Kangaroos

Kangaroos Class: Mammalia Order: Marsupial Family: Macropodae Genus and Species: Macropus Giganteus HOW THE KANGAROO GOT ITS NAME When European explorers first saw these strange hopping animals they asked a native Australian (aborigine) what they were called. He replied "kangaroo" meaning "I don't understand" your question. The explorers thought this was the animal's name. And that's how the kangaroo got its name. Description: Kangaroos are marsupial mammals and comprise 47 species within the family Macropodidae. The …

…been virtually eliminated by Australian farmers. Kangaroos possess long, powerful hind legs and feet for hopping and leaping, their predominant forms of locomotion. Their long tails, thickened at the base, are used for balancing; kangaroos frequently "go on all fives" when foraging. BIBLIOGRAPHY Internet sites: http://vger.rutgers.edu/~tempest/index.html http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/kangaroo.htm (Any and all copyright material is acknowledged as of their respective owners. Copyright © Senani Ponnamperuma, 1996, 1997)