a long time, the question of how to give birth kangaroo could not answer even the zoologists.Despite the wide distribution of these marsupials in Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, and close proximity to a person, they managed to keep a lot of secrets.Only at the present stage of development of science, scientists learned how to place childbirth kangaroo.
process
pairing Kangaroos have no particular season when mating to take place.But the reproductive processes of the representatives of all kinds of kangaroo occur very active.
The mating season for the attention of females can turn these fights between males.Very important role in these duels wins back the tail, which actually performs the function of the fifth leg.The right to receiving pairing winner.Although developed sense of competition for the female, the male parental instincts totally absent.After love games come to an end, the male disappears.The fact whether the offspring will survive, must take care of a female.
Pregnancy and childbirth kangaroo
gestation period a kangaroo is very short.Depending on the species, the offspring appears 30-40 days after mating.To generations have passed safely, the female must find a hiding place.Her position at the time of delivery, sitting, with the tail between the legs of the animal is.That it falls newborn cub kangaroo.
Kids are born very small and translucent.In fact, it is not yet fully formed embryo.The maximum body size in young largest species of kangaroo - 2-3 cm, weight - 25 grams.Well developed from them only those bodies that help them to get into the bag to his mother.It is long, fairly strong front legs, mouth and nose.
After the end delivery, kangaroo licks track of wool, of which the child should get to the bag.But the newborn need to crawl on their own.This is facilitated by the location of the fur on the belly of his mother, as well as well-developed bodies of flair.The path to the bag tightly clutching the baby is doing front paws of the hair on the body of the female.
first months of life
Getting into the bag, the baby clings to one of the nipples of mammary glands, which are located there.Since he was born without hair, the first few months is not able to regulate their body temperature.Therefore, during the two months he never leaves the mother's pouch.
himself this body has a rather interesting structure.Inside the bag smooth, but its edges are protected by a thick fur.This allows you to protect the offspring from the weather.Besides the female kangaroo is able to control the muscles of the bag.She decides when to let go of her cub.Bag closed tightly enough.For example, while swimming in the water does not get it.
At different stages of its development the cub eats milk, which differs in its composition.The female has four teats, and her body is able to produce two completely different in composition such as milk.The fact that the baby drinks immediately after birth occurred kangaroo, has antibacterial properties.This is very important because the immune system of the newborn are not yet fully formed.
«many children» Family
After 1-2 months after the birth of the first baby female is ready to mate again.When there is a birth of a second baby, the first still continues to live in the bag.Thus, while the female kangaroo is caring for two children of different ages.Cloth bags are very resilient, and they are able to withstand the weight of the offspring after they begin to grow up.
At that time, when a second baby, his elder brother begins to feed milk from a second teat that is, as already mentioned, is different in composition.
Some species of kangaroos, for example Quokka, nature provided the conception of two embryos.But first, a baby develops, and only upon reaching one month of starting the development of the second.If the first fruit is killed, the second growth begins immediately.Thus, before us does not mean you need to spend extra time on the pairing.
twins or triplets is happening in other, larger species of kangaroo.Photos made by scientists prove the existence of such "large" families.
Typically, the baby in the mother's pouch holds about seven months.Having become old enough, he began a short while to get out of it and try vegetarian food.However, at the first sign of danger, he again seeks refuge in the mother's pouch.Only when the baby finally get stronger, he begins an independent life.
Care offspring
functions females do not end on that give birth to offspring and feed him.It ensures their safety, as well as monitors the purity of the bag.Since small kangaroos do not leave their habitat first months of life, all their metabolic products also remain in it.Therefore, the female opens her and simply licks the cubs until they are older.
It also removes the bag after kenguryata ever leave her.This often happens when young offspring are no longer fit there.It happens that the mother of their own throws.
«Reception mom»
As you know, the offspring of mothers from various different smell, so the female learns their children.It is believed that the kangaroos are not inclined to adoption.Nature provided that in the bag were two cubs, so there is no other place.However, there were cases when someone else's offspring, with the permission of females fed and asleep in her bag.Most often it happens when the older baby dies.Thus, the second nipple remains free, but keeps the milk is still produced.
Scientists have also documented cases in which females were changing their babies.The reason for this behavior remains unknown.
data that the kangaroo "adopts" the cubs of other animals, scientists have not.
