Anatomy: roos and wallabies range in size from 2 pounds (the Rock Wallaby) up to 6 ft and 300 pounds (the Red Kangaroo). The soft, woolly fur can be blue, grey, red, black, yellow or brown, depending on the species. Females have a pouch in which the young live and drink milk.

Diet: these herbivores (plant-eaters) eat grass, leaves, and roots. They swallow their food without chewing it and later regurgitate a cud and chew it (like cows). Roos need little water; they can go for months without drinking, and they dig their own water wells.

Movement: the man-sized kangaroos of Australia are capable of speeds up to 88 kilometer per hour for short distances, their means of locomotion being their powerful hind legs, which carry them over the ground in jumps of 9 m or more at a time.

Enemies: kangaroos are not greatly bothered by predators, but when pursued by dogs, for instance, often head for water, standing submerged to the chest, and attempting to drown the attacker by holding him underwater. Another defensive tactic is to get their back to a tree and kick at their adversary with their clawed hind feet, sometimes with sufficient force to kill a man.

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Scientific Name: Macropus rufus.

Home: the open arid plains and woodlands of central Australia.

Description: long, hind, hoppin' limbs, short arms, large heavy tail, red fur on backs of males, gray fur on females, white furred bellies on both.

Red kangaroos are famous for their hoppin' style and being the biggest marsupials around. Herbivores that graze mostly on grass, the red kangaroo congregates in groups of up to ten to feed together. These groups are based more on being in the same place than close family ties. Mother and joey stick together for years after the baby has left mama's pouch. Joeys are born as small, bean-sized hairless babies that climb up and into the safety of the pouch. That's where he continues to grow. After 33 weeks, a joey becomes too big to be carried around, but many try to climb back in until they get the message from mom that taxi-time is over !!!

Speed: at top-speed kangaroos may make 12 foot leaps and reach a velocity of 30 mph! Even a lazy, SLOW hop can be as far as six feet! The long, heavy, and powerful kangaroo tail makes it all possible by providing balance and stability. Only tree kangaroos move their hind feet independently of one-another. The red kangaroo can't walk, it only hops!

Kickboxing: bucks, or male kangaroos, aren't much for fighting to protect the herd: when trouble comes, the whole herd scatters off in all directions. But when it comes to breeding rights, bucks kickbox!!! The two opponents clasp arms and try to kick each other in the belly.

Staying cool: to keep from getting too hot, kangaroos take naps in the afternoons, and do most of their grazing by night. But the best stay-cool secret of these creatures is the spit bath! Kangaroos will drool and lick saliva all over their faces and bodies to cool down!