Difference Between Kangaroo and Rabbit

Kangaroo vs Rabbit

Kangaroo and Rabbit are very distinctive animals that live in different places. They have some features in common however, the differences are more prominent. Distribution, diversity, and body size mainly differ between these two. However, some important and interesting characters, which are a little uncommon are discussed in this article.

Kangaroo

Kangaroo is the largest marsupial animal belongs to Family: Macropodidae. They are exclusively found in Australia and nowhere else. In the Australian native language they are known as ‘Gungurru’ became kangaroo by the English pronunciation. Males are called either Buck or Boom or Old Man, while a female is known as either Doe or Flyer or Jill. Kangaroos are well adapted to dry conditions as they can survive without water for months in the deserts. There are over 40 species of kangaroos and they differ in their coat colour and body size. Red kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos. They are hopping animals with extra large hind limbs. Hopping speed could be as high as 70 kilometres per hour and that helps them to be protected from the predators. Kangaroo is a herbivorous mammal who can depend on a wide range of grasses, and their teeth are adapted for grazing. Almost all of them are social animals live in groups called Mobs. During their reproduction period males show flehman reaction to detect the females in heat. Females deliver a neonate after thirty days of the gestation. It develops inside the female’s characteristic pouch for about seven months by suckling milk. After about 190 days the baby, called Joey, sticks out its head and within about 1 – 2 months from there, Joey will be ready to be released from the pouch. Females are said to be ever pregnant because they become sexually receptive soon after a neonate is delivered into the pouch. This wonderful and unique animal is a real appreciative creation of the Mother Nature.

Rabbit

Rabbit is a small herbivorous mammal belongs to Family: Leporidae of Order: Lagomorpha. There are eight different genera with more than 50 species. Their male is called as a Buck, female a Doe, young one a Kit or Kitten. They can live in a wide range of habitats including wetlands, forests, and dry grass lands. Generally, they make underground burrows as their homes. They are naturally range almost everywhere in the world but not in Australia. It is an invasive species in Australia causing lots of problems as a pest also. They have characteristically long ears which are adapted to detect predators earlier. Rabbits’ tail is very short, and they have short but strong legs which are instrumental for them to hop fast in an alarming situation. Body size ranges between 20 to 50 centimetres of length and weight from 0.5 – 2 kilograms. They vary in coat colour depending on the species. Some have short fur coat but some are with very long fur coat depending on the climate. Rabbits have two sets of incisor teeth one behind the other, which rodents don’t have. Sometimes rabbits stand up from two hind legs to reach the tall grasses appearing like a small kangaroo. Rabbits are hind gut fermenters, meaning their digestion of food takes place at caecum. Other interesting character of rabbits is the coprophagous behaviour, i.e. they eat their own faeces. However, their breeding is superfast as they can get pregnant in every 30 days and the litter size could be from 4 – 12 kits.

What is the difference between Kangaroo and Rabbit?

Both rabbits and kangaroos are herbivorous grazers. The common names for males and females are similar in both cases, but kangaroos have two more referred names for both males and females. However, more contrasting differences are listed below in the table including distribution, diversity, body size and forms, and special behaviors.