Western Gray Kangaroo

THE WESTERN GRAY KANGAROO

( MACROPUS FULIGINOSUS)

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Diprotodontia
Family	Macropodidae
Genus	Macropus

Description

The western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus),  is one of the largest macropods in Australia. It weighs 28–54 kg (62–120 lb) and its length is 0.84–1.1 m (2 ft 9 in–3 ft 7 in) with a 0.80–1.0 m (2 ft 7 in–3 ft 3 in) tail, standing approximately 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) tall.^[4] It exhibits sexual dimorphism with the male up to twice the size of female. It has thick, coarse fur with colour ranging from pale grey to brown; its throat, chest and belly have a paler colour.

This species is difficult to distinguish from its sibling species, the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). However, the western grey kangaroo has darker grey-brown fur, darker colouration around the head, and sometimes has a blackish patch around the elbow.

Diet

Night time is when the Western Gray Kangaroo is found out there feeding. They will graze along the grasslands. And also consume foods from trees and shrubs that are close to the ground.

Food Habits

Western grey kangaroos eat grasses, forbs, leaves, tree bark, and shrubby browse. They use microorganisms in an organ called the cecum to digest the cellulose of plants. This kangaroo requires very little water and is able to survive on plants high in fiber. Western grey kangaroos spend between 6 and 10 hours grazing per day, mostly at dawn and dusk. In captivity, these kangaroos are often fed a pelleted grain or hay.

Habitat

Western grey kangaroos are capable of using several different types of habitats. They can be found in woodlands, open forests, coastal heathland, and open grassland areas. They have also been found near city areas and on golf courses. These kangaroos prefer areas with heterogeneous habitats, because these areas are the most likely to meet their requirements for food and cover.

In the wild
Like other marsupials, newborn babies must climb up the mother’s body to the pouch soon after birth. This newborn baby is barely larger that a jellybean and is completely naked. Its eyes are closed and the struggle up to the pouch and to the mother’s teat is very exhausting. The joey starts to leave the pouch by 6–8 months, fully out by 11 months and independent by 12 months.

Lifespan/Longevity

Western grey kangaroos have lived to be upward of 20 years old in captivity. However, the maximum lifespan of these kangaroos in the wild is approximately 10 years.

Reproduction

Males compete for females, whereby dominant males mate. Dominancy is determined through "boxing", which is a form of male competition. They are sexually mature around three years of age. After successful mating it is only about 30 days before the young offspring will be born. It is able to move to the pouch on its own even though it is no bigger than a lima bean. The pouch offers protection as well as the location where the young joey is able to feed from the body of the mother.

Mating System 
Western grey kangaroos can breed continuously, but a peak in reproductive activity exists in the seasons of spring and summer. Sexual maturity is reached at approximately 20 months for males and 17 months for females. Females have an oestrous cycle of approximately 35 days. Interestingly, the western grey kangaroo is not capable of embryonic diapause. Usually, only a single offsping weighing approximately 0.8g is born after a mean gestation period of 30.5 days. The offsping, commonly called a joey, will climb from the birth canal to the pouch where it grabs hold of a teat and nurses. The joey will begin to leave the pouch after an average of 46 weeks, and may continue to nurse from the pouch for up to an additional 6 months after leaving the pouch. After the joey has left the pouch, the female is capable of mating again.

Behavior

One of the unique characteristics of this particular species of Kangaroo is that it gives off a very powerful odor. It isn’t known why this species smells so bad! Like other species of Kangaroos the males will engage in boxing matches to determine who is dominant. From there they will have the right to mate with the females in the mob.

The Western Gray Kangaroo is more vocal than any other species. They use clicking sounds to be able to communicate with their joeys and with the other members of their mob. They have also been heard growling like dogs do in order to show defensive behavior against predators.

Questions and Answers

1. Western Gray Kangaroo has a long tail, what is the function?
a. Balance while jumping
b. Walk fast
c. Run fast
d. Stand up 

2. Which class does the Western Gray Kangaroo belong to?
a. Amphibia
b. Reptilia
c. Mammalia
d. Aves

3. Western Gray Kangaroo is difficult to distinguish from ....
a. Red Kangaaro
b. Wallaby
c. Tree Kangaro
d. Eastern Gray Kangaroo

4. Western Gray Kangaroo is the signature of..
a. America
b. Australia
c. India
d. Thailand

5. Western Gray Kangaroo are use .... sounds to communicate 
a. Clicking
b. Whistle
c. Bark
d. Loud


Sources 
http://www.arkive.org/western-grey-kangaroo/macropus-fuliginosus/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_grey_kangaroo 
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Macropus_fuliginosus/
http://www.kangarooworlds.com/western-gray-kangaroo/