This might be a really weird question, but why do Kangaroos jump instead of walk?
As a human jumping takes a lot more energy than jumping, so it must be something biological, but they are like the only animal family that does that (I’m sure there are more kangaroo-like animals I don’t know about)?
Edit – After seeing a few comments, this post isn’t about why the evolved to do so (even though it is an interesting question), I was asking what is the anatomical reasoning for it.
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With the way they evolved, jumping is a more efficient method than walking.
They have long feet and incredibly strong leg muscles designed for jumping, using their feet as leverage they can jump very far very easily, and over long distances and time periods. They are built for jumping in the same way cheetahs are built for running: very good at that, awkward at doing anything else.
Plus, being able to move quickly is a survival trait in a country that regularly catches fire in a catastrophic manner. Jumping they way they do is faster than walking.
Also a fun fact, their digestive organs actually move in rhythm when they jump, so they get a benefit to their digestion when they jump from place to place.
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