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TREE-KANGAROOS Tree-Kangaroos and the Kangaroos Have a Sponge-Like Grip on Their Paws Live

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TREE-KANGAROOS Tree-Kangaroos and the Kangaroos Have a Sponge-Like Grip on Their Paws Live TREE-KANGAROOS Tree-kangaroos and the kangaroos have a sponge-like grip on their paws live. Many tree-kangaroo species we associate with Australia both fall and soles of their feet. Tree-kangaroos already exist in low numbers and most under the umbrella of macropods – have a much larger and pendulous tail populations are decreasing. Once the family of plant-eating marsupials than terrestrial kangaroos, giving them common throughout the Atherton that includes kangaroos and wallabies. enhanced balance while moving about Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest, Macropods used to dwell in trees, but the trees. Locomotion on the ground is the Bennett’s tree-kangaroo is now millions of years ago they came down by hopping, as with true kangaroos. in danger due to large-scale habitat to live on the ground. Ancestors of loss from agriculture and urban Tree-kangaroos can leap to the ground tree-kangaroos eventually went back development, resulting in fragmented from 18 metres up without injury. up the trees, becoming the largest tree- landscapes. The need for tree- They are active in the morning and dwelling mammals in Australia. kangaroos to travel across the ground afternoon, but in areas near human means they can fall prey to dogs and settlements they are mostly nocturnal. Scientists believe there are 13 species cars. In addition, scientists believe Like terrestrial kangaroos, tree- of tree-kangaroos or 15 species if that this species is under threat from kangaroos do not sweat to cool their sub-species are included. Two species predicted climatic changes that will bodies; rather, they lick their forearms are found in Australia, but only in affect important tree-kangaroo habitat. Queensland. The Bennett’s tree- and allow the moisture to evaporate kangaroo is found north of the Daintree in an adaptive form of behavioural Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo River, and the Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo thermoregulation. The Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo is is found further south. The remaining Tree-kangaroos must find places named after the Norwegian explorer species are found in Papua New Guinea. comfortable and well adapted for Carl Sofus Lumholtz (1851–1922), who Tree-kangaroos have adapted better to breeding, as they only give birth to one discovered the first specimen in 1883. regions of high altitudes and therefore joey per year. They are known to have The Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo is a are found in mountainous areas. one of the most relaxed and leisurely distinctive kangaroo with a short, birthing seasons. They breed cautiously Tree-kangaroos have several broad head, small ears, heavily in treetops during monsoon season. This adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle. muscled arms and a very long, black habitat leaves the joeys vulnerable as Because much of their lifestyle involves tail. Animals are blackish-brown with they can easily fall prey to their natural climbing and jumping between trees, a black face and a pale band across predators, amethystine pythons, which they have evolved an appropriate the forehead and sides of the face; also climb and live in the forest treetops. method of locomotion. Compared to some animals have a rufous (reddish) terrestrial kangaroos, tree-kangaroos In many places around the world, tinge to the fur. It is the smallest of have longer and broader hind feet deforestation impacts wildlife habitat. with longer, curved nails. They also It’s the same where tree-kangaroos Above: Lumholtzs Tree-kangaroo all tree-kangaroos. Its body and head of its favoured rainforest habitat on the leaves of a wide range of rainforest length ranges about 48–65 cm, and its the fertile basalt soils of the Atherton trees, notably the umbrella tree, vines, tail, 60–74 m, with males weighing an Tablelands. Many animals still survive ferns and various wild fruits, in all 33 average of 7.2 kg and females 5.9 kg. and breed in the tiny regrowth different plant species. fragments there; however, these are This very elusive (or “cryptic”) tree- Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroos are threatened by domestic dog attacks kangaroo is found in both mountain restricted to rainforests between the and are frequently killed on roads. In and lowland tropical rainforests south Cardwell Range and Mount Carbine the longer term, global warming poses of Cooktown, Queensland, to just Tablelands, north Queensland. It is a threat to this species. Like other leaf- north of the Daintree River, in an area largely restricted to upland rainforest; eating marsupials in the wet tropics of only about 70 km by 50 km. It is animals are regularly encountered in of north Queensland, Lumholtz’s also occasionally found in sclerophyll fragmented rainforest on the basalt tree-kangaroo is a high-altitude, cool woodlands. soils of the Atherton Tablelands. rainforest specialist. Dispersing juveniles sometimes turn The Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo up in farmland, urban areas or eucalypt Bennett’s Tree-kangaroo is primarily a solitary marsupial. forest adjacent to rainforest. Bennett’s tree-kangaroo is a larger During breeding when the female is The Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo is largely tree-kangaroo than the Lumholtz in oestrus cycle, males will approach arboreal – it has strong forearms and tree-kangaroo. It is thought to be the the females to breed. The Lumholtz’s claws for climbing trees and a long tail closest tree-kangaroo to the ancestral tree-kangaroo has a gestation period of for balance. It is also well adapted for form. Males can weigh from 11.5 kg 42-48 days. Pouch life is around nine travel across the ground, where it can up to almost 14 kg, while the females months and weaning generally occurs hop like other kangaroos, although range between 8 and 10.6 kg. They are between three to eight months. The rather heavily. It feeds primarily on the very agile and are able to leap nine joey will then make short excursions leaves of rainforest trees and vines and metres down to another branch and from the pouch with the mother often descends to the ground to move have been known to drop as far as 18 usually following close by. between food trees. metres to the ground without injury. Like other tree-kangaroos it has longer Now that it is rarely hunted by Females are sexually mature at around forelimbs and shorter hindlimbs than Aborigines, its main predators are two years of age and carry their young terrestrial kangaroos and a long bushy pythons and the dingo. in a pouch for around nine months. tail. It is mostly dark brown above and Although the IUCN still rates the status The young take another three to eight lighter fawn on chin, throat and lower of Bennett’s tree-kangaroo as Near months to be weaned, after which they abdomen. The forehead and muzzle Threatened, its numbers seem to be accompany their mother for another are greyish. The feet and hands are increasing and its range expanding. year or more. Juvenile males are chased black. The tail has a black patch at the Sightings have become far more away from their mothers by adult base and a light patch on the upper common in recent years. The increases males intent on mating. part. The ears are short and rounded. in numbers and range are likely because A major threat to this species in the The Bennett’s tree-kangaroo is a most of its range is now protected past has been the large-scale clearing herbivore. It lives almost completely on under World Heritage legislation. Bennetts Tree-kangaroo.
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