#macropods

A yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) grooms itself at Brachina Gorge, Australia

Researchers have taken a leap in understanding how kangaroos can increase their hopping speeds without incurring an associated energetic cost. Their study, published in eLife, shows that changes in kangaroo posture at high speeds increases their tendon stress and energy storage and return. This increased energy storage/return counteracts the higher muscular force required at speed, explaining why the animals' energetic cost remains unchanged.

It should be pretty easy to figure out where tree kangaroos spend most of their time! Although they are true kangaroos, just like its bigger and more famous cousins, members of the genus Dendrolagus have evolved for an arboral life, which include a larger tail for balance and longer hind feet to better climb trees with. Because of these adaptations, tree kangaroos are capable of leaping over 60 ft (18 m) from the tree tops to the ground!

Red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus), family Macropodidae (macropods)