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Family: Macropodae Genus and Species: Macropus Giganteus HOW THE KANGAROO GOT ITS NAME When European explorers first saw these strange hopping animals they asked a native Australian (aborigine) what they were called. He replied "kangaroo" meaning "I don't unders ....

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.... is the largest and most powerful species. A male may attain a head-body length of 1.5 m; have a tail 1 m long; stand 2 m tall; and weigh 90 kg. A gray kangaroo can clear more than 9 m (30 feet) at a bound and attain a speed of 48 kilometres per hour. The wallaroo, a smaller and stockier animal, may be dark gray to pinkish brown; it lives in rocky country throughout Australia except Victoria. These large kangaroos travel in groups (mobs) under the leadership of the largest male ("old man," or "boomer"), which dominates younger rivals by biting, kicking, and boxing. Each long, narrow hind foot has four toes. The short forelimbs are used al ....