10 Amazing Facts You Should Know About Kangaroos

Few animals represent their continent as strongly as kangaroos do Australia, they’ve become global symbols of the country. Yet despite their worldwide fame, kangaroos are often misunderstood, both in Australia and around the world.

For example, did you know that the animal many people see as cute and cuddly is actually considered a pest by its human neighbors? Farmers, in particular, often dislike kangaroos because the animals sneak into pastures and eat the feed meant for livestock.

Of course, there are plenty of endearing things about kangaroos that make up for these unpopular habits. Below are 10 lesser-known facts about these unique creatures.

1. Kangaroos Are the Largest Marsupials on Earth

Kangaroos hold the title of the biggest marsupials alive today. The heaviest kangaroo species is the red kangaroo, which can stand over five feet tall (not counting its three-foot-long tail) and weigh up to 180 pounds. Eastern gray kangaroos can grow taller, some adult males reach nearly seven feet, but they are slimmer, weighing at most 120 pounds. The most common kangaroo species are the red, eastern gray, and western gray kangaroos.

2. They Come in Many Shapes and Sizes

Kangaroos belong to the genus Macropus, a name that means “large foot.” This genus includes several smaller species that look similar to kangaroos, though the lines between these species aren’t always clear. The smallest members of the genus are wallabies, while species of medium size are called wallaroos.

The term “kangaroo” is sometimes used broadly to refer to any of these animals, but it usually applies only to the four largest species: red, eastern gray, western gray, and antilopine kangaroos. It also includes tree kangaroos, which belong to a different genus but are part of the larger taxonomic family known as macropods. This family includes kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, tree kangaroos, pademelons, and quokkas. Outside the macropod family, tiny marsupials called rat kangaroos also bear a resemblance to their much larger relatives.

3. They're Left-Handed

Humans and some other primates show “handedness”, a natural tendency to use one hand more than the other. Scientists once thought this was a trait unique to primate evolution, but recent research suggests handedness is also common in kangaroos.

Studies of red kangaroos, eastern gray kangaroos, and red-necked wallabies have found that these animals are mostly left-handed. They use their left hand for tasks like grooming and eating about 95% of the time. Their hands also seem to be specialized for different jobs: kangaroos typically use their left hand for precise actions and their right hand for tasks that require strength. Researchers say this challenges the idea that handedness is unique to primates, noting it may be an adaptation to walking on two legs (bipedalism).

4. Together They're Called a Mob

Kangaroos travel and feed in groups known as mobs, troops, or herds. A mob might have just a few kangaroos or several dozen, with loose connections that let members move between different mobs. During mating season, males may fight over females by kicking, boxing, or even biting, but the group is usually led by its largest male. Male kangaroos are often called bucks, boomers, or jacks, while females go by does, flyers, or jills.

5. Some Can Hop 25 Feet

Hopping is an energy-efficient way for kangaroos to get around, helping them cover long distances in Australia’s dry regions as they search for food. They usually move at moderate speeds, but they can sprint when needed. A red kangaroo can hop at 35 miles per hour, jump about six feet off the ground, and cover 25 feet in a single leap.

6. They Use Their Tails as a Fifth Leg

When moving slowly in small areas, kangaroos often use their tail like a fifth leg. It might look awkward, but studies of red kangaroos show that their large, muscular tails can provide just as much forward force as their front and back legs combined.

However, when a kangaroo needs to move more than about 15 feet, it usually stops using its tail and starts hopping instead.

7. Joeys Can Go Dormant Until the Pouch Is Vacant

Kangaroos have a gestation period of about five weeks, after which they typically give birth to one baby—called a joey. Newborn joeys are no bigger than a grape, and they must use their forelimbs to crawl through their mother’s fur to reach her pouch. The joey will live in this pouch (known as a marsupium) for the next several months as it continues to grow and develop.

A female kangaroo can become pregnant again even while a joey is still in her pouch. In this case, the younger joey enters a dormant state until the pouch is free. Once the older joey leaves the pouch, the mother’s body sends hormonal signals to restart the younger joey’s development.

8. They Sometimes Drown Their Enemies

Kangaroos don’t have many natural predators in Australia, especially now that large carnivores like thylacines (Tasmanian tigers) and marsupial lions are extinct. A few animals do prey on kangaroos, though mostly targeting joeys or adult kangaroos from smaller species. These predators include dingoes and introduced species like red foxes, dogs, and feral cats.

When a kangaroo is chased by a predator, it often runs toward water. This can simply be an escape tactic, as kangaroos are surprisingly good swimmers (thanks again to their large tails). But in some cases, the kangaroo may be leading its pursuer into a trap. Once the kangaroo is chest-deep in water, it may turn around to face the predator, grab it with its forelimbs, and try to drown it.

9. Some May Sacrifice Joeys to Predators

Fighting back against predators may not be realistic for smaller kangaroos and other macropods like wallabies, wallaroos, and quokkas. Mother macropods have been observed dropping their joeys and running away when chased by a predator.

In one study, female quokkas caught in wire traps tried to escape when they saw a human approaching. During the commotion, their joeys often fell out of their pouches. “Given the muscular control female quokkas have over the pouch opening… this seems likely to be a behavioral response rather than an accident,” researchers wrote. (Don’t worry— the joeys were returned to their mothers’ pouches.)

This behavior has also been seen in gray kangaroos and swamp wallabies. It might seem unthinkable to humans, but researchers suggest it could be an adaptive survival strategy. Kangaroo mothers reproduce faster than humans, and when their own lives are at risk, sacrificing one joey might be a sensible choice—at least from the kangaroo’s perspective.

10. They Eat Grass Like Cows but Burp Less Methane

All kangaroos are herbivores, feeding mainly on grass but also on some moss, shrubs, and fungi. Similar to cows and other ruminant animals, kangaroos sometimes regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before digesting it. However, this isn’t necessary for their digestion, and they only do it occasionally—possibly because it seems to cause them discomfort.

Kangaroos have tube-shaped stomachs, which are very different from the four-chambered stomachs of ruminants. Cows are infamously known for releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas when they breathe and burp. But despite having a similar diet, kangaroos produce only about 27% of the body mass-specific methane that ruminants do.

Food passes through kangaroos’ stomachs more quickly, and research suggests that the microbes in kangaroos’ guts are in a metabolic state that’s more focused on growth or biomass production than on making methane.

Conclusion

Kangaroos are far more than just Australia’s iconic symbols, they’re fascinating creatures with unique adaptations and behaviors that help them thrive in one of the world’s most challenging environments. From their status as the largest marsupials to their left-handed tendencies, specialized tails, and surprising survival strategies, every fact about kangaroos reveals a new layer of their complexity. While they may be seen as pests by some, their role in Australia’s ecosystem and their remarkable biology make them worthy of our admiration. Understanding these 10 facts not only deepens our appreciation for kangaroos but also highlights the importance of protecting these incredible animals and their habitats for future generations.