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 Family
Macropodidae -- Kangaroos, Wallabies, and
Wallaroos Macropod is the Greek word for
"long foot," which is appropriate for
this family since most kangaroos and their
cousins are distinguished by their powerful back
legs with long feet, each of which is armed with
at least one very sharp and dangerous claw. |
 The
Red Kangaroo (Macropus
rufus) is the
largest living marsupial, and the largest mammal
native to Australia. An adult male may stand 4 to
5 feet tall and weigh up to 200 pounds. It can travel at 40 miles per hour over
short distances, can leap 27 feet in a single
bound, and can clear a 10-foot-high fence with
ease. |
 The Brushtail
Possum (Trichosurus
vulpecula) is
the largest possum in Australia. About the size
of a domestic cat, it averages 12-24 inches in
length and weighs up to 10 pounds. It has a
prehensile tail that adds another 9-16 inches to
overall length, a pointy snout, pink nose, and
long whiskers. Fur color may be silver gray,
brown, black, or gold. |
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