A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intensine in five macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). I. Allometric relationships.

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Osawa ◽  
PF Woodall
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Confidence Limits ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
A Value ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Macropus Rufus ◽  
Villous Height ◽  
Kleiber’S Law ◽  
Swamp Wallaby

Macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestines in five macropod species (the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus; the eastern grey kangaroo, M. giganteus; the agile wallaby, M. agilis; the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor; and the red-necked pademelon, Thylogale thetis) were investigated allometrically in relation to body mass. In general, the length of the small intestine changed in an area : volume (A:V) compensating manner, but the circumference showed negative allometry such that the overall change in surface areas, both ground and mucosal (including the contribution of villi), were isometric but also included the coefficient derived from 'Kleiber's Law' (0.75) in their 95 and 99% confidence limits, respectively. Villous height and width generally showed no significant correlations with body size, but villous density was lower in large individuals. The allometry coefficient for the length of the large intestine was generally near the A:V compensating value (0.5) in most intraspecific analyses but much higher in the interspecific analysis, suggesting that some factor other than body size might be important (possibly dietary fibre). Caecal length was significantly correlated with body size only in two largest species (M. rufus and M. giganteus) and the interspecific analysis gave a value near A:V compensation).

SRY and karyotypic status of one abnormal and two intersexual marsupials

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Watson ◽  
P. G. Johnston ◽  
K. A. Rodger ◽  
L. M. McKenzie ◽  
R. J. Waugh O'Neill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Y Chromosome ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Sry Gene ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Cultured Fibroblasts ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Macropus Rufus

An intersexual agile wallaby (Macropus agilis) with a penis, a pouch and four teats had a sex-chromosome constitution of XXY in lymphocytes and cultured fibroblasts; the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene was present, consistent with the presence of a testis. An intersexual eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) with a small empty scrotum and no penis, and an abnormal red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) with no penis, pouch or teats, both had XX sex-chromosome complements; the SRY gene was not present, consistent with testis absence. The agile wallaby and grey kangaroo described here provide further evidence that scrotal development in marsupials is independent of the Y chromosome. The cause of the abnormalities in the XX individuals cannot be determined until candidate genes are identified. These animals provide a basis for further genetic studies into marsupial intersexuality and sex differentiation.

A Comparative-Study of Macroscopic and Microscopic Dimensions of the Intestine in 5 Macropods (Marsupialia, Macropodidae) .2. Relationship With Feeding-Habits and Fiber Content of the Diet

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Osawa ◽  
PF Woodall
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Large Intestine ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Fibrous Diet ◽  
Swamp Wallaby

A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestines in five macropod species indicated that the grazing macropods (the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus) had significantly longer caeca and large intestines than those of the browsing macropods (the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor, and the red-necked pademelon, Thylogale thetis). This trend was not observed in the small intestine. The arid-adapted M. rufus also had a significantly longer large intestine than M. giganteus, which may be a water-conservation feature. Intestinal villi were tall in T. thetis, which consumed a less fibrous diet, whereas the agile wallaby, Macropus agilis, on a highly fibrous diet, had short villi; other macropods, on diets of medium fibre content, had villi of intermediate height. Thus, the size of the hindgut (i.e. caecum and large intestine) may provide an index of the specific feeding habit of a species (browsing or grazing), whilst parameters of the villi of the small intestine may reflect the quality of the animals' current diet.

Observations on the attatchment of marsupial pouch young to the teats and on the rearing of pouch young by foster-mothers of the same or different species

1966 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Merchant ◽  
GB Sharman
Keyword(s):  
Hard Palate ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Buccal Cavity ◽  
Foster Mother ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
Foster Mothers ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Accelerated Growth ◽  
Reproductive Cycles ◽  
Swamp Wallaby

The buccal cavity is modified in young red kangaroos by hemispherical indentations into hard palate and tongue which receive the bulbous swelling at the end of the teat. Attachment to the teat is aided by the formation of ridges on the hard palate and the lateral fusing of the lips of the young. The epiglottis of the young red kangaroo is intra-nasopharyngeal rather than intra-narial as is stated to be the case in other marsupials. Red kangaroos less than 1 day old were removed from the teat to which they had attached and replaced on another teat in the same pouch. A grey kangaroo young aged 13 days was replaced on the teat after removal and was removed and replaced at 7-day intervals thereafter. No difficulty was experienced in replacing 15 young aged between 41 and 100 days on the teats from which they were removed. The following transfers of young less than 1 day old were made: two red kangaroos to foster-mothers of the same species, one red kangaroo to a grey kangaroo, two grey kangaroos to foster-mothers of the same species, one tammar to a red kangaroo, and two swamp wallabies to red kangaroos. All the transfers were initially successful; however, one red kangaroo and one grey kangaroo were lost soon after the transfer, apparently because the foster-parents were at the incorrect stage of their reproductive cycles. The followmg transfers of young 2-25 days old were made to foster-mothers suckling young 2-20 days old: two swamp wallabies to red kangaroos, one red kangaroo to a swamp wallaby, one red kangaroo to a red-necked wallaby, one grey kangaroo to a red kangaroo, one tammar to a red kangaroo, and one red-necked wallaby to a red kangaroo. All the transfers were initially successful except a 13-day-old tammar which failed to attach to the teat of its foster-mother. A swamp wallaby young transferred at the age of 25 days to a red kangaroo showed accelerated growth and early sexual maturity compared to control swamp wallabies raised by their own mothers. A total of 12 inter-species and intra-species transfers of young aged 41-255 days old were made. A 53-day-old young of the yellow-footed rock wallaby failed to attach to the teat of a red kangaroo but all other transfers were initially successful and, in most cases, growth of the foster-young was normal and they were reared to at least the latter stages of pouch life. Young placed in the pouches of foster-mothers were readily accepted and there were indications that the behaviour patterns of the foster-mother were altered so that they responded to calls made by the foster-young. Foster-young of species which have a longer pouch life than the red kangaroo remained in the pouches of red kangaroo foster-mothers for the time usual in their own species. Foster-young transferred to the pouches of other species were usually reared to the end of pouch life if adult sizes of transferred young and foster-mother were nearly equal. Young of small species transferred to the pouches of larger species were often lost before the end of pouch life.

Diagnosis and treatment of mesenteric volvulus in a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)

2014 ◽  
Vol 244 (7) ◽  
pp. 844-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Emmanuelle Knafo ◽  
Alana J. Rosenblatt ◽  
James K. Morrisey ◽  
James A. Flanders ◽  
Margret S. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
Macropus Rufus

Diets and foraging behaviour of red and eastern grey kangaroos in arid shrub land: is feeding behaviour involved in the range expansion of the eastern grey kangaroo into the arid zone?

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
TJ Dawson ◽  
KJ McTavish ◽  
BA Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Foraging Patterns ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Macropus Rufus ◽  
Dietary Niche ◽  
Domestic Stock ◽  
Total Feeding

Eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) have expanded into arid areas usually the habitat of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus). Extra watering sites for domestic stock is the suggested reason. However, changes in vegetation also have occurred due to grazing from domestic stock. We investigated the foraging strategies of M. giganteus and M. rufus in arid rangeland to see if these are involved in the range changes. Foraging patterns were similar, with both species mostly foraging at night; total feeding times were the same. M. giganteus and M. rufus had differing diets, though there was considerable overlap of 81 - 87%. Both species were highly selective, having similar narrow dietary niche breaths. Differences in plant preferences occurred and though both species had a preference for grass that of M. giganteus was higher. A larger foregut in M. giganteus reinforces its focus on grass. M. rufus also selected dicot forbs and malvaceous sub-shrubs. Both kangaroos showed avoidance of abundant chenopod shrubs (saltbushes and bluebushes) and trees. It is likely that the changes to arid-zone vegetation, with a shift to grass and annual dicot forbs, has been important for the expansion of M. giganteus, possibly combined with the greater availability of water.

Bilateral radial and ulnar fractures in a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 255 (8) ◽  
pp. 942-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Ballor ◽  
Krista M. Gazzola ◽  
Karen L. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
Macropus Rufus
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