# Macropus rufus The red kangaroo is the largest kangaroo and can hop very fast! They have strong legs and long tails that help them balance while jumping around in the wild. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Macropus rufus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Red_kangaroo_-_melbourne_zoo.jpg&width=800) Photo: fir0002 flagstaffotos \[at\] gmail.com Canon 20D + Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_kangaroo_-_melbourne_zoo.jpg) ## Appearance The Macropus rufus is Australia's largest marsupial, with males displaying reddish-brown fur and females having bluer-grey coats. They possess powerful hind legs, disproportionately small forelimbs, and a very thick, muscular tail that distinguishes them from smaller kangaroo species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Diprotodontia - **Family:** Macropodidae - **Genus:** Macropus ## Interesting facts - A group of kangaroos is called a mob! - Kangaroos cannot walk backwards, only forwards! - Mother kangaroos can produce different kinds of milk simultaneously for joeys of varying ages. - They can go for long periods without drinking, getting most water from their diet. ## Special abilities - **Super Hopper:** Macropus rufus can travel at high speeds and cover great distances using powerful hind legs that store and release energy with each hop. - **Balancing Tail:** Macropus rufus uses its long, muscular tail as a counterbalance for stability during high-speed hopping and as a supportive 'fifth leg' when standing. - **Joey Nursery Pouch:** Macropus rufus mothers have a special abdominal pouch that keeps their baby joeys safe, warm, and fed until they are ready to explore. - **Desert Cooler:** Macropus rufus can lick its forearms to cool down, as evaporating saliva helps chill the blood flowing close to the skin surface. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 190-270 cm - **Weight:** 18-90 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-22 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 33 days ## Diet & Feeding Red kangaroos are herbivores, meaning they primarily eat plants, especially fresh grasses. - **Primary Foods:** Mitchell grass, Kangaroo grass, Spinifex grass, various forbs, leaves of shrubs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Dingo (*Canis dingo*) — Young or weak kangaroos are prey for dingoes. - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Eagles can prey on vulnerable joeys. - **Eats:** Kangaroo Grass (*Themeda triandra*) — This grass is a common food source for red kangaroos. - **Shelter:** Mulga (*Acacia aneura*) — Mulga trees provide crucial shade in hot, arid environments. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals like kangaroos. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Macropus rufus? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Macropus rufus? 190-270 cm ### How much does Macropus rufus weigh? 18-90 kg ### How long does Macropus rufus live? 15-22 years ### How fast can Macropus rufus move? 65 km/h ### What does Macropus rufus eat? Red kangaroos are herbivores, meaning they primarily eat plants, especially fresh grasses. ### Where is Macropus rufus usually found? Grasslands ### How does Macropus rufus hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Macropus rufus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/macropus-rufus)