How kangaroos swim
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340106)
Rockingham, Australia
November 4, 2020 3:46am CST
I shared a video where a mob of kangaroos are swimming a river. Some try to keep hopping but once the water is too deep, they begin to swim. I was interested in how they actually moved their limbs when they swam, and in my research, I learnt a new work – ipsilateral – which means ‘on the same side’.
So, when a kangaroo swims, the right paw and leg move through the water together followed by the left paw and leg. On land of course, both hind limbs move together as they hop. The tail swishes back and forth horizontally.
The fingers on the forepaws are spread and pull the body through the water while the hind legs were believed to be used more to provide stability rather than producing any great movement forward. While it’s not normal or usual for kangaroos to swim, most are quite adept at swimming, if they need to be.
Here is the link to the article I found:
Photo from my own collection
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263543841_How_kangaroos_swim
27 people like this
31 responses
@JudyEv (340106)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Nov 20
@GodServantme They are only dangerous if they are cornered or feel threatened.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
4 Nov 20
jest amazin' what'cha can learn here'n mylot! interestin' info, so thanks fer delvin' 'nto the 'mystery' 'n sharin' yer findin's.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
5 Nov 20
@JudyEv so very true :) if'n i looked'p e'erything that i wished, i'd no time fer sleepin', lol. i used to recall all thingies. these days i've gotta look'p the simplest 'f things. which's a bit frustratin'.
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@JudyEv (340106)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Nov 20
@crazyhorseladycx My memory has deteriorated to a large degree too. It's very depressing sometimes.
1 person likes this
It seems you can find just about anything if you search the net for it.
@JudyEv (340106)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 20
@GodServantme That's not true. Sometimes they might appear in a street but very rarely.
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@GodServantme (1541)
•
6 Nov 20
@JudyEv I think they have a large population in Australia. Are they everywhere. Roaming in street and so on
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@snowy22315 (180790)
• United States
4 Nov 20
I never thought about kangaroos swimming.
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@snowy22315 (180790)
• United States
4 Nov 20
@JudyEv I guess they do what they need to survive...like most animals including the human variety..
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@Deepizzaguy (102887)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
5 Nov 20
Thank you for sharing this story about the way that kangaroos swim.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102887)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
5 Nov 20
@JudyEv I did since I remember kangaroos as great boxers when they take on professional boxers for fun events.
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@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
4 Nov 20
Those are interesting facts you shared, Ms. Judy.
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@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
5 Nov 20
its i interesting. becausethe legs are much longer than hand
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@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
6 Nov 20
@JudyEv i know how bear and dog swim, but its different
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@erictsuma (9726)
• Mombasa, Kenya
4 Nov 20
I didn't know about how long are swims thank you for sharing this .
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@erictsuma (9726)
• Mombasa, Kenya
5 Nov 20
@JudyEv ye I enjoyed the information, thank you for sharing it
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@changjiangzhibin89 (16766)
• China
5 Nov 20
An interesting post ! It seems that swimming comes naturally to kangaroos .
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@JudyEv (340106)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Nov 20
They're ungainly animals to be such good swimmers.
@RasmaSandra (79875)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Nov 20
Cute kangaroo in the photo. Thank you for sharing I always wondered if kangaroos swim,
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@LindaOHio (178806)
• United States
4 Nov 20
Very cool. I'm always amazed at how animals adapt.
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