Why do kangaroos hop?
Quick answer from Eartha
Kangaroos hop because it's the easiest way for them to move fast! Their strong back legs work like giant springs, storing energy in stretchy tendons with every bounce. This means hopping actually uses less energy than running once they get going. Their long tail helps them balance, like a third leg for steady steps.
The longer story
Kangaroos have back legs built like coiled springs. Long, stretchy tendons in their legs store energy each time their feet hit the ground, and then release it to launch them into the next hop.
This spring system is so efficient that hopping barely tires a kangaroo out, even at high speed. Some kangaroos can hop at speeds over fifty kilometres per hour, and can keep going for long distances without getting as puffed as an animal that runs on four legs.
A kangaroo's thick tail is not just for looks. It acts like a balancing pole and can even act as a fifth limb, pressing into the ground to help the kangaroo stand up or move slowly when grazing.
Kangaroos cannot walk backwards or move their back legs independently on the ground, which is one reason hopping suits their body shape so well.
Try this at home: hopping race
- Mark a start and finish line with tape or chalk.
- Try hopping on two feet from start to finish, keeping your knees bent like springs.
- Then try walking the same distance and compare which felt easier to keep going.
Words to know
- Tendon
- A stretchy cord in the body that connects muscle to bone.
- Energy
- The power a body needs to move and do things.
For grown-ups: what is my child learning here?
Age band: Ages 5-8
Curriculum link: Australian Curriculum v9 Science, Year 1 — living things have external features that help them move and survive.
The concept: Children learn that an animal's body shape is suited to how it moves and lives.
More classroom ideas are on our teachers page, and safety notes for families are on for parents.
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