Find Out Why Kangaroos Flex and Show Off Their Massive Muscles

The post Find Out Why Kangaroos Flex and Show Off Their Massive Muscles appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Red kangaroos are the largest land mammals in Australia. The largest kangaroo species, red kangaroos, can reach heights of up to six feet. However, the tallest kangaroo on record stood at a height of seven feet. These big animals, especially the males, can be extremely muscular. Just like a human bodybuilder working out at the gym, male kangaroos like to flex and show off their muscles. But why do they do this human-like behavior? Let’s find out.

About Kangaroos

Kangaroos are members of the Macropodidae family. In Latin, Macropodidae means ‘big foot’. Kangaroos are marsupials that develop and nurse their babies in a forward-opening pouch. They are also herbivores, chewing on a diet of grass, leaves, and other plants. They have a chambered stomach, like cows, where food passes through twice for digestion.

There are four different kangaroo species: red, eastern grey, western grey, and antilopine kangaroos. All four species only live in one place in the world: Australia. This video from the YouTube channel Animalogic provides some fascinating information about all types of kangaroos.

Why Do Male Kangaroos Show Off Their Muscles?

For herbivores that don’t even have canine teeth, kangaroos can pack a mean punch. Red kangaroos in particular have distinct biceps, which they show off as they lounge in the grass. These muscly marsupials have evolved for bulging biceps because not only does it impress other males in the competition to mate, but it also impresses the females.

Research published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society found that male kangaroos purposely pose to show off the muscles in their arms. Associate Professor Rod Wells, an Australian marsupial expert from Flinders University, explained to The Conversation that muscly biceps give male kangaroos an “additional advantage from either females finding big forelimbs sexy or alternatively the males which win the right to access the females are then strong enough to overpower any unwilling female.”

Kangaroos Never Skip Leg Day

Besides strong arms, kangaroos have incredibly powerful lower bodies. Thanks to their large and specialized feet, they are excellent at hopping. Red kangaroos can leap 25 to 30 feet forward and up to 10 feet high. They are able to reach speeds of around 40 miles per hour.

The tendons in a kangaroo’s leg act like a spring, helping them hop forward. They also use their powerful and muscular tails for balance, kind of like a third leg. They synchronize their breathing for optimal energy expenditure. When they jump, their lungs empty, and when they land, they fill up with air. Kangaroos have adapted well to the barren Australian outback with their ability to hop far distances while using a small amount of energy.

Are Kangaroos Aggressive Towards People?

Kangaroos are wild animals and can be dangerous and unpredictable. Although kangaroos are typically not aggressive towards humans, there have been two reported deaths by kangaroo attacks within the past 100 years. The most recent occurred when a western grey kangaroo that had been raised as a pet attacked and killed its owner in 2022. Prior to that, in 1936, an Australian man died from head injuries inflicted by a kangaroo while he was trying to save his pet dog.

Male kangaroos are powerful and fight each other for mating rights and dominance. Animal experts believe that the pet kangaroo that attacked its owner may have been either play-fighting or asserting its dominance, thinking its owner was another kangaroo.

For the most part, humans have little to fear from kangaroos. If a kangaroo gets frightened, it will typically hop away. However, if it feels cornered, it will fight back with its sharp claws and powerful kicks.

How to Avoid a Kangaroo Attack

Kangaroos may view a person standing upright as a challenge and begin to attack. If you are attacked by a kangaroo, try to get away as quickly as possible, but keep low in a crouch. If you stand upright and run away, the kangaroo is likely to chase you. Don’t make eye contact, but keep your head bowed and back away from the animal while trying to make yourself look as small as possible.

Do Kangaroos Have Any Natural Predators?

Red kangaroos are the largest mammal in Australia, but they do have some predators to watch out for. Although dingos are smaller than the largest kangaroos, they hunt the larger animals in packs.

Beyond dingos, humans are the most dangerous predators of kangaroos. Many kangaroos get hit by cars each year. Humans also hunt kangaroos for their meat, skin, and hide. Hunting kangaroos is legal in Australia, with the idea that they are so plentiful they need to be culled to protect the ecosystem.

The post Find Out Why Kangaroos Flex and Show Off Their Massive Muscles appeared first on A-Z Animals.