Kangaroos have long been regarded as a symbol of Australia and as mascots of numerous football teams and institutions around the world. The specie’s unique form and approach at locomotion, hopping rather then walking, has made this creature a novelty in foreign countries. In the United States the kangaroo has become something of an icon, known by names such as Zippy, Kasey, Moe and Katey. These are the mascot names of various American universities. In Australia, the kangaroo represents the famous “Kanga’s,” an Australian football team, and also an Australian rugby team.
The kangaroo has not cashed in on so much fame for no reason; the kangaroo has exceptionally unique features for an animal so common. Such features include the inability to walk backwards, the famous hop, large and strong back limbs (most species), marsupial pouch for young and a lack of thumb. Kangaroos only possess four fingers on their forearms and legs; the long clawed fourth toe of the foot does most of the work in completing a hop.
Furthermore Macropods have the ability to remain constantly pregnant and lactate from the time of their first pregnancy until death. A newborn Kangaroo is still essentially a fetus and is still enclosed in the bag
Another characteristic, which makes the kangaroo an exceptional animal, is its method of cooling. Many other animals sweat and many pant; canines sweat and pant simultaneously; but no other animal besides the kangaroo switches between the two. When kangaroos are exercising they sweat, but when they stop exercising, they stop sweating and start panting. Kangaroos are also unique in that the faster they hop the less energy they use. Once kangaroos reach their cruising speed of twenty miles per hour, they are using less energy then they would be if they were traveling at fifteen miles per hour. This is most likely due to the fact that their hops build up momentum and store energy like a pogo stick or a rubber-bouncing ball.
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