Western Gray/Grey Kangaroo

ANIMAL:
Western Gray/Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus

Type of Animal:
Macropod

Habitat:
Woodlands, forests, coastal heathland, grasslands, scrubland, scrub forest, golf courses, city/urban areas, agricultural areas, desert, xeric shrubland, plains, goldfields, bush, timber reserves, pastureland

Location(s):
Southern Australia

Appearance:
Grayish-brownish fur, paler throat/chest/belly, dark face (sometimes called Black-Faced Kangaroo), long thick tail, short forearms, small head, large ears, males larger/more muscular w/ heavier claws & thicker skin than females

Food/Diet:
Grasses, shrubs, leaves, forbs, tree bark, stems, wood, flowers, ferns, moss, insects, fruits, low trees, grass trees, lilies, chenopods, succulents, heath, lupin crops, poison bush, acacia seedlings

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in farms, zoos & wildlife parks

Lifestyle:
Mobs consist of dominant male, 5-10 females & offspring, & often several subordinate males.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male: Boomer
Female: Flyer
Young: Joey
Group: Mob
 
Weight:
Male: 121.5 lbs
Female: 63 lbs
Young: 4-8 lbs

Gestation:
1 month 

Life Span:
10 years in wild, 20 years in captivity

Height:
Male: 5.7-6 ft
Female: 4 ft

Body Length:
Male: 3.1-5 ft
Female: 2.2-3.3 ft

Tail Length:
Male: 1.39-3.28 ft
Female: 1.43-2.67 ft

Main predators are dingoes & dogs. Wedge-Tailed Eagles take females & joeys. Foxes only take joeys.
 
Sexually mature at 17-20 months.
 
Considered pests in some areas due to competition for water & pasture as well as feeding habits.
 
Sometimes farmed/hunted for meat & leather.
 
Males fight by boxing.
 
Joeys born at around 0.8 grams, growing in pouch until 9-10 months of age & nursing for up to 6 more months-female can breed again when joey leaves pouch. Joey stays w/ mom for 1.3-2 years & sometimes longer, especially females.
 
Tail used as balance in locomotion.
 
They spend between 6-10 hours grazing, typically at dawn & dusk.
 
Thicker belly skin on males helps absorb impact of kicks from rivals.
 
They pant, sweat, & lick forearms to cool down.

Fun Fact(s):
In colonial times, they were hunted in similar way to English foxhunts.
 
Microorganisms living in forestomach aid in digestion & detoxifying chemical plant defenses.
 
They have excellent hearing & can swivel ears in any direction to pick up sounds.
 
They communicate w/ each other through soft clicks.
 
They can reach 35 mph in short bursts.
 
Males sometimes called “stinkers” due to curry-like odor.

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