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Red Kangaroo at Giza Zoo Class: Mammalia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Species: Macropus rufus Distribution:
This species is endemic to Australia, where it is distributed throughout the arid regions of the country. Habitat:
It is found in arid and semi arid habitats. Animals are dependent on green herbage, and populations subsequently decline during drought periods. It is capable of traveling long distances (over 200 km) in response to localized rainfall. |  |
Red Kangaroo inhabits most of the dry inland of the central part of Australia in small groups called mobs. It prefers open plains where trees and bushes are scarce.Description:
This species is a very large kangaroo with short, red-brown fur, fading to pale buff below and on the limbs. It has long, pointed earlobes and a squared-off muzzle. Females are smaller than males and are blue-grey with a brown tinge, pale grey below, although arid zone females are colored more like males. It has two forelimbs with small claws, two muscular hind limbs, which are used for jumping, and a strong tail which is often used to create a tripod when standing upright. Males grow up to a body length of 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) long and weigh up to 85 kg (187.4 lb). Females reach a body length of up to 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) long and weigh up to 35 kg (77.2 lb). Tails can be from 0.9 to 1 m (3.0–3.3 ft) long. The average Red Kangaroo stands approximately 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall. Accounts of sizes greater than this are not uncommon, with some large males reportedly reaching approximately 2 m (6 ft 7 in).
Lifespan:
Red kangaroos have been recorded living up to 22 years in the wild.
Diet:
Red Kangaroo prefers to eat grasses and other vegetation. It can go long periods of time without water, as long as it has access to green plants as they have the ability to take moisture out of plants. 
Red Kangaroo eating at Giza Zoo |
Reproduction:
Red Kangaroo breeds all year round. The females have the unique ability to delay birth of their baby until their previous Joey has left the pouch. This is called embryonic diapauses. The gestation period is around 33 days. Young kangaroos are known as joeys. Red kangaroo joeys are tiny when born, averaging only 2.5 centimeters long and 0.75 grams. The young Joey will permanently leave the pouch at around 235 days old, but will continue to suckle until it reaches 12 months of age.
Sexual maturity is reached at 15 to 20 months in females and 20 to 24 months in males, but maturity may be delayed in unfavorable conditions. Behavior:
Red Kangaroo is mainly active in the cool of the evening or night, and lives alone or in small groups called 'mobs' (although food shortages can cause them to congregate into larger groups). Each mob is usually made up of 2 to 10 kangaroos, but sometimes a mob can have up to several hundred kangaroos. Membership of these groups is very flexible, and males (boomers) are not territorial, fighting only after females (flyers) which come into heat. The largest males are dominant, and control most of the mating. Red Kangaroo is nocturnal and crepuscular, and largely spends the daylight hours sleeping or otherwise relaxing.
Red Kangaroo's legs work much like a rubber band. The males can leap over 9 m (30 ft) in one leap. 
Group Red Kangaroo at Giza Zoo |
ConservationStatus:
IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Reference
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/ 40567/0
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/ Macropus_rufus.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Macropus_rufus
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