Tree kangaroo

BIRD: linking the biodiversity community

Category: Marsupials

Tree kangaroos are macropods adapted for aboreal life. They are found only in the rainforests of far north eastern Queensland, New Guinea, and nearby islands, usually in mountainous areas.

It is understood that tree kangaroos evolved from creatures similar to modern kangaroos and wallabies, as they retain many of the standard macropod adaptations to plains life — notably the massive hind legs and long, narrow feet which, in more orthodox macropods, make fast, economical travel possible. Tree kangaroos, however, are slow and clumsy on the ground. Instead, they have developed exceptionally long tails for balance, and stronger forelimbs for climbing with. The feet are shorter and wider, they have longer claws on all feet, and rubbery soles for better grip.

Though unable to move at much more than walking pace on the ground — they hop awkwardly with the body leaning far forward to balance the heavy tail — in trees they are bold and agile. They climb by wrapping the forelimbs around the trunk of a tree and hopping with the powerful hind legs, allowing the forelimbs to slide. They are expert leapers: nine metre downward jumps from one tree to another have been recorded, and they have an extraordinary ability to jump 18 metres or more to the ground without ill effect.

The main diet items are leaves and fruit, taken both in trees and on the ground. Other morsels are accepted when available, including grain, flowers, sap, bark, eggs and young birds. Their teeth are adapted for tearing leaves rather than cutting grass. Like other macropods, and like placental ruminants, tree kangaroos have large stomachs that provide space for symbiotic bacteria to break down otherwise indigestible foods.

The behaviour of tree kangaroos is little known. Most species appear to be largely solitary, with females occupying small territories; males larger areas which overlap those of several females. A single young is born and remains in the pouch for ten to twelve months.

The correct number of tree kangaroo species is uncertain: various authorities list between eight and ten. Of these, the two Australian species are now classed by the IUCN as near threatened, Goodfellow's, Doria's, Matschie's, the Tenkile, and the Dingiso as threatened, and the remainder as data deficient. The primary threats are habitat destruction by logging and clearing for agriculture, and (in New Guinea) hunting for meat.

• Family Macropodidae
  • Genus Dendrolagus
    • Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus lumholtzi
    • Bennett's Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus bennettianus
    • Huon Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus matschiei (eastern New Guinea)
    • Goodfellow's Tree-kangaroo: Drendrolagus goodfellowi (central New Guinea)
    • Doria's Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus dorianus (New Guinea)
    • Matschie's Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus matschiei (Huon Peninsula, New Guinea)
    • Tenkile: Dendrolagus scottae (northern New Guinea)
    • Lowlands Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus spadix (lowland New Guinea)
    • Vogelkop Tree-kangaroo: Dendrolagus ursinus (western New Guinea)
    • Dingiso: Dendrolagus mbaiso (western New Guinea)
  • (eight other genera in family)