Question

Scientific name of the kangaroo is
(a) Pteropus
(b) Felis
(c) Macropus
(d) Chiroptera

Answer 1

Hint: The scientific name of the kangaroo is derived from Ancient Greek meaning ‘large foot’. Kangaroo belongs to the class – Mammalia of phylum – Chordata. There is a total of 4 species of kangaroos.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The scientific name of the kangaroo is Macropus, in which ‘Macro’ means “large” and ‘pous’ means “foot”. Kangaroo belongs to Family – Macropodidae, which are only found in Australia. They are the tallest marsupials, with an average height of 2 meters.
- Female kangaroos are known for the pouch in which they keep their offspring safe. They are also herbivorous capable of travelling at a speed of 48 kilometres​ per hour​.
- Kangaroos are the national animal of Australia. Due to the loss of habitat, several species of kangaroos are at the tip of extinction.
So, the correct answer is ‘Macropus’.

Additional Information:
Pteropus: Commonly known as the fruit bats or flying foxes, Pteropus is the genus name of these megabats which belongs to the Pteropodidae family.
- Pteropus is known for its size, with an average length of 27cm and a weight of 950gm.
Felis: The genus name of the domestic cat is known as Felis, which belongs to the Felidae family.
- The average length of members in the genus Felis is 46cm, where larger organisms of the same family (lion, tiger, etc.) come in the Panthera genus.
Chiroptera: Chiroptera is an order which belongs to the class Mammalia. Bats belong to the order Chiroptera, which makes up the second- largest order of mammals.
- Bats are the only mammal with the ability of flight and uses echolocation to find and hunt its prey.

Note:
- Kangaroos have a lifespan of 23 years, but the loss of habitat and hunting by humans and wild dogs are a major threat to kangaroos.
- The offspring of the kangaroo is known as a joey, which stays in the mother’s pouch for 10 to 12 months, after which they get mature and leave the pouch.
- ‘Paleopterous Priscus’ are small cat- sized organisms, believed to be the ancestors of present- day kangaroos.