The diet of a kangaroo varies depending upon what type of kangaroo it is. There are many types of kangaroos but the two main types are terrestrial kangaroos and tree kangaroos. Although they have similarities such as large stomachs which contain a type of bacteria that helps breakdown high fibrous food, strong hind legs, and long feet, their diet varies to their environment.
There are three generalized types of terrestrial kangaroos. Terrestrial kangaroos live primarily on the ground in desert terrains and grasslands. These include ordinary kangaroos, wallabies, and wallaroos. red kangaroos, eastern grey kangaroos, western grey kangaroos, and antilopine kangaroos are all ordinary kangaroos.
Both eastern and western grey kangaroos prefer to graze on a variety of grasses but will eat shrubs. The red kangaroo typically sticks with flowers, fruits, shrubs and bushes but is still known to graze on grass. Smaller kangaroos such as wallabies and wallaroos also enjoy hypogeal fungi in addition to shrubs, flowers, and grasses.
Although terrestrial kangaroos typical feed around watering holes, they can actually go two to three months without drinking water. Even camels can’t go that long without water. However, kangaroos get much of their water through the plants they eat. So they may not be drinking the water but they are consuming it regardless.
As suggested, tree kangaroos live most of their lives in trees. They have a broader diet than their terrestrial cousins. Because they live much of their life in trees, they tend to eat what is available in the canopy. Their food source includes bark, sap, and flowers. Although all kangaroos are considered herbivores, tree kangaroos will occasionally eat eggs and smaller animals. It isn’t uncommon for tree kangaroos to come down to the ground to look for food.
Kangaroos have special teeth. They use their incisors to cut the grass close to the ground while the molars are used to grind their food. Two features make kangaroo teeth special. Their lower jaw is not connected therefore they can have a wider bite range due to their lower incisors being farther apart. The next feature is their rotating molars. As the molar are worn down with grinding food, they simply fall out and are replaced with new molars.
Digestive bacteria help digest what kangaroos consume. Although primarily herbivores, they don’t release large quantities of methane like most herbivores. In fact, the hydrogen byproduct turned into acetate therefore producing more energy while reducing greenhouse gasses. This is good for the environment. So although all kangaroos have a simple diet, their consumption and digestion process is a bit more complex that other plant-eating animals and better for the environment.
