CLASSIFICATION OF MACROPUS : KANGAROO
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin).
Class :-MAMMALIA ( Body covered with hairs. females have mammary glands ).
Sub-class :- PROTOTHERIA ( Egg laying mammals ).
Infra class :- METATHERIA ( Pouched and viviparous ).
Order :- MARSUPIALIA ( Female with marsupium).
Genus : Macropus
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Found in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Terrestrial, gregarious, herbivorous, browsing and leaping animals.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF MACROPUS : KANGAROO
- Commonly called as Kangaroo.
- Macropus is largest among all Kangaroo. Males standing a maximum height of 2 meters and weighing about 80-100 kg. Females 1.5 meters tall and 35-40 kg in weight.
- Body divisible into head, neck, back, abdomen and tail. Head is small with large ears and paired eyes.
- Hind legs and feet very long and powerful, used for leaping. Forelimbs smaller.
- Hallux absent. 2nd and 3rd toes united ( Syndactylus ). Middle or 4th toe enormously enlarged and armed with a powerful claw. Called as toilet claw.
- Animal nearly sits on its tail while resting. The baby kangaroo is seen protruding from the marsupium on abdomen. Young one feeds on milk through teats in marsupium.
- Tail non-prehensile and powerful.
- Other kangaroos are red and gray kangaroo.
Special features
They have abdominal pouch to carry young one, which is a characteristic feature of marsupials. Marsupials are mammals basically similar to Eutheria but whose younger are born in rudimentary conditions and are generally sheltered during their later development in pouch or marsupium.
Identification
the animal contain marsupium and above features, hence is Macropus.
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