Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo |
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Dendrolagus
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goodfellowi
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| Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo range | |
The Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo (scientific name: Dendrolagus goodfellowi) is a special animal that lives high up in the trees of New Guinea's rainforests. It's also known as the ornate tree-kangaroo because of its beautiful colors. This amazing creature is a type of mammal with a long tail, and it's currently endangered, meaning it needs our help to survive.
Like other tree-kangaroos, it spends most of its life in the treetops, munching on leaves and other plants. It's part of the same animal family as regular kangaroos, called Macropodidae, and like all marsupials, mothers carry their babies in a pouch. Sadly, these tree-kangaroos are losing their homes due to habitat loss and are sometimes hunted. There are two slightly different kinds, called subspecies: D. g. goodfellowi and D. g. buergersi, which is also known as the Buergers' tree-kangaroo.
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Goodfellow's Tree-Kangaroo
What Makes it Special? (Description)
The Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo looks quite different from the kangaroos you might imagine hopping on the ground. Unlike its land-dwelling relatives, its front legs are strong and have hooked claws. These claws are perfect for gripping tree branches.
Its long tail is also very important for balance as it moves through the trees. All these special features help it live a life mostly in the treetops. It has soft, woolly fur that is usually a beautiful chestnut or red-brown color. Its face is grey-brown, and it has yellow cheeks and feet. You might notice its pale belly, a long, golden-brown tail, and two golden stripes on its back. An adult Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo weighs about 7 kg (15 lb) (about 15 pounds).
Where Does it Live? (Habitat)
The Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo makes its home in thick tropical rainforests and other forests found in mountain areas. These forests stretch from the central part of Irian Jaya in Indonesia all the way to central and eastern Papua New Guinea. Imagine a place with lots of tall trees and lush plants – that's where these amazing animals live!
How Does it Move and Act? (Behaviour)
On the ground, Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos are not very graceful. They move slowly, almost like they are walking, and hop a bit awkwardly. They lean their bodies forward to help balance their long, heavy tails.
But once they are in the trees, they are completely different! They become brave and very agile. They climb by wrapping their strong front legs around a tree trunk and then using their powerful back legs to hop upwards. Their front legs slide smoothly as they go. These tree-kangaroos are also incredible jumpers. They have been seen jumping safely to the ground from as high as 9 metres (30 ft) (about 9 meters)!
What Does it Eat? (Diet)
The Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo is a herbivore, which means it only eats plants. Its favorite food is the leaves from a tree called the silkwood tree (Flindersia pimenteliana). But if silkwood leaves are not available, they will eat other things like different fruits, grains, flowers, and grasses.
These tree-kangaroos have special, large stomachs. These stomachs work a bit like a natural processing plant, similar to how a cow's stomach works. Inside, tiny bacteria help break down the tough fibers in the leaves and grasses, making it easier for the kangaroo to digest its food.
Its Name and Family Tree
The Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo got its name, goodfellowi, from a British animal collector named Walter Goodfellow. He was a person who traveled to find and study animals.
Subspecies: Different Kinds
Animals are often grouped into families, and within those families, there can be different types called subspecies. The Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo has two known subspecies:
- Dendrolagus goodfellowi goodfellowi
- Dendrolagus goodfellowi buergersi – This one is also known as the Buergers' tree-kangaroo.
See also
In Spanish: Canguro arborícola de Goodfellow para niños
