CHINA> About Australia
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CHINA> About Australia
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Fauna of Australia
(eg.wikipedia.org)
Updated: 2009-08-28 13:33 The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of unique animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia. This high level of endemism can be attributed to the continent's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and the effects of an unusual pattern of climate change on the soil and flora over geological time. A unique feature of Australia's fauna is the relative scarcity of native placental mammals. Red Kangaroo
The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast, and the northern rainforests. This species is a very large kangaroo with short, red-brown fur, fading to pale buff below and on the limbs. It has long, pointed earlobes and a squared-off muzzle. Females are smaller than males and are blue-grey with a brown tinge, pale grey below, although arid zone females are coloured more like males. It has two forelimbs with small claws, two muscular hindlimbs, which are used for jumping, and a strong tail which is often used to create a tripod when standing upright. The Red Kangaroo's legs work much like a rubber band. The males can leap over 9 metres (30 ft) in one leap. Males grow up to a body length of 1.4 metres (4 ft 7 in) long and weigh up to 85 kg (187.4 lb). Females reach a body length of up to 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) long and weigh up to 35 kg (77.2 lb). Tails can be from 0.9 to 1 metre (3.0–3.3 ft) long. The average Red Kangaroo stands approximately 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) tall.[4] Accounts of sizes greater than this are not uncommon, with some large males reportedly reaching approximately 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). The Red Kangaroo maintains its internal temperature at a point of homeostasis about 36°C (96.8°F) using a variety of physical, physiological and behavioural adaptations. These include having an insulating layer of fur, being less active and staying in the shade when temperatures are high, panting, sweating, and licking its forelimbs. The Red Kangaroo inhabits most of the dry inland of the central part of Australia in small groups called mobs. It prefers open plains where trees and bushes are scarce. The Red Kangaroo's range of vision is approximately 300° due to the position of its eyes. A humans range of vision is around 180° (if you keep your head still and just move your eyes, your vision increases to about ~230°). |
