The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
The red kangaroo or Macropus rufus is known as one of the largest marsupial species in the world that are distributed in dry inland area of Australia. Their lifespan is about 15 years and the male M. rufus have red-brown fur on their body and its color is lighter on their limbs and tail and the female have blue-grey color. They have two short forelimbs, two large and muscular hind legs which are used for jumping, and one strong tale for the balance. The body length of the male red kangaroo is about 2.5 m with the tale and they weigh about 85 kg (190 lb) and the female grow up to about 1.9 m weigh about 35 kg (77lb). They have special processes of parturition and nurturing their joeys. The female M. rufus have parturition of joey after 7 weeks of pregnancy period and the baby looks like particular mammalian fetus at the early stage of development. When a joey is born it is only about 2.5 cm long and weighs about 2 g. At this stage a pouch plays very important role as the shelter for the baby in which the joey grows up to 9 months. M. rufus most likely feed on grasses and other plants and since their habitat is dry they can live through long period of drought with their ability to maintain water from the plants they eat. |
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