In several countries, including Australia, there is a group of marsupials known as kangaroos. These kangaroos are surprisingly popular, for their unique legs and pouches separate them from normal mammals. Not only is their body built differently, but kangaroos are very rare to see since they are only found near Australia. Whether it comes to their body build, reproduction, nutrition, habitat, or industrial threats, kangaroos and wallabies are very interesting animals.
The word kangaroo stands for large species, and the word wallaby stands for small species (Blashfield para. 1). Kangaroos, pouched mammals or marsupials, are included in the species of macropods, meaning ‘big foot’ (Blashfield para. 1). Peculiarly, there is a total of forty-five species of kangaroos and wallabies (“Kangaroos and” para. 3). A distinct feature of the kangaroo is it’s hind legs (Ride 39). This is because they are much larger than it’s forelimbs (Ride 39). The hind legs are bigger than the kangaroo’s forelimbs, and they have big hind feet with lengthy tails used to keep the kangaroo’s balance (“Kangaroos and” para. 1). Instead of walking or running, kangaroos hop (“Nutrition” para. 5). As they hop faster, their hops become taller and longer (“Nutrition”, para. 5). Kangaroo’s jumps can be as tall as six feet and thirty feet long (Blashfield para. 5). Without their hind legs this would not be possible because the tendons store energy for the jump (Blashfield para. 5). Even though it appears to have four toes, there is a small fifth toe on the outside of the main toe (Ride 39). On the inside of the kangaroo’s foot are two toes that are combined (Ride 39). These are called syndactyly toes; furthermore, these toes are used as a comb or grooming tool (Rid...
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...eing questioned right now as to what the ratio of killed kangaroos and the total population of kangaroos is (Ride 40). Shipping kangaroos alive is strictly forbidden except for cases like trading or shipping between zoos (“Kangaroos” Australian para. 16). If kangaroo meat is exported without government knowledge, the person(s) could be fined up to $250,000 or be taken to jail for up to 10 years (“Kangaroos” Australian para. 19).
Kangaroos are very interesting animals, for they have many unique features. They are difficult to find, making them exceptionally popular among tourists that visit Australia or nearby islands. Many rules and laws are in place for kangaroos to protect them from over-hunting and later on, endangerment. Kangaroos would not be as popular of an animal if it was not for their body build, reproduction, nutrition, habitat, or industrial threats.
Koalas have pear shaped bodies that help in balancing and positioning themselves in tree forks. They also have reduced tails and long limbs that help in ...
Australia is a widely diverse and unique nation. From extensive exposed spaces in boiling arid conditions to the dense urban population of the capital cities, our nation has grown into a unique and multicultural country. There are countless features that create Australian culture and identity.
These scientists reviewed the natural space-use patterns and hippocampal size in kangaroo rats after undergoing evolution by natural selection. The size of the hippocampus, a forebrain structure that processes spatial information, correlates with the need to relocate food caches by passerine birds and with sex-specific patterns of space use in microtine rodents. The influences on hippocampal anatomy of sexual selection within species, and natural selection between species, have not yet been studied in concert, however. Here we report that natural space-use patterns predict hippocampal size within and between two species of kangaroo rats (Dipodomys). Differences in foraging behavior suggest that Merriam''s kangaroo rats (D. merriami) require better spatial abilities than bannertail kangaroo rats (D. spectabilis). Sex-specific differences in mating strategy suggest that males of both species require more spatial ability than females. As predicted, hippocampal size (relative to brain size) is larger in Merriam''s than in bannertail kangaroo rats, and males have larger hippocampi than females in both species. Males of a third species (D. ordii) also have smaller hippocampi than Merriam’s kangaroo rat males, despite being similar to Merriam''s in brain and body size. These results suggest that both natural and sexual selection affect the relative size and perhaps function of mammalian hippocampus. They also reassert that measures of functional subunits of the brain reveal more about brain evolution than measures of total brain
Australia is a very unique place, along with our multiculturalism there is also a strong heritage surrounding us. At first thought of Australian heritage we think about such landmarks as Uluru, The Sydney harbour bridge and The Sydney opera house, The Great Barrier reef and other internationally recognised places. But our heritage goes much deeper than that; it is far more than outstanding icons. Along with these icons there are also unsung places like the old cattle stations, Aboriginal missions, migrant hostels, War memorials, our unique wetlands and the towns and cities we have built. Adding all of these things together, helps to tell the story of who we are and how we have shaped this land in the unique identity it has today.
Bigfoot also known popularly as the Sasquatch, Momo, Skunk Ape, the list goes on and on, is without a doubt, the most famous of all hairy man-like creatures. The following will make you a believer in this overseen creature, it made me one. Bigfoot is seen in every possible location throughout the North American Continent, mountains, swamps, forests, crossing desolate and some not so desolate roadways and on open farmland. While its demeanor varies from docile to curios to almost threatening, its general appearance varies. Bigfoot is a massive animal, its average height is seven and a half feet tall, its weight is said be between 400-500 pounds. It is covered almost completely in fur, and its fur ranges in color from the moist widespread dark red-brown to brown, black, red, gray and even white. It leaves its footprints behind as a calling card, almost taunting the researchers that reverently research this undiscovered animal. While its prints resemble mans, they are characteristically large in comparison, and instead of the weight distribution being concentrated under the heel and ball as in the arched human foot, the weight distribution is more evenly distributed over the flat, yielding Bigfoot foot. Most often the prints have five toes, occasionally however the tracks are apparently three toed. The three toed tracks can be theorized several ways; that there is a unique variety of Bigfoot in existence, while resembling the five toed Bigfoot closely, it retains a few distinguishing characteristics; another theory is that some soil conditions can cause the toes of Bigfoot to 'clump' together. The proportion of three toed tracks in comparison to the five toed tracks seems to indicate that three toes is the exception to the norm, and that it is the result of some environmental peculiarity. The main physical characteristics attributed to Bigfoot, other than size and foot shape, are that it is bipedal and upright, has wide shoulders and a heavy brow ridge. Its eyes are sometimes said to appear to be red in color, but are mainly reported as yellow. Although no discernible language has ever been placed with Bigfoot creatures, they are very vocal. Witnesses have reported high pitched wails and low, growling roars, either before and/or after visually spotting a Sasquatch. On some occasions the sounds have been heard from two or more locations at the same time, apparently in communication with one another.
Australia Zoo is a private company held by Steve Irwin which has more than 100 species on display. It is affected by organization and competitorforces from micro environment, also, economic and natural forces from macro environment.
The Saltwater Crocodile and the Fresh Water crocodile are highly recognised species in Australia. The Saltwater Crocodile is scientifically known as the Crocodylus Porosus (C.porosus) and the Fresh water crocodile is scientifically known as the Crocodylus Johnstoni (C.johnstoni). Both of these creatures have had to adapt to the variety and change of climates that Australia has. The similarities and differences of these adaptations will be discussed, along with a prediction of which species is more likely to survive within Australia.
The platypus is covered with a thick water-resistant fur, excluding its bill and feet. It’s body it streamlined, has short limbs and webbed forefeet to propel itself through water using an alternative kicking motion. The webs on the for...
One of the most important and pivotal physical and biological adaptations that separate humans from other mammals is habitual bipedalism. According to Darwin, as restated by Daniel Lieberman, “It was bipedalism rather than big brains, language, or tool use that first set th...
Calyptorhynchus banksii, commonly known as the red-tailed black-cockatoo, is of the Family Cacatuidae (Cockatoos), which is a branch of the Order Psittaciformes. Red-tailed black-cockatoos are indigenous to Australia and can be found throughout the entire continent. Calyptorhynchus banksii is distinct in that there are five different subspecies: Calyptorhynchus banksii( C.b.) banksii, C.b. macrorohynchus, C.b. naso, C.b. graptogyne, and C.b. samueli (Del Hoyo et al., 1997). Differences in beak apparatus are one of the most prevalent variations observed within the subspecies. Throughout the paper an examination of evolutionary forces will explain the changes that have occurred in the beak apparatus of the red-tailed black-cockatoo.
Strait, David S. "The Feeding Biomechanics and Dietary Ecology of Australopithecus Africanus." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 12 Dec. 2008. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Australia is a place that is extremely important to me. It is the place in which I call home and will continue to. It has taught me so much about life and how to understand and respect others and appreciating the fortunate circumstances we have to be living in such a safe, healthy and fantastic environment. Being Australian means being inclusive to all cultures no matter where they are from and understanding their origins. Australians appreciate sport with great joy and has become a enormous and significant part of our culture. The Australian outback and its animals has become a prominent part of our identity to other countries as well.
The fossil record of horses extends back to an odd-toed ungulate mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae, a dog-like ancestor 55 to 42 million years ago in the genus Hyracotherium in North America. Hyracotherium had a primitively little face , four-toed forefeet, three-toed hind feet, an arched back, small brain, and higher hindquarters than forehand. Later genus has increased in body size, brain complexity, the size of cheek teeth, lengthening of the face, and reduction of toe number. However, even though horses got larger over time but these trends are not seen in all of the horse lines. Genus such as Hipparion existed from 23 to 2 million years ago, showed gains in size, But some later genus such as Archeohippus, and Calippus got smaller again (Boundless, 2016),(Encyclopedia of Life,2015), (equineworld.co.uk, 2014), (Molen, M.
They are often seen cutie and highly intelligent animals. Also, there are many different species that have their abilities. They are hairy animals; they make noises such as when a person is getting tickled by someone else. Some of them live on ground while the others live in trees. They are also the animals that appear on the Chinese zodiac.
Australia’s government laws are responsible for the protection of the Australia’s Indigenous heritage places. All states and territories have laws that protect various types of Indigenous heritage.