The kangaroo can’t run at all, or even walk, but he sure can jump! This Australian mammal can leap 15 or 20 feet in one bound, and can race along in these leaps at speeds up to 40 miles per hour!
And a kangaroo can leap along like this for 20 miles without stopping to rest. The kangaroo’s body is built so that the animal can’t move his legs to walk or run. But those strong legs provide a powerful thrust when he leaps, and end in ten-inch long feet that give him firm footing.
The kangaroo’s thick tail serves to balance the animal when he’s in the air. A standing kangaroo would have little trouble leaping right over a car!
The longest kangaroo jump ever measured was over 40 feet!
