Page 50 - An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK)

Kangaroo

I n Australia, there are twice as many kangaroos as there

are people. These jumping animals are tough enough
to go several days without drinking in the hot deserts and

dry grasslands where they live. The biggest of the kangaroos
is the red kangaroo. Its massive back legs work like springs

so it can leap 30 ft (9 m) at a time. Its thick tail helps it
keep its balance when bouncing.

Kangaroos are marsupials, which are mammals that give
birth to tiny babies. To stay safe while growing, each baby

kangaroo—called a joey—rides in a pouch on its mother’s

tummy for eight months.

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