Kangaroos
Kangaroos -TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Title Page
2. Table of Contents
3. Body Structure
4. Habitat
5. Predetation
6. Reproduction
7. Family Life
8. Environmental Adaptations
9. Picture
10. Bibliography
ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATIONS
The kangaroo has adapted to many different types of climates. The gray kangaroo has adapted to life in the grasslands. It has stronger legs for leaping. Its feet are also wide. Its snout is longer and more pointed for finding berries. It also can hear better because there are more predators like dingoes and large birds in its environment.
The smaller wallabies of Australia have adapted to dryer and higher conditions. It can go longer without water. Its claws are also sharper for finding water. Its legs are not as big or strong because they do not leap as much. Therefore, their body weight has been reduced, allowing them to be more efficient with they water they can find. They also have wider feet than the kangaroos living in wetter climates. This allows the kangaroo to be able to have more traction in the higher elevations.
The kangaroos that live in the coastal regions also have several special adaptations. They have wider feet to allow them to walk is shallow water. They can eat several different types of sea plants. They can do this because they have a higher tolerance to salt than normal kangaroos.
Kangaroos that live in forests have adapted to this climate as well. Their feet are wide to allow them to climb trees. This allows them to eat leaves off of the trees. They also do not have claws as long as other species. There is usually a larger supply of fresh water in the forests.
FAMILY STRUCTURE
A group of kangaroos living together is called a mob. The dominant male of the mob is called the boomer. The females are called flyers, and the young are called joeys. They joeys of the mob like to play and fight like most other animals. The boomer is the leader of the mob and shows by "boxing" with the joeys. As the male joey reaches the age of adulthood, he will learn to fight more.
The boomer is the most important member of the mob. He mates with other females. He also controls the joeys by boxing with them. When the male joey is old enough, he will fight the boomer. If the joey wins, he becomes the boomer. If he loses, he will seek a new mob to join. There they will fight with the new boomer. If it wins, it will become the boomer of the new mob and mate.
The females are less violent than the males. They usually only fight to protect themselves of their young. They usually only mate with the boomer...
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