Red kangaroo
The red kangaroo is not only the largest kangaroo species, but also the largest mammal in Australia and the largest marsupial in the world. Adult males can reach a height of over 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) when standing upright. Its range extends across the entire continent, except for the more humid coastal areas. Since the red kangaroo can survive for a long time with little water, it is very well adapted to the dry steppes and semi-deserts of Australia. While the name of the species refers to the reddish-brown fur of the males, that of the females is blue-grey, although the differentiation is more difficult in very arid areas.
Locomotion
With their characteristic hopping, red kangaroos can reach speeds of 60 km/h (37 mph). Single jumps of 9 m (30 ft) wide and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high have been recorded. This type of locomotion is possible due to the exceptionally elastic muscle bands on their hind legs, which stretch when they land and release the energy they have absorbed for the next jump. Interestingly, kangaroos can neither run backwards nor move their hind legs individually.
Offspring
The birth of young kangaroos is also interesting. The newborns, or joeys, climb from the birth canal directly into the mother's pouch and are still less developed compared to placental mammals. They are born with a body size of only 2.5 cm (1 in) and only leave the pouch for the first time after 190 days.
Facts
- Binominal name: Osphranter rufus
- Infraclass: Marsupialia
- Distribution: Australian mainland
- First described: 1822 (Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest)
Kangaroo Folding Card
This special souvenir note from the Australia Series is dedicated to the red kangaroo. Printed on genuine security paper, it features a lizard as a gold foil patch, motifs in UV color and haptic elements. While the vertically designed obverse depicts two kangaroos, the reverse shows the famous sandstone formation Uluru or Ayers Rock in Central Australia and Aboriginal art. Uluru is 348 m (1,142 ft) high and is revered as a sacred place by the Aboriginal people of the area. Under UV light, a road sign with a kangaroo becomes visible. The Australia Series, which comprises a total of eight souvenir notes, is also available in a booklet with lots of information and pictures.
Obverse: Red kangaroos, stylized lizard, map of Australia
Reverse: Uluru or Ayers Rock, sandstone formation in Central Australia, Aboriginal art, stylized sea turtle
| Dimensions: 145 x 70 mm (5.71 x 2.76 in) Material: Paper |
