What is some information on the red kangaroo?

Answer 1

The Red kangaroo is the largest of all the kangaroo species, and the largest marsupial.

The red kangaroo is so-called because it has a reddish tinge to its brown fur, as opposed to the grey fur of the grey kangaroo. Males can be a strong brick-red colour or a pale red. In the eastern part of the range of the red kangaroo, females are likely to be more grey in colour, whilst elsewhere within their range both males and females tend to be reddish-brown.

The mother Red kangaroo can carry two different aged joeys simultaneously, yet feed them on two different types of milk according to their developmental needs.

Female Red kangaroos spend their reproductive years in an almost continuous state of pregnancy. They have the ability to "suspend" the development of the embryo, depending on whether the environmental conditions are favourable to the raising of another joey, such as when food sources are plentiful.

Red Kangaroos are able to travel long distances at a high speed, expending very little energy. They are very energy-efficient, and this is linked directly to the physical action of bringing their hind legs up with each hop. Every hop literally refills the lungs. They have large, strong tendons in their hind legs which act as "springs". The springing motion requires less energy than running does, so Red kangaroos are able to bound for longer distances than other mammals with the standard four legs can run. They have strong back legs and elongated hind feet for bounding.