What do kangaroos eat in the rainforest?

Only tree kangaroos and a few other species such as the musky rat kangaroo live in the rainforest.

In their natural environment, tree kangaroos eat fruits, tree blossoms, juicy leaves or bark, ferns, and moss which they find in the rainforest habitat in which they live.Different species eat different plants, according to their locality. Bennett's Tree kangaroo, for example, which is one of the two species of tree kangaroos found in Australia, is particularly fond of the Ganophyllum falcatum, which is variously known as Scaly Bark Ash or Daintree Hickory in Australia, or as lulibar, tapu or mangir in Southeast Asia. Bennett's Tree kangaroo also enjoys leaves from the Queensland Umbrella plant (Schefflera actinophylla).

Other species favoured by tree kangaroos include:

• Leichhardt (Nauclea Orinetalis)
• Devil's Claw (Pisonia aculeata)
• Burny Vine (Trophis scandens)
• Blood Vine (Austrosteenisia blakeii)
• various other vines, such as Clematis glycinoides, Hippocratia Barbata, Cissus pentacladaandJasminium didymum
• native olives (olea paniculate)
• Variegated Fig (Ficus variegata)
• Native Longan (Dimocarpus australianus) - especially the fruit
• freshwater mangrove, or Corky Bark (Carallia brachiata)
• Matchbox Bean, or Sea Bean (Etada phaseoloides)

Musky rat kangaroos are omnivores which eat a variety of vegetation and small invertebrates such as earthworms and grasshoppers. They eat rainforest foods, such as the seeds and fruit from the King Palm. They eat some types of fungi, and more fleshy vine flowers, and have even been observed picking out seed kernels from cassowary droppings.

Did we answer your question?

Yes

No

Partially