7 Hopping Facts About Kangaroos

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Kangaroos are some of the most fascinating animals in the world. With their powerful legs, long tails, and adorable faces, these marsupials have captured hearts everywhere. Found mostly in Australia, kangaroos are famous for their hopping, pouch-carrying moms, and social nature. They’re strong, smart, and full of surprises; each fact about them makes you love them even more.

Let’s hop into some exciting and fun facts about kangaroos that make them truly one of a kind!

Kangaroos are the biggest marsupial type of animal on Earth. They're like the heavyweight champions of the marsupial world! Way larger than any other marsupial, such as a wombat, koala, or wallaby.

But the wallaby is also a part of the Kangaroo family! Kangaroos belong to the genus Macropus, which means "large foot." Other members of that genus include several smaller but similar-looking species. The smallest members of the genus are wallabies, while species of intermediate size are called wallaroos.

These animals are like kangaroo astronauts! They can jump really, really high, much higher than you'd expect. Some kangaroo’s jumps were reported to reach around 25 feet!

Kangaroos have a trick up their furry sleeves. Sometimes, they surprise their enemies by taking them for a swim. This can just be an escape strategy, since kangaroos are surprisingly good swimmers. Once a kangaroo is chest-deep in the water, it will sometimes turn around and confront the predator, grabbing it and attempting to drown it.

Kangaroos have a tail that's not just for looks. They use it like a third leg to help them balance. It's like having an extra helper!

When kangaroos hang out together, it's called a "mob." They're like a friendly gang of hoppers, all having a great time. The group tends to be dominated by its largest male. Male kangaroos are known as bucks, boomers, or jacks, while females are called does, flyers, or jills.

Baby kangaroos are called "joey." No larger than a grape, the newborn joey must use its forelimbs to crawl through its mother's fur to her pouch. The joey will live in the pouch (called a marsupium) for several months to grow and develop.