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You are here: Home / Animals / How did the Tree Kangaroo get its Name, Where does it Live, and Does it really Live in Trees?

How did the Tree Kangaroo get its Name, Where does it Live, and Does it really Live in Trees?

July 16, 2020 by Karen Hill

Tree kangaroos are macropods that live in trees in the mountainous rainforests of New Guinea, northeastern Queensland Australia, and a few islands nearby.

tree kangaroo

Tree-kangaroos evolved from animals similar to modern kangaroos, and have strong hind legs and very long tails for balance, and stronger forelimbs with longer claws for climbing.

On the ground, tree-kangaroos are slow and clumsy and hop awkwardly, but they are confident and agile in the trees.

Almost all tree-kangaroos are considered endangered due to extensive hunting and habitat loss.

Before the Australia forests turned into deserts, all of the kangaroos lived in trees.

Scientists believe that eventually they all hopped down, and that at some point in history the tree kangaroo reverted backward in the family’s general evolution, climbing back into the trees, where it now spends most of its time.

Tree-kangaroos love to eat leaves and fruit from trees and on the ground, but will also eat other food, including grain, eggs and even young birds.

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Filed Under: Animals

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « How did the Kangaroo Rat get its Name, Where does it Live, and is it a Native of Australia?
Next Post: What is the Difference Between Wallabies, Wallaroos, and Kangaroos, and How do you Tell them Apart? »

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