Animals of the World: K

Australia is home to several distinctive animals whose names begin with K. The kangaroo is a marsupial that moves by powerful hopping on its strong hind legs, using its long tail for balance, and carries its young in a pouch. Several kinds exist, including the large red kangaroo, the grey kangaroos, and the antilopine kangaroo. Like other marsupials, kangaroos give birth to tiny, undeveloped young that continue to grow inside the mother's pouch.

The koala is another Australian marsupial, a tree-dwelling animal that feeds almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves. Although often called a bear, the koala is not a bear at all but a marsupial, more closely related to the kangaroo. Its diet is low in energy, so the koala spends much of the day resting and sleeping among the branches.

The kiwi is a small flightless bird native to New Zealand, roughly the size of a chicken, with a long bill it uses to probe the ground for insects and worms. The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard, found on a few Indonesian islands, where it is a formidable predator capable of taking large prey. These animals show how isolated regions can produce unusual and specialized creatures.

Frequently asked questions

Why do kangaroos have a pouch?

Kangaroos are marsupials and give birth to very small, undeveloped young, which then continue to grow and nurse inside the mother's pouch.

Is a koala a type of bear?

No. Despite the name koala bear, the koala is a marsupial, not a bear. It is more closely related to kangaroos and feeds on eucalyptus leaves.

How big is the Komodo dragon?

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard, a powerful predator found on a few Indonesian islands.