kangoeroe

Kangoeroe is the Dutch name for kangaroo, a group of large marsupials native to Australia and its surrounding islands. Kangaroos belong to the family Macropodidae within the order Diprotodontia. They are renowned for their strong hind legs, long muscular tails used for balance, and a unique mode of locomotion: hopping. The term kangaroo in English is of Indigenous Australian origin, and the Dutch loanword kangoeroe is commonly used in Dutch language texts.

Kangaroos vary in size and build, but most share a compact body, a coat that ranges from brown to gray, and powerful hind limbs. The red kangaroo is the largest species, with males reaching up to about 2 meters in height and weighing around 90 kilograms. Females are generally smaller. Their forelimbs are relatively short, and their long hind feet are adapted for jumping, which allows efficient travel across open habitats.

Kangaroos are social animals that typically live in groups called mobs. They are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses and other vegetation. Reproduction is characteristic of marsupials: after a brief gestation, an underdeveloped joey crawls into the female’s pouch to continue development for several months, while the mother can support another embryo that remains dormant until the pouch is vacated. Joeys young and vulnerable may ride on the mother’s back after leaving the pouch.

Kangaroos are found across most of Australia, occupying a range of habitats from deserts to savannas and woodlands. They are adapted to variable climates and can survive periods of drought, partly due to efficient water use and flexible feeding. While several species are plentiful and not considered threatened, habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and hunting impact some local populations. Conservation statuses vary by species.