# Tree Kangaroo (*Dendrolagus*) Tree kangaroos are unique kangaroos that live in trees instead of hopping on the ground. They have strong tails for balance and can leap from tree to tree with ease. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Rainforest - **Also known as:** Tree Wallaby ![Tree Kangaroo](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/392f799b0e4638233c17f74100f6d10115713ad83622e35578e09008ba814528/image-560x560/w-560.webp) ## Appearance The Tree Kangaroo has thick, shaggy fur, typically brown to reddish-brown, with a lighter belly. Its strong limbs and broad feet are specially adapted for climbing trees. A long, often striped tail, sometimes longer than its body, helps with balance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Diprotodontia - **Family:** Macropodidae - **Genus:** Dendrolagus ## Interesting facts - A baby tree kangaroo, called a joey, is born tiny and climbs into its mother's pouch! - Some tree kangaroos can walk backwards due to unique ankle and foot flexibility! - Their thick fur grows in swirls on their back, helping rainwater drain right off! - Unlike bouncy ground kangaroos, these spend their whole lives high in the trees! ## Special abilities - **Canopy Climber:** Tree Kangaroo can grip slippery branches using strong claws and textured footpads that help them climb tall trees with incredible agility. - **Leap Landing:** Tree Kangaroo can safely jump up to 60 feet (18 meters) from trees because their powerful legs absorb impact, helping them escape danger. - **Balancing Tail:** Tree Kangaroo has a very long, heavy tail that helps them balance like a tightrope walker when moving swiftly through the high forest canopy. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 41-77 cm - **Weight:** 5-18 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 30-45 days ## Diet & Feeding This tree-dwelling marsupial mostly munches on leaves, fruits, and flowers high in the canopy. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Fruits, Flowers, Bark, Sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** New Guinea Harpy Eagle (*Harpyopsis novaeguineae*) — Powerful aerial predator, snatching them from canopy. - **Eats:** Septic Fig (*Ficus septica*) — Consumes leaves and fruits from this common rainforest tree. - **Eaten by:** Amethystine Python (*Simalia amethistina*) — Ambush predator of young or sleeping tree kangaroos. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a tree kangaroo in the wild, admire them from a distance and never try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Tree Kangaroo? 41-77 cm ### How much does Tree Kangaroo weigh? 5-18 kg ### How long does Tree Kangaroo live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Tree Kangaroo move? 10 km/h ### What does Tree Kangaroo eat? This tree-dwelling marsupial mostly munches on leaves, fruits, and flowers high in the canopy. ### Where is Tree Kangaroo usually found? Rainforest ### How does Tree Kangaroo hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Gladys Porter Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gladys-porter-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Zoo Krefeld](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-krefeld) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · 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: [Tree Kangaroo: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-kangaroo)