What is Macropus or kangaroo?
Introduction : Kangaroos are the world’s largest marsupials. A Red Kangaroo can weigh 90kg and can grow two metres tall. Black Wallaroos, at around 20kg, are the smallest species (their name a portmanteau of wallaby and kangaroo). Kangaroos are famous for hopping and can reach speeds of 60kph, clearing more than 8m in a single bound.Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. Like most marsupials, femal.
Classification:
Phylum Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Marsupialia
Genus: Macropus
Habitat: It is a terrestrial gregarious, herbivorous, browsing and lipping animal found in New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. It is commonly called kangaroo.
Habits:
(0) It shows diurnal activity.
(ii) It is herbivorous and feeds on crops.
(iii) Sexes are unisexual and show sexual dimorphism. Male has a copulatory organ called penis. Female has one pair of thoracic teeth. Fertilization is internal and female is viviparous. Only single young one is born which is blind, naked and helpless. Young one is reared in a special skin pouch called marsupian on under surface of belly. Development is direct.
External characters:
(i) Body is divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail.
(ii) Head contains eyes, nostrils, mouth and long pinnae.
(iii) Trunk gives rise to two pairs of pentadactyl limb. Limbs are much larger and more powerful.
(iv) Tail is long and muscular.
Economic importance: It is harmful as it eats crops.
]
MACROPUS OR KANGAROO
