Fun Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Facts For Kids

Matschie’s tree kangaroos, also known as Dendrolagus matschiei, are an endangered species currently found in the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea island, Papua New Guinea. For this reason, they are also known as Huon tree kangaroos.

They are much smaller than conventional red kangaroos found in Australia (almost a quarter their size). Huon tree kangaroos have evolved as animals by adapting to ecological changes.

In fact, they have short legs that are out of sync with typical tree-climbing animals. But when they began climbing tall trees (nearly 100 ft (30.4 m)) in search of food, they developed strong muscles, perhaps the strongest among all tree kangaroo species.

This species of tree kangaroo looks like a cross between a conventional kangaroo and a bear. They are covered by thick fur all over, with a golden-yellow color on the ventral side and a rich chestnut brown color on the top side.

They also have a characteristic dark stripe that runs along the entire back. These tree-loving animals have a long tail that is equal in length to the rest of the body.

Like all kangaroos, they also have a pouch to hold baby joeys. In females, this pouch houses a 'teat' through which young ones nurse.

You may also check out the fact files on the red kangaroo and guanaco from Kidadl.
 

Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Matschie's tree kangaroo?

A Matschie’s tree kangaroo is a type of tree kangaroo. Other tree kangaroo species include the Grizzled tree kangaroo, Bennett's tree kangaroo, Seri's tree kangaroo, and Ursine tree kangaroo. Matschie’s tree kangaroo of Papua New Guinea is also called the Huon tree kangaroo.  

What class of animal does a Matschie's tree kangaroo belong to?

This species of tree kangaroo belongs to the mammal class. This means that they do not lay eggs but directly give birth to their young ones.

How many Matschie's tree kangaroos are there in the world?

It is estimated that there are under 2,500 Huon tree kangaroos in the world. This includes those living in the wild and the hundred-odd kangaroos preserved under managed care (like zoos).

Where does a Matschie's tree kangaroo live?

They live in elevated mountainous cloud forests and rainforests, surviving on the leaves of these tall trees (over 100 ft (30.4 m)) that grow in these forests.

What is a Matschie's tree kangaroo’s habitat?

Matschie's tree-kangaroo habitat includes mountainous cloud forests at elevations of above 11,0000 ft (3352.8 m). While there are other tree kangaroos that live in Indonesia and Australia, these tree kangaroo species are endemic to the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea Island, Papua New Guinea.

They spend a majority of their time high up in the trees, with the ability to leap long distances thanks to their strong muscles.

These animals get down to the ground on rare occasions (to mate.) While there is no specific tree they prefer, they thrive on a herbivorous diet of leaves, shoots, flowers, moss, tree bark, and some fruit.

Who do Matschie's tree kangaroos live with?

A group of tree kangaroos is called a pack, or a court, or a troupe. However, Matschie's tree kangaroos are solitary creatures. So you will either see them living on their own or in small packs (like male, female, and her baby joey).

How long does a Matschie's tree kangaroo live?

The typical lifespan of a Matschie's tree kangaroo living in the wild is 14 years. This lifespan has been extended up to 20 years when in managed captivity (like zoos).

How do they reproduce?

Matschie's tree kangaroos do not have a particular season for breeding. Both sexes achieve sexual maturity between two to three years. For such a tree-loving species, it is the females who initiate mating by dropping to the ground (and not up in the trees) to seek a mate.

She clicks her tongue and touches her mate’s nose to express interest, along with mild hissing and growling. There are also chemical cues exchanged between the adults during this time. The male responds positively with similar gestures.

The tree kangaroo's gestation period lasts for 44 days. After the gestation period, the female carries the newly birthed joey in its pouch.

The joey is slowly weaned away from the mother’s pouch as follows: it begins to tentatively put its head out of the pouch when it is six months old. It begins to come out of the pouch when it is seven months old.

However, it returns to the mother’s pouch to nurse. It becomes independent of the mother’s pouch when it is 10 – 11 months old.

What is their conservation status?

The official conservation status of this tree kangaroo species as per IUCN as 'Endangered.' With less than 2,500 spread across Papua New Guinea rainforests, their numbers are alarmingly at risk, making their conservation a top priority.

The Matschie’s tree kangaroos also live on a small home range of 25 ht (roughly 62 acres). They face an immense threat to their population within this range due to human poaching and logging. So there are continuous efforts by environmentalists for the conservation of this species and their precious habitat.

Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Fun Facts

What do Matschie's tree kangaroos look like?

A Matschie’s tree kangaroo looks like a comical cross between a cuddly bear and a kangaroo. They have a golden-brown fur covering, with a dark stripe that runs along their back.

They have a round face with a short snout, small eyes, and short ears. They have surprisingly short legs (for a tree-dwelling kangaroo) but a thick stocky body. Their tails are as long as the rest of their body.

These tree-loving animals are a golden-yellow color that runs along the ventral side of the body, covering its face, shoulders, belly, and legs. From the top, they appear as rich, chestnut-brown colors. Finally, they have the famous 'kangaroo pouch' in which the nurse and carry joeys.

It is believed that ordinary kangaroos with pouches transformed into the present-day Matschie’s tree kangaroos several thousand years ago, as they began climbing trees in pursuit of their favorite herbivorous diet, leaves. This adaptability has also helped with the conservation of this species.

How cute are they?

Matschie’s tree kangaroos are charmingly cute with their pouches, especially when you observe them from a distance. Despite having short legs, they have strong muscles with the ability to leap across great distances (up to 30 ft (9.1m) in one jump).

They are also relatively harmless, as they are the happiest chomping on their favorite diet of leaves. But they can also show signs of aggression through expressions of growling, biting and cuffing, when they come face to face with strangers.

How do they communicate?

This is a surprisingly quiet species not prone to a lot of inter-species communication. They also prefer solitary lives, which makes it easier.

At the most, they may click their tongue (males during mating), hiss or growl (females during mating), and swish their long tail from side to side. Do note; these can also be signs of anxiety when faced with a stranger–a silent warning before they decide to attack.

How big is Matschie's tree kangaroo?

Matschie’s tree kangaroos weigh a quarter the size of their more popular counterparts, the ground-based red kangaroos of Australia. Their conservation status is also more endangered than their bigger counterparts.

How fast can a Matschie's tree kangaroo move?

The Matschie’s tree kangaroo species prefer to spend their time in trees. So they do not walk as much as they climb. They are agile climbers with the ability to cover a distance of 30 ft (9 m) in one massive jump.

How much does a Matschie's tree kangaroo weigh?

The average Matschie's tree kangaroo weighs between 15–25 lb (7–11 kg), which is almost three times lighter than an antilopine kangaroo. Male kangaroos weigh slightly more than the female.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both sexes are known by the same name, Matschie's tree kangaroo. They also look the same and vary slightly in weight.

What would you call a baby Matschie's tree kangaroo?

A baby Matschie's tree kangaroo is called a joey. This is true of all kangaroo babies.

What do they eat?

Matschie's tree-kangaroo diet consists of feeding on a herbivorous diet of leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruit found in the mountainous cloud forests where their population thrives. When in managed care (like zoos), they are fed a herbivorous diet of green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, tofu, and sometimes eggs. Pythons, eagles, owls, and some parasites are predators of this kangaroo.

Are they dangerous?

Matschie's tree-kangaroos are not particularly dangerous (like poisonous). But they can get aggressive with strangers (by biting, cuffing, wrestling), even from their own species. It is also unlikely for humans to spot their population on the ground, even in the wild, as they prefer to spend their time in trees.

Would they make a good pet?

Matschie's tree-kangaroos are not the friendliest of creatures. They prefer to live solitary lives or in small packs of male, female, and joey.

They are also an endangered species, with conscious efforts on their conservation. There are hence many limitations on adapting them as pets by unknown individuals. They may also be kept in zoos, on a managed diet combining their favorite foods (like leaves, shoots, flowers, and some fruit).

Did you know...

Matschie's tree-kangaroos use an inventive method to keep cool during hot summers. They merely lick their forearms (where the sweat tends to collect), thus accelerating sweat evaporation to cool their body!

Why are Matschie's tree kangaroos endangered?

Matschie’s tree kangaroos are presently less than 2,500 in number. They face the threat of extinction in the near future, due to several reasons.

They are endemic to the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea island, Papua New Guinea.

Tree kangaroos are heavily hunted by the native tribes for food and game.

There is a significant loss of their habitat due to climate change, deforestation, and a rise in agriculture. (Increasing number of coffee plantations encroaching into their forest.)

Finally, there is limited interference allowed by the government (including potential for conservation), as 95% of this area is owned by the native tribes.

Despite this, efforts are being made for the continued conservation of this unique Dendrolagus Matschiei population and their habitat through several ingenious ways. As part of the species survival plan, at least 100 of these Dendrolagus matschiei kangaroos are under managed care in North American zoos.

In recent times, there is a conscious introduction of this population (again, primarily for conservation) in Umboi Island and West New Britain.

What are the Matschie's tree kangaroo's defenses?

By nature, Matschie’s tree kangaroos are solitary creatures. They live in small packs on occasion, including a male, a female, and its joey. They can get very defensive beyond this circle and even aggressive with perceived strangers. This includes:

There can be extreme aggression between males. In fact, it is almost impossible to place two male Matschie’s tree kangaroos together and expect harmony!

Occasional aggression between females, although this is not as extreme as in adult males.

Females often get aggressive towards strange joeys. Yes, if she hasn’t birthed the baby joey, she is not going to be hit with warm motherly feelings!

In all cases, the aggression can take the form of biting, boxing, cuffing and wrestling, while they lie on their sides. Ironically, this species is not known for its 'kick,' unlike other ground-based kangaroos.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these giant anteater facts and ringtail cat facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable kangaroo coloring pages.