Kangaroo

Kangaroo, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

If you didn't know, kangaroo's have long been regarded as strange animals. Early Australian explorers described them as creatures that had heads like deer (though without antlers), stood upright like men, and hopped like frogs!

Like all marsupials, female kangaroos have a pouch called a marsupium in which joeys complete postnatal development. Kangaroo's are also the only large animal to use hopping as a means of locomotion. Comfortable speeds are around 15mph, but speeds up to 44mph can be attained for short distances. Also, because of large feet, kangaroo's can't walk, but instead must use their muscular tail to form a tripod to move at slow speeds.

This photo is part of a much larger set from the Atlanta Zoo; which is also part of a 5-set collection documenting a trip last summer tourinbg New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

You can see the collection here: http://flickr.com/photos/crisp_air/collections/72157600176131056/

Cheers!