Archive for June, 2010

ADELAIDE    SOUTH AUSTRALIA

KANGAROO iSLAND

Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest Island located 16 km off the coast of South Australia. Brimming with wildlife, Kangaroo Island offers an intimate experience with the Australian wilderness; hand feed a Tammar Wallaby, paddle with Sea-lions or stroke a Koala amid the idyllic backdrop of beaches and bushland. Nature lovers and walkers alike will regale in this ‘zoo without walls’ that has been likened to the Galapagos Islands with its natural charm.

Kangaroos

The kangaroo is one of Australia’s most iconic animals, and most species are endemic to Australia. There are over 60 different species of kangaroo and their close relatives, with all kangaroos belonging to the super family Macropodoidea (or macropods, meaning ‘great-footed’). The super family is divided into the Macropodidae and the Potoroidae families.

The Macropodidae (macropod) family includes kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, pademelons, tree-kangaroos and forest wallabies. Species in the macropod family vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from 0. 5 kilograms to 90 kilograms. The Potoroinae (potoroid) family of kangaroos includes the potoroo, bettong and rat-kangaroo, which live only in Australia.

Kangaroos of different types live in all areas of Australia, from cold-climate areas and desert plains, to tropical rainforests and beaches.

Life and habitat

Kangaroos are herbivorous, eating a range of plants and, in some cases, fungi. Most are nocturnal but some are active in the early morning and late afternoon. Different kangaroo species live in a variety of habitats. Potoroids, for example, make nests while tree-kangaroos live above ground in trees. Larger species of kangaroo tend to shelter under trees or in caves and rock clefts.

Kangaroos of all sizes have one thing in common: powerful back legs with long feet. Most kangaroos live on the ground and are distinguished from other animals by the way they hop on their strong back legs. A kangaroo’s tail is used to balance while hopping and as a fifth limb when moving slowly.

All female kangaroos have front-opening pouches that contain four teats. This is where the ‘joey’, or young kangaroo, is raised until it can survive outside the pouch.

Most kangaroos have no set breeding cycle and are able to breed all year round. Because they are such prolific breeders, a kangaroo population can increase fourfold in five years if it has continuous access to plentiful food and water.

KELLY CAVES KANGAROO ISLAND

KOALA KANGAROO ISLAND

Latin name:

Phascolarctos cinereus
(Greek: phaskolos means pouch; arktos means bear. Latin: cinereus means ash-colored. )
Koalas are marsupials, females having a pouch in which their young first develop. Their pouch faces the rear and has a drawstringlike muscle that the mother can tighten. They are the sole member of the family Phascolarctidae.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Vertibrata
Class: Mammalia
Sub-Class: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Sub-Order: Vombatiformes
Infra order: Phascolarctomorphia
Family: Phascolarctidae
Genus: Phascolarctos Cinereus

Subspecies:

There are three subspeies:
P. c. victor (Victoria)
P. c. cinereus (New South Wales)
P. c. adustus (Queensland).

Size:

Size is larger in the southern regions. Head-body length in the south average 30. 7 in. /78 cm for males and 28 in. /72 cm for females.

Weight:

Average 26 lbs/11. 8 kg for southern males and 17. 4 lbs/7. 9 kg for southern females. In the north, males average 14. 3 lbs/6. 5 kg; females 11. 2 lbs/5. 1 kg. At birth young weighs only 0. 5 gm. (This is no typo; it is amazing how small they are at birth, about the size of a bee. )

Fur:

The fur of the koala in southern region is thick and woolly and is thicker and longer on the back than on the belly. Koalas in northern region have a short coat; this gives them a naked appearnace. The color and pattern of the coat varies considerably between individuals and with age.

Coat:

Thickest of the marsupials. Gray to tawny: white on the chin, chest, and forelimbs. Rump consists of tougher connective tissue dappled with white patches. Fluffy ears with longer white hairs. Coat is shorter and lighter in color toward northern regions.

Gestation period:

34-36 days.

Life span:

Their life span today varies considerably due to stress factors, probably averaging 13-18 years.

ADMIRAL ARCH KANGAROO ISLAND

LITTLE SAHARA KANGAROO ISLAND

SOME MORE KANGAROOS WANDERING

Kangaroo Island is a unique place off the coast of South Australia, a coach ride down takes you down to the ferry. And a short trip across to the Island to a remarkable destination.

Situated 16 kilometres off the tip of Fleurieu Penisula, you can be close up to kangaroos, koalas wallabies, fur seals, barren geese and sea lions.

Taste the Island gourmet produce of cheese and honey,

Fish for King George whiting off the jetty at Kingscote.

Some 500 Australian sea lions feed their young and rest at Seal Bay. and there’s a 600 strong colony of new Zealand fur seals.