Kangaroo
Featured in: Year 1: Animals, including humans
Kangaroo
Mammal
A large jumping herbivore from Australia that carries its babies in a pouch.
💡 Fun Facts
- Kangaroos use their strong tails for balance while jumping, and as a fifth leg when walking slowly.
- They cannot walk backwards.
- A baby kangaroo is called a joey and is the size of a jellybean when born.
Name Story
Osphranter rufus
means “the red scenter (once called the 'big-foot')”
What does its name mean?
- Osphranter — the scenter, one that smellsGreek (osphrainomai, 'to smell')
- rufus — redLatin
- kangaroo — 'gangurru', a native Australian name for a kangarooGuugu Yimithirr
Scientists recently moved the red kangaroo into a genus meaning "the scenter" (for its keen nose), from an older one, Macropus, meaning "big-foot". And here is a myth busted: the word "kangaroo" does NOT mean "I don't understand you" — "gangurru" was simply the local word for a kangaroo all along.