| Eastern Grey Kangaroo[1] | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Macropodidae |
| Genus: | Macropus |
| Species: | M. giganteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Macropus giganteus Shaw, 1790 |
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The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. It is also known as the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Forester Kangaroo. Although a big Eastern Grey male typically masses around 66 kg (weight 145 lb.) and stands almost 2 m (6 ft.) tall, the scientific name, Macropus giganteus (gigantic large-foot), is misleading, as the Red Kangaroo of the semi-arid inland is, at 85 kg, larger.
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Description
The Eastern Grey is easy to recognise: its soft grey coat is distinctive, and it is usually found in moister, more fertile areas than the Red. Red Kangaroos, though sometimes grey-blue in colour, have a totally different face to Grey Kangaroos. Red Kangaroos have distinctive markings in black and white beside their muzzles and along the sides of their face. Grey Kangaroos do not have these markings, and their eyes seem large and wide open. Where their ranges overlap, it is much more difficult to distinguish between Eastern Grey and Western Grey Kangaroos, which are closely related. They have a very similar body shape and facial structure, and their noses/muzzles are fully covered with fine hair (though that is not obvious at a distance, their noses do look noticeably different to the noses of Reds and Wallaroos). The Eastern-grey's colouration is a light-coloured grey or brownish-grey, with a lighter silver or cream, sometimes nearly white, belly. The Western-grey is a dark dusty brown colour, with more contrast especially around the head.[3] Indigenous Australian names include iyirrbir (Uw Oykangand and Uw Olkola) and kucha (Pakanh).[4]
 Joey |
 Eastern Greys in native habitat |
 Adult male, Maria Island, Tasmania |
 Female and two joeys, Nowra, NSW |
Ecology
Although the Red is better known by reputation, the Eastern Grey is the species most commonly seen and is the most often Kangaroo encountered in Australia due to is adaptability. Few Australians visit the arid interior of the continent, while many live in and around the major cities of the south and east coast, from where it is usually only a short drive to the remaining pockets of near-city bushland where roos can be found without much difficulty. It prefers open grassland with areas of bush for daytime shelter. Like all kangaroos, it is mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, and is mostly seen early in the morning, or as the light starts to fade in the evening.
Speed
The highest ever recorded speed of any kangaroo was 64 kilometres per hour (40 mph) set by a large female Eastern Grey Kangaroo.[5]
Status
It is often said[6] that kangaroo populations have increased significantly since the European colonisation of Australia because of the increased areas of grassland (as distinct from forest), the reduction in Dingo numbers, and the availability of artificial watering holes. The current estimated population of the species numbers two million.[7] Because of this, the Eastern Grey has begun to be culled in some parts of Australia.[8]
While the Eastern Grey remains common, there are vast areas of country from which it has been exterminated (in general, it avoids humans), and most of the more fertile districts now carry crops or exotic pasture grasses which kangaroos tend not to eat. (One of the easiest ways to find kangaroos is to look for patches of remnant native grassland.)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Macropus giganteus |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Macropus giganteus |
- ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M.. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 64. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ Munny, P., Menkhorst, P. & Winter, J. (2008). Macropus giganteus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ Dawson, Terence J. (1998). Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales Press. pp. 12 - 18. ISBN 0-86840-317-2.
- ^ Hamilton, Philip. "Eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus". Oykangand and Olkola Dictionary. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/2970/kangaroo.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
- ^ The Guinness Book of World Records. 2004. pp. 53.
- ^ [1][2]
- ^ BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Eastern grey kangaroo
- ^ [3][4][5]
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