| |
|
|
| |
| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON
NAME: |
Western
gray kangaroo |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Diprotodontia |
| FAMILY: |
Macropodidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Macropus
(big foot) fuliginosus |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
These
large, muscular animals are grayish-brown to reddish-brown
with a small head, large ears, and a long thick
tail used for balance. It also has short forearms,
strong hind legs, and long broad back feet for hopping
and standing upright. |
| FEMALE |
The
females have a pouch used to carry the baby |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately
2 m (6.6 ft) long head to tail; 6-7 ft (180-210
cm) in height |
|
| WEIGHT: |
|
| MALE |
About
54 kg (121.5 lbs) |
| FEMALE |
About
28 kg (63 lbs) |
|
| DIET: |
Includes
grass and shrubs |
|
| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 31 days; usually one joey (offspring)
is born after a gestation period of only 31 days.
The joey climbs from the birth canal to the pouch
in three minutes. It leaves pouch at 8½ months
and is independent at 10 months. |
| NURSING
DURATION |
After
leaving the pouch, the joey continues to nurse for
another 6 months. |
|
| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
2-3 years |
|
|
|
| RANGE: |
Southern
Australia |
|
| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
grasslands near water and with a nearby forest or
woodland |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Species
not listed; subspecies M. f. fulginosus listed
as Lower Risk/near threatened |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 1. |
In
their native country of Australia, western grey
kangaroo females are known as does or fliers, the
males as boomers or stinkers due to their strong,
curry-like smell, and the young as joeys. Kangaroos
live in groups called mobs. |
|
|
| 2. |
These kangaroos are the most vocal of the three
large kangaroo species. The mothers communicate
to the joeys with a series of clicks. When defensive,
they will growl like a dog. |
|
|
| 3. |
The western greys have very close social bonds,
keeping family connections for years. A daughter
often stays close to her mother even after she has
a joey of her own. |
|
|
| 4. |
Young
kangaroos sometimes box playfully to pass the time.
Adult males box to determine dominance, with the
strongest male becoming the head of the mob. |
|
|
| 5. |
While
running at speeds of about 12 mph, these kangaroos
are able to reach 35 mph in short bursts. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Since
the late 18th century, human settlement has drastically
changed kangaroo numbers and distribution. Loss
of many grassland areas from grazing domestic cattle
and introduced species such as rabbits, mean negative
effects on native Australian species such as kangaroos.
Before
European settlement, native Aboriginal peoples
utilized the kangaroos for meat and hide.
While
many species have decreases in number due to human
population and introduction of predators such
as the red fox and domestic cats and dos, some
species' populations have actually risen, causing
kangaroos in some areas to be considered pests.
Farmers concerned about damage to fences and crops
often cull them under license in some areas.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Macdonald, David. Editor. 1984. The Encyclopedia
of Mammals. Vol. 2. George Allen and Unwin,
London. |
|
|
Strahan, Ronald. 1983. The Australian Museum
Complete Book of Australian Mammal. Angus and
Robertson Pub., London. |
|
|
Australia Department of Conservation and Land
Management. http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/mammal_kangaroo.html
|
|
| www.kangaroocenter.com/westerngrey.html |
|
|
|
|
|
