Kangaroo Research
Through Kangaroo research we have been able to get a detailed look at these animals. There is so much about them that makes them among the most unique animals in the world. First, they are the only one that uses hopping as a means of movement. We know that they can only hop forward and backward but not side to side. In order to do this they need very strong legs. They have ligaments in their legs that work like spring mechanisms. This is why they are able to leap more than 16 feet at a time and they make it look effortless.
The females have pouches where they carry their young and that is really amazing too. Research shows that they are about the size of a jelly bean when they are born, then they move to the pouch. It seals them in so that they can’t fall out and water can’t get in. Here they will live on and off for at least the first year of life.
A great deal of research has been spent trying to understand how these animals are so highly adaptable. It is no secret that they are able to live in areas where most others wouldn’t be able to survive. They can move around for many miles each day looking for food. They also don’t need to consume very much water at all to survive.
One area of research that is very complex covers the social interactions of Kangaroos. They do live in groups referred to as mobs with a dominant male. His role there is one short lived though – perhaps a year at the most. He is then going to be taken down by other strong and powerful males in the group. They will make him leave and he won’t live long out there on his own. This is a very interesting method of ensuring only the strongest males mate.
We also have almost no information when it comes to the evolution of the Kangaroo. It is often theorized that they may have been from earlier possums but that can’t fully be confirmed. Plenty of research efforts have gone into looking for fossilized remains that can shed some light on such questions. Until we get that information though it will remain a mystery.
Exploring the senses of Kangaroos has taken on quite a bit of interest for research as well. It is believed that they have excellent hearing and smell. They rely heavily upon such senses to help them find food, locate water, and to stay away from danger. They also tend to have problems with their eyesight and it is a genetic factor for many species. In fact, it is believed that a percentage of them living in the wild are actually blind in either one eye or both.
Kangaroos are believed to be very intelligent animals with good memories. They do create strong bonds in their mobs – but that is mainly among females. It is also among the mothers and their young joeys. They seem to love having them in their pouch which is why it is common for a female to become pregnant again immediately after one leaves for good.
There is still lots of areas of Kangaroo research that need to be further evaluated. By doing so we will be able to understand so much more about the past, present, and how to make a great future for these animals. Kangaroos are very fascinating and we have come along way in what we already know about them. Yet it does seem that for every answer we come up with we get a handful of more questions to evaluate.