The kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning "large foot"). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the red kangaroo
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As with the terms "wallaroo" and "wallaby", "kangaroo" refers to a paraphyletic grouping of species. All three refer to members of the same taxonomic family, Macropodidae, and are distinguished according to size. The largest species in the family are called "kangaroos" and the smallest are generally called "wallabies".
The term "wallaroos" refers to species of an intermediate size. There are also the tree-kangaroos, another type of macropod, which inhabit the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Queensland and some of the islands in the region. This kind of kangaroo lives in the upper branches of trees.
A general idea of the relative size of these informal terms could be:
- wallabies: head and body length of 45–105 cm and tail length of 33–75 cm; the dwarf wallaby (the smallest of all known macropod species) is 46 cm long and weighs 1.6 kg;
- tree-kangaroos: ranging from Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo: body and head length of 48–65 cm, tail of 60–74 cm, weight of 16 lb for males and 13 lb for females; to the grizzled tree-kangaroo: length of 30 to 35 in and weight of 18–33 lb;
- wallaroos: the black wallaroo
- (the smallest of the two species) with a tail length of 60–70 cm and weight of 41.8–48.5 lb for males and 28.6 lb for females;
- kangaroos: a large male can be 6 ft 7 in tall and weigh 200 lb.
Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. Like most marsupials, female kangaroos have a pouch called a marsupium in which joeys complete postnatal development.
Because of its grazing habits, the kangaroo has developed specialized teeth that are rare among mammals. Its incisors are able to crop grass close to the ground and its molars chop and grind the grass. Since the two sides of the lower jaw are not joined or fused together, the lower incisors are farther apart, giving the kangaroo a wider bite. The silica in grass is abrasive, so kangaroo molars are ground down and they actually move forward in the mouth before they eventually fall out, and are replaced by new teeth that grow in the back. This process is known as polyphyodonty and, amongst other mammals, only occurs in elephants and manatees.
The large kangaroos have adapted much better than the smaller macropods to land clearing for pastoral agriculture and habitat changes brought to the Australian landscape by humans. Many of the smaller species are rare and endangered, while kangaroos are relatively plentiful.
The kangaroo is a symbol of Australia, appears on the Australian coat of arms
and on some of its currency,
and is used as a logo for some of Australia's most well-known organisations, such as Qantas, and as the roundel of the Royal Australian Air Force. The kangaroo is important to both Australian culture and the national image, and consequently there are numerous popular culture references.
Wild kangaroos are shot for meat, leather hides, and to protect grazing land. Kangaroo meat has perceived health benefits for human consumption compared with traditional meats due to the low level of fat on kangaroos.
If you want to read a lot more about kangaroos, go here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo
If you're someone who likes to order the tuna melt from diners, then you're really going to love this recipe. It doesn't get any better than The Ultimate Tuna Melt. This recipe is easy, cheesy, and oh-so-pleasing. Serve it with a bowl of your favorite soup and some chips for even more goodness!
- 1 (12-ounce) can tuna, drained and flaked
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Italian dressing
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish, drained well
- 4 slices rye bread
- 8 tomato slices
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- Preheat oven to 375º. Coat a 10- x 15-inch baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, Italian dressing, and relish; mix well.
- Top each slice of rye bread with two slices of tomato. Spread tuna evenly over tomatoes, then top with cheddar cheese. Place on baking sheet and bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
And births this date include...
Shining a spotlight on community police programs, National Night Out increases connections between those who serve and their neighborhoods. Through a variety of programs designed to educate and improve relationships, dialogues open. Some of these programs include:
- Drug prevention
- Town watch
- Neighborhood watch
- Other anti-watch programs
One of the largest National Night Out events is on the west side of Columbus, Ohio. The Ogden Block Watch in Columbus organizes a festival that includes live music, food, and entertainment. While not all events are so large, the significant part of the occasion is community connections and safety. As these events empower the citizens, they also provide valuable information to the neighborhoods. Each year, the number of events grows, too.
In some parts of the country, the event takes place during cooler times of the year. Not only does this facilitate a better turn out, but more fun had by all.
Check with your local organizations to find out when your Night Out Day takes place.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT DAY
Block watches, not-for-profits, businesses, and police departments usually organize events around the country. They may be as small as a backyard barbecue or as large as a full-blown festival. Whether they’re big or small, these events impact each neighborhood in positive ways.
Join a local National Night Out event near you. Another way to help is to volunteer. If you don’t find an event in your community, help to organize one. Once you have an event, register it at the website. Most importantly, be a part of improving your community.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT DAY HISTORY
The National Association of Town Watch sponsors National Night Out in the United States and Canada. Although the origins date back to the early 1970s, the day has been celebrated since 1984.
More recently Dog Walker Watch joined part of the program. Since dog owners, 75 million of them, walk almost daily with their dogs watching their neighborhoods, what better sets of eyes to assist law enforcement! Their extra eyes and ears keep watching while they walk their canine companions in communities all over the country aiding law enforcement.
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