The kangaroo is a marsupial native to Australia. It is a well-known symbol of Australian wildlife and is recognized for its distinctive hopping movement, strong hind legs, and long tail. Kangaroos belong to the family Macropodidae, which means "big foot." They typically inhabit open grasslands, forests, and scrublands and have a unique reproductive system where the young, called joeys, develop in a pouch. Kangaroos are herbivores, primarily grazing on grass, and they play a significant role in their ecosystem by influencing vegetation growth through their feeding habits.