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MACROPODIDAE (WALLABIES AND KANGAROOS) AREA OF RELEVANCE #1: ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE AREA OF RELEVANCE #2: ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AREA OF REVELENCE #3: CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The family Macropodidae consists of 16 genera and 56 species. The 16 genera are Hypsiprymnodon, Potorous, Bettongia, Aepyprymnus, Caloprymnus, Thylogale, Petrogale, Peradorcas, Lagostrophus, Setonix, Dendrolagus, Dorcopsis, Lagostrophus, Macropus, Wallabia, and Onychogalea (Archer 1984). The most well known marsupials in family Macropodidae are the kangaroo and the wallaby. There are many more marsupials such as the rock wallaby, tree kangaroo, black wallaroo, tasmanian pademelon, and the quokka just to name a few. All 56 species live in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and some other adjacent islands. They have long, narrow hind feet and very powerful hind limbs. On the hind foot the fourth toe is the longest as well as the strongest. The tail in most micropodids is long and heavy. The main uses of the tail is to keep the macropodids balanced. Macropodids are very quick animals. They can reach speeds up to 50 kilometers (more than 30 miles) per hour (Carruth). Most members of the group use a form of hopping to move around. The animal begins by pushing off using its strong hind limbs and it lands on its hind legs and tail. When the animal is hopping the tail remains off of the ground and is used to balance the animal. A gray kangaroo can jump more than 9 meters. At slower speeds, they land on their forelimbs and tail. While they are doing this they swing their hind limbs forward. Even though micropodids can move very quickly forward, they cannot move backwards. So micropodids are rarely seen moving slow. The only time they are seen moving slow is when they are grazing the land for food. Tree kangaroos, pademelons, and quokkas have shorter and broader hind feet as well as a shorter tail than the kangaroo and wallaby. Macropodids have a long narrow skull. There head seems like it is to small for their body. There head shape is suitable for eating grasses and plants. In the mouth, the premolars are narrow and bladelike for chewing. The molars are broad and rigid. There is a big space between the front teeth and the back teeth. On the lower jaw there is a very long sharp tooth called the diprotodont. Even though the main food in the kangaroos diet are grasses and plants not all species eat just that. The rat kangaroo can include insects and worms into its diet. Micropodids have very well developed pouches that opens anteriorly. Females generally give birth to one young at a time. A day or two after she has given birth she will mate again with another male. An embryo will reach 100-cell stage and remain in this stage until the first young has left the pouch or is abandoned. When this has occurred the embryo will resume development. If the conditions are favorable both of the offspring will live. This is known as embryonic diapause, or delayed birth. If the conditions do not remain favorable usually one of the offspring dies. Kangaroos and wallaroos are the largest living marsupials.
Approximate Word count = 2088
Approximate Pages = 8.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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