# Matschie's tree-kangaroo (*Dendrolagus matschiei*) Matschie's tree-kangaroo is a special kangaroo that lives in trees! They have strong legs for jumping and beautiful fur that helps them blend in with the forest. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Matschie's tree-kangaroo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dendrolagus_matschiei_-Milwaukee_County_Zoo-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Guy Finley, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendrolagus_matschiei_-Milwaukee_County_Zoo-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Matschie's tree-kangaroo has dense, reddish-brown fur, a bright creamy-yellow belly, and a long, golden-yellow bushy tail. Its unique coloration and golden tail make it stand out from other tree-kangaroos. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Diprotodontia - **Family:** Macropodidae - **Genus:** Dendrolagus ## Interesting facts - Each Matschie's tree-kangaroo has its own swirly fur pattern on its chest! - Their paws have special spongy pads for super sticky grip on wet branches! - They have excellent camouflage, blending perfectly with forest leaves and bark! - When born, a tiny joey is just the size of a jellybean! ## Special abilities - **Reverse Raincoat:** Matschie's tree-kangaroo has fur that grows backward along its spine that helps them shed tropical rainwater easily. - **Branch Gripper:** Matschie's tree-kangaroo has broad, padded paws with strong claws because of adaptations that help them grip slippery branches tightly. - **Balancing Tail:** Matschie's tree-kangaroo has a long, bushy, golden tail that helps them balance like a tightrope walker high in the trees. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-80 cm - **Weight:** 7-15 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 44-46 days ## Diet & Feeding These furry tree dwellers love to munch on leaves, fruits, flowers, and even tree bark! - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Fruits, Flowers, Tree bark, Sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** New Guinea harpy eagle (*Harpyopsis novaeguineae*) — Powerful raptor that hunts them in the forest canopy. - **Eaten by:** Amethystine python (*Simalia amethistina*) — Large snake that ambushes them from trees. - **Depends on:** Cluster fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Relies on these fig trees for delicious leaves and fruits. - **Depends on:** Dillenia tree (*Dillenia papuana*) — Eats the leaves and fruits from this rainforest tree. ## 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. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and don't disturb wild animals in their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Matschie's tree-kangaroo? 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 Matschie's tree-kangaroo? 50-80 cm ### How much does Matschie's tree-kangaroo weigh? 7-15 kg ### How long does Matschie's tree-kangaroo live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Matschie's tree-kangaroo move? 15 km/h ### What does Matschie's tree-kangaroo eat? These furry tree dwellers love to munch on leaves, fruits, flowers, and even tree bark! ### Where is Matschie's tree-kangaroo usually found? Forests ### How does Matschie's tree-kangaroo hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Kansas City Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kansas-city-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo - [Lincoln Children's Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lincoln-childrens-zoo) — Nebraska, US · Zoo ## 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: [Matschie's tree-kangaroo: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/matschies-tree-kangaroo)