Learn About Tree Kangaroos
Scientific Name: Dendrolagus ursinus
Tree-kangaroos are macropods adapted for life in trees. They are found in the rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Queensland, and nearby islands, usually in mountainous areas. Although most are found in mountainous areas, several species also occur in lowlands, such as the aptly named Lowlands Tree-kangaroo.
It is understood that tree-kangaroos evolved from creatures similar to
modern kangaroos and wallabies, as they retain many standard macropod
adaptations to life in the plains—notably the massive hind legs and
long, narrow feet which allow orthodox macropods to travel fast and
economically on the ground. Tree-kangaroos have developed
exceptionally long tails for balance, and stronger forelimbs for
climbing. The feet are shorter and wider, they have longer claws on
all feet, and rubbery soles for better grip.
The ancestors of all kangaroos are believed to have been small
arboreal marsupials that looked like some of Australia's present-day
possums. The earliest macropods diverged from this line when they
descended to the ground and evolved bodies adapted for rapid motion
over the earth and rocks. Why the ancestors of the tree-kangaroos
returned to the trees is not known.
Anatomy
Tree-kangaroos are slow and clumsy on the ground. They move at about
walking pace and hop awkwardly, leaning their body far forward to
balance the heavy tail. But in trees they are bold and agile. They
climb by wrapping the forelimbs around the trunk of a tree and hopping
with the powerful hind legs, allowing the forelimbs to slide. They are
expert leapers; 9-metre (29.5 feet) downward jumps from one tree to
another have been recorded, and they have the extraordinary ability to
jump to the ground from 18 metres (59.0 feet) or more without being
hurt.
Diet
Tree-kangaroos feed mostly on leaves and fruit, taken both in trees
and on the ground, but other foods are eaten when available, including
grain, flowers, sap, bark, eggs and young birds. Their teeth are
adapted for tearing leaves rather than cutting grass. They have large
stomachs that function as fermentation vats in a manner similar to
those of eutherian ruminant herbivores, in which bacteria break down
fibrous leaves and grasses. Although the arrangement of the stomach
compartments in kangaroos is quite different than eutherian ruminants,
the end result is similar.
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View 20 more comments
Jeanne Masar 18 months ago | reply
Thank you for your beautiful photo.
Kim~Smith 18 months ago | reply
Thank you. He definitely has an menacing look on his face ; )
Temari 09 18 months ago | reply
Thanks for sharing your cool Roo.
Mario in arte Akeu 18 months ago | reply
Thanks for sharing!