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Came across this female Eastern Grey Kangaroo in a shed in central Victoria Australia, her joey, still a baby without it’s fur was poking it’s head out of the mother’s pouch. This joey is only about one month old.

Camera Olympus E-520, Focal lenght 70.0,
Shutter speed 1/80s, f/4.0, ISO 1600

A 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, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country of Australia
Kangaroo reproduction is similar to that of opossums. The egg (still contained in the evolutionary remnant of a shell, a few micrometres thick, and with only a small quantity of yolk within it) descends from the ovary into the uterus. There it is fertilised and quickly develops into a neonate. Even in the largest kangaroo (the red kangaroo) the neonate emerges after only 33 days. Usually only one young is born at a time. It is blind, hairless and only a few centimetres long; its hind legs are mere stumps; it instead uses its more developed forelegs to climb its way through the thick fur on its mother’s abdomen into the pouch, which takes about three to five minutes. Once in the pouch, it fastens onto one of the two teats and starts to feed. Almost immediately, the mother’s sexual cycle starts again. Another egg descends into the uterus and she becomes sexually receptive. Then, if she mates and a second egg is fertilised, its development is temporarily halted. Meanwhile, the neonate in the pouch grows rapidly. After about 190 days, the baby (called a joey) is sufficiently large and developed to make its full emergence out of the pouch, after sticking its head out for a few weeks until it eventually feels safe enough to fully emerge. From then on, it spends increasing time in the outside world and eventually, after about 235 days, it leaves the pouch for the last time


Tags

kangaroo, joey, macropodidae, victoria, australia, olympus, clive

Comments

  • LoreLeft27
    LoreLeft27over 2 years ago

    awww so very cute

  • They are at that age my friend, greatly appreciate your fine compliment xx

    – Clive

  • Pat Yager
    Pat Yagerover 2 years ago

    What a special picture you’ve caught, Clive! I’m so glad the mother wasn’t afraid of you being so close!

  • She was busy sleeping when I crept up for the shot…Thank you so very much for your wonderful compliment Pat, appreciated xx

    – Clive

  • JKKimball
    JKKimballover 2 years ago

    Wonderful image Clive!

  • Thank you so very much for your wonderful compliment John, appreciated.
    Happy New Year to you and Susan

    – Clive

  • canonman99
    canonman99over 2 years ago

    quite a closeup. a wonder you could be so close

  • It’s mom was still asleep, so had to tred very softly…appreciate your great compliment my friend

    – Clive

  • barnsis
    barnsisover 2 years ago

    Great close up. Very well done my friend

  • Thank you so much Byron, a great compliment my friend

    – Clive

  • shortshooter-Al
    shortshooter-Alover 2 years ago

    A terrific capture Clive. This little one will be with Mum for a while yet.

  • About another five months with it’s mum as yet Al..A wonderful compliment my friend

    – Clive

  • AndreaEL
    AndreaELover 2 years ago

    Such a cute shot and fantastic that you were able to capture the baby.

  • Had to be vewy vewy quite..lol…thank you for your great compliment Andrea xx

    – Clive

  • JDL15
    JDL15over 2 years ago

    man what a capture EXCELLENT

  • Thank you so very much my friend, a wonderful compliment

    – Clive

  • missmoneypenny
    missmoneypennyover 2 years ago

    Great capture

  • A lovely compliment Chris, thank you xx

    – Clive

  • naturelover
    natureloverover 2 years ago

    Wow! what a cracking shot of this baby, terrific work Clive xx

  • Thank you so much Pauline, a truly wonderful compliment my lovely friend X♥XX

    – Clive