The Tree Kangaroo
These are not like your normal kangaroo or jack rabbit you may see in Australia, They are a lot smaller and they are able to climb and travel around in trees. They are found in rainforests of New Guinea and in Queensland. They are usually found in mountainous regions but there are a subspecies that are Lowland Tree Kangaroos.
Image via flickr
The Tree Kangaroo
There are many different kinds of tree kangaroos’ and the come in all different colours. Tree Kangaroos have evolved from the usual kangaroo you see in Australia today, they are a miniature version of them that climb trees. They have wide feet with rubbery soles and long claws for gripping the trees. They have an extra long tail that helps them balance their weight when they are jumping through the trees at great speeds. They inherited their strong hind legs from their cousins the kangaroo, these legs helps them jump great distances through the air with ease.
Most of the Macro-pods, the name given to the family of animals such as the kangaroo and jack rabbit had started off in the trees in prehistoric times. When they adapted to ground life they stayed on the ground, a normal kangaroo can travel up to 30mph on the ground clearing great distance in every stride. The Tree Kangaroo can travel the same through the trees, why these animals retreated back into the trees is still a mystery. There are 12 known species of Tree Kangaroo’s but some more are being discovered in the depth of the rain forests, an expedition led in the past couple of years has uncovered at least four more of these tree jumping kangaroos. This expedition is being conducted deep in the rain forest where the forest has gone untouched for centuries. A whole new world is being discovered from an extra 100 species of animals to a range of new plant life and strange looking flowers.
Image via flickr
Description of the Tree Kangaroo
Tree Kangaroos are arkward and clumsy on the ground, they move at a strolling pace and they hop arkwardly. They can not get use to the flat terrain, they think they can move like they did in the trees but they end up jumping sideways. They are use to using one leg to balance themselves and the other to project them forward to the next tree. In the trees it is a different story all together, the Tree Kangaroo can jump from 18 meters down to the ground and not get hurt. This is due to the design of their legs, they act as shock absorbers as they hit the forest floor. They can leap up to nine meters through the air to get to the next tree, and being the size of a large cat that is pretty impressive.They have long claws to grip onto the bark of a tree trunk, as they climb they wrap their arms around the trunk and use their hind legs to push their bodies upwards.
Image via flickr
The Diet of the Tree Kangaroo
Tree Kangaroos feed mainly on fruits and leaves but their diet also consists of other foods such as flowers, grain, tree sap the bark off the trees even young birds and eggs they find. Their teeth are designed to tear leaves rather than cut grass, and their stomach is designed for bacteria to break down fibrous leaves and grasses.
Image via flickr
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17 Responses to “The Tree Kangaroo”
On March 16, 2009 at 10:24 am
This is the first time i heard of tree kangaroo. . Good work
On March 16, 2009 at 2:19 pm
OMG I love it! Furry, small and can climb trees? So cute!! And I even like the colors!
-thestickman
On March 16, 2009 at 5:39 pm
That’s very interesting. I had never heard of these – in fact I just googled them to make sure it wasn’t a practical joke!
On March 16, 2009 at 6:41 pm
You’re gettin’ to be a regular Marlin Perkins, dude. Good job!
On March 16, 2009 at 6:50 pm
What a collection of cuties! Another good animal article.
On March 16, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I love those guys, thanks for the link… Good work!
On March 16, 2009 at 7:52 pm
can i hug him?=)
cute!
On March 16, 2009 at 9:14 pm
a very fascinating article this the first time to heat about tree Kangaroo.
On March 17, 2009 at 2:22 am
Interesting creature. I think it is quite cute too
On March 17, 2009 at 7:54 am
Nice article Steven, interesting looking critter!
On March 17, 2009 at 9:49 am
excellent article again, you really are an animal lover!
On March 17, 2009 at 8:28 pm
You really must love animals. I always learn so much from your articles. I love them.
On March 18, 2009 at 3:12 am
Wow, it looks like a cross between a cat, roo and bear. I didn’t even know these were in Australia! Next time I head up to Queensland I’m going searching! Very informative article!
On March 23, 2009 at 12:18 am
Really interesting. I had never heard of these before!
On March 24, 2009 at 9:34 pm
The tree-kangaroos are cute but they look funny standing up the look fatter
On May 19, 2009 at 6:29 am
they are so cute
On May 19, 2009 at 6:34 am
they are the best i love they so much ihave seen one in the wild
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