One of the known marsupials that belong to the family Macropodidae, a kangaroo is usually found in Australia. It plays a significant role to the country, which considers it as its national symbol. Furthermore, the emblem of this animal is featured commonly in the country’s best-known organizations, currency as well as coat of arms. It comes in different species, some of the most notable of which are the western grey kangaroo, Antilopine kangaroo and red kangaroo. Aside from these basic facts, it is also good to know other interesting details about it such as the size of a kangaroo.
The Size of a Kangaroo
How big is a kangaroo? The average size of kangaroos, specifically the Macropus rufus or the red kangaroo, is 6-feet and 7-inches or 2 meters tall. In terms of weight, an adult male can be as heavy as 200 pounds or 90 kilograms. Another common species is Macropus giganteus or the eastern grey kangaroo. This one is slightly smaller, which has an average height of 6-feet or 2 meters and an average weight of 145 pounds or 66 kilograms.
The third common species is Macropus fuliginosus or the western grey kangaroo. It is smaller than the previous two species, which only stands at an average of 4-feet and 3-inches or approximately 1.3 meters tall. It only weighs around 52.91 to 127.87 pounds or 24 to 58 kilograms. The fourth common species of kangaroos is Macropus antilopinus or the Antilopine kangaroo. In terms of size, it is just a bitter smaller compared to the eastern grey kangaroo and the red kangaroo.
Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details
Aside from the four common species of kangaroos, more than 50 smaller macropods exist, all of which are related closely to the family Macropodidae. This kind of animal is commonly known for its long muscular tail, which is used for balancing purposes. Likewise, it also has relatively large feet, which give it superior leaping ability unlike other animals. Additionally, it also has other distinct characteristics like a small head and big powerful hind legs. Similar to many other marsupials out there, each of the female kangaroos has a marsipium, a pouch wherein the joeys can finish their postnatal development.
Amongst the different large animals out there, only the kangaroo hops as a means of locomotion. The average hopping speed of the red kangaroo is approximately 13 to 16 mph or 20 to 25 km/h. As a group, kangaroos have an average life expectancy of 4 to 6 years. Based on reports, they are prone to develop eye diseases, some of which can even lead to blindness.