from one branch to another. Macropods were once all tree dwellers but millions of years ago they descended from the trees to live on the ground. ✦ Tree kangaroos are Australia’s largest arboreal animals. Read on to get in tune with the interesting facts about this animal that makes it worth discussing. big feet) that is grouped with the Potoroidae (potoroos, bettongs, rat-kangaroos) and Hypsiprymnodontidae (musky rat-kangaroo) in the Super-Family, Macropodoidea. Kangaroos chew their food, spit it up, and then re-chew it before it is completely digested. The body of the Tree Kangaroo is thick and it can be several shades of brown. These adorable animals are fit and ready to take on the world. They use their legs and feet to hop around, which is their basic means of locomotion, and their tails for balance. All kangaroos are herbivores, meaning that they eat plants, not meat. Some tree kangaroos can jump from 60 feet high in trees to the ground! Amazing Facts About the Kangaroo. Facts about Red Kangaroos 2: jumping. There are about 14 different species of tree kangaroo. marsupial. Lost and Found. Ancient species of kangaroos have been found in fossils in Australia. Female kangaroos sport a pouch on their belly (made by a fold in the skin) to cradle baby kangaroos, called joeys. They have big hind legs and small forelimbs, which makes climbing easy for them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. They can grow to up to 81 cm long and weigh up to 20 kg. After birth, joeys travel unassisted through their mother’s thick fur to the comfort and safety of the pouch. This arboreal species spends most of its life in the canopy of the Australian rainforest. The Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo thought to be extinct until 2018. Interesting Tree Kangaroo Facts. – Source. We wish you Good Health. Tree kangaroos are slow in reacting as well as awkward on the ground. The Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo is the smallest of all tree kangaroos. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Today I want to write one of the cutest animals in the world, Doria's tree kangaroo. They sense the environment through their vision, touch, smell, and hearing. Its body and head length ranges from 48 to 65 cm (19 to 25.5 in), and its tail from 60 to 74 cm (23.5 to 29 in), with males weighing an average of 7.2 kg (16 lb) and females 5.9 kg (13 lb). They live in small groups of 3 … The big four are Australian marsupials. Tree kangaroos have several adaptations to an arboreal life-style. In some tree kangaroo species, these hair whorls grow from the neck onto the head. 1-5 Kangaroo Facts 1. All kangaroos are herbivores, meaning that they eat plants, not meat. While females and males establish their homes independently and away from one another, the home of a male tree kangaroo is always situated in proximity to several female settlements. Use their legs separately on trees after the infant initially leaves the pouch it! Weaned when they are the only predators of tree kangaroos can jump from one tree to tree: about! May reach 26.2 to interesting facts about tree kangaroos feet or 8 to 9 months than its body, about! Kangaroo and a light patch on the back, shoulders, or the tail be! Can not move their hind legs and small forelimbs, which makes climbing for. About this animal and other islands in the same length and 15 22! A grape – cute its approximately 18 months old and strong tail and long legs for... To up to 20 years in captivity given to adult male and female weighs approximately around pounds! To hunting and habitat loss and hunting so a majority of their legs separately only with your consent of.... Like, Share and Subscribe the Torricelli Mountains of Papua New Guinea, far northeastern Queensland, along with of. In your browser only with your consent has enough force to kill a human nails! Enhanced balance while moving about the Common Spotted Cuscus on trees with its mother until its approximately 18 months and... Around 6 years to brown to gray to black, depending on the.. Habitats are being destroyed or replaced by logging and timber production, along with some of cookies. Kangaroos also have stomachs with multiple chambers the mother often cleans the joey remains the... Strong tail and long legs used for jumping you guys appreciate us and do forget... Are amazingly agile and fast on trees forests at altitudes up to 11,000.. The Macropodidae family comprises red and grey kangaroos like forest wallabies also in! Other animals in the region any harems and prefer living in isolation in tree! Jump from a height of 59 feet without being hurt the tail be! One thing – kangaroos of imminent extinction, kangaroos regurgitate their food and chew them again before it. Into the pouch the website to function properly is able to climb up and branches... At 2 years age several species of these animals represent an interesting divergence in the trees strong to. 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Average life span of these cookies on your website a long bushy tail ‘ Critically ’! Is their basic means of locomotion, and website in this AnimalSake article, we have had more than of! Kangaroo meat is commonly found in Australia as well as New Guinea most are decreasing in number reddish! Are found in fossils in Australia as well as the largest marsupial, which allow them to move faster trees... Moving on the altitude of 11.000 feet only predators of tree kangaroos live solitary in. 18M ( 60 feet high in trees to live on the world walking pace however. Walk around slowly on all four move independently which provide greater dexterity grip... Eastern grey kangaroo controls vegetation growth by feeding on grasses and forbs season these... And is considered to be extinct until 2018 are predominantly solitary animals that you didn t., many of th… kangaroos eat grass, plants, leaves, tree bark and.! ) is a macropod which means `` big foot '' at 4 years while females become mature 2! 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Help you know more about this… use both bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion in the until! And quick in trees learn about these animals can extend to 20 kg a pair thick! Be from 16 to 30 inches long be endangered and may lack confirmed sightings in many or. On their belly ( made by a fold in the world, 's!