Australia is a land that is famed for a huge variety of wildlife. From the Great Barrier Reef to the thick tropical jungles, the island nation is host to a plethora of different species. As an island that has been isolated for millions of years, the animals there have evolved separately from those elsewhere. This has resulted in the evolution of some animals that are quite unlike those that we are used to. One such animal is the kangaroo and it has some really unique features. The most noticeable of these is the way in which it gets around, hopping on two feet rather than walking as most other creatures do.
The kangaroo is a social creature that lives in groups although they are known for fighting regularly with others. They are found throughout Australia from the arid center to the tropical jungles. There are several species of kangaroo, with some being really quite different to the kangaroo most of us recognize. Generally speaking, the kangaroo as a species is currently thriving.
These fascinating animals are often considered to be synonymous with the part of the world they come from. We have learned a great deal about them, including some amazing facts.
Kangaroo Fact #10: From the Land Down Under
When people think of Australia, one of the first things that springs to mind is often the kangaroo. In addition to other animals like the koala and wombat, the kangaroo is almost synonymous with Australia. They are common throughout much of the island nation and are able to survive even in the harsh desert-like conditions of the outback. They will also occasionally enter into towns and cities and are a fairly common sight.
Kangaroos are not exclusive to Australia, though, and they can be found in other locations throughout the region. New Guinea, Tasmania and some other islands are native homes of the kangaroo, although they are not native to Australia’s largest neighbor, New Zealand. One of the most intriguing of these is the tree kangaroo, which is native to New Guinea. As the name suggests, these kangaroos live in the trees. They are also considerably smaller than other extant kangaroos.
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