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Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of a kangaroo's strong tail?
For balance while jumping
Where do kangaroos live?
Eastern Australia
What are the small groups called that kangaroos live in?
Troops or herds ("mobs")
How do kangaroos warn others when threatened?
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How do female kangaroos carry their young?
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At what age are joeys mature enough to leave the pouch for good?
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Study Notes
Kangaroo Physical Characteristics
- Kangaroos have strong tails that help them balance while jumping.
- They are the tallest of all marsupials, standing over 6 feet tall.
Habitat and Social Structure
- Kangaroos live in Eastern Australia.
- They live in small groups called troops or herds, also known as "mobs" by Australians.
- These groups typically consist of 50 or more animals.
Defense Mechanisms
- When threatened, kangaroos pound the ground with their strong feet as a warning.
- Fighting kangaroos use their powerful legs to kick opponents and may also bite.
Reproduction and Young
- Female kangaroos have a pouch on their belly, made by a fold in the skin, to cradle baby kangaroos called joeys.
- Newborn joeys are only one inch long (2.5 centimeters) at birth, similar in size to a grape.
- After birth, joeys travel through their mother's thick fur to the comfort and safety of the pouch.
- Newborn joeys are unable to suckle or swallow, so the mother kangaroo uses her muscles to pump milk down its throat.
Development and Growth
- At around 4 months, the joey emerges from the pouch for short trips and to graze on grass and small shrubs.
- At 10 months, the joey is mature enough to leave the pouch for good.
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Description
Explore interesting facts about kangaroos, such as their use of strong tails for balance, living in troops, and unique pouches for carrying their young. Learn more about these tall marsupials from Eastern Australia!
