A kangaroo of dry inland grasslands and other habitats in Australia. It hops on powerful hind legs and uses its long tail for balance.
Its tail is thick and muscular. Coat colour varies with sex and region, so not all red kangaroos are red.
When moving slowly, red kangaroos place their forefeet and tail on the ground and swing both hind feet forwards. They then support themselves on the hind feet while moving the forefeet and tail ahead. The tail pushes against the ground to propel the body.
A 2014 study examined this “five-legged” gait in four adult females and one juvenile male trained to cross a force-measuring platform. Side-view video established when the forelimbs, hindlimbs and tail contacted the floor, allowing their forces to be compared.
Analysis of twenty-two walking trials showed substantial forward propulsion from the tail. It also performed positive mechanical work to lift and accelerate the body. Its support role became especially important while the hind feet were off the ground. During slow movement such as grazing, the muscular tail actively helps move the kangaroo.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
New South Wales surveys commercially harvested kangaroo species, including red kangaroos, and sets regional harvest quotas. Its report published in December 2025 used population estimates to inform the 2026 quotas. Aerial surveys are conducted annually across nine Western Plains management zones and once every three years in each Tablelands region. This is a state-level system for monitoring wild populations and managing their use.