Australian Animal Analysis Essay

Submitted By f12osty
Words: 1740
Pages: 7
Open Document
Jordan Frost
Biology Aus.
21-Jan-2013

Two of the most iconic animals of Australia are, Crocodiles and Kangaroos. Their are two species of crocodiles in Australia, including the salt water and fresh water crocodile. As for the kangaroo, there are over 60 different species including their close relatives. The purpose of this paper is to convey the knowledge that I have acquired from comparing the anatomy and physiology of the Salt Water Crocodile with the Red Kangaroo. I have a greater understanding of how this reptile and infraclass mammal adapt and live in their environments. With this knowledge I will be able to give an accurate analysis of these two lifeforms found here in Australia. Red kangaroos are one of the largest species of marsupial. Marsupials are the group of mammals commonly thought of as pouched mammals. They give live birth, but unlike placental mammals they don't have long gestation periods. Whereas, they give birth very early to a young helpless embryo that uses its senses to get from mother's birth canal to her nipples. Compared to other mammals kangaroos are born at a very early stage of nervous system development. Kangaroos have nervous systems similar to all other mammals, with an exception of a few particular characteristics. Kangaroos and other marsupials have a very distinct brain microcirculation, which refers to the small vessels that irrigate the organ. While in most mammals numerous capillary vessels connect in the brains forming a mesh-work, in kangaroos this connections occur in pairs, forming loops. This evolutionary feature has been related to the kangaroo's ability to survive in Australia's hot and arid zones. On average a fully grown Red Kangaroo is approximately 5 feet long and has a tail that is about 42 inches in length. This tail is used as a mechanism for balance. Red Kangaroos can not walk and are limited to hopping as means of transportation. However, this adaptation is extremely energy efficient and allows them to cover vast barren landscapes rather quickly. In fact it takes less energy to breath while a kangaroo is hopping versus standing still. According to Giuliodori MJ, who has a Major in Advanced Physiology Education, "Specifically, as the kangaroo hops upward, the abdominal organs lag behind, and the insertion of the diaphragm is pulled toward its origin, flattening the dome and increasing the vertical dimension of the thoracic cavity (the thoracic cavity and lungs enlarge). Increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity reduces alveolar pressure below atmospheric pressure (barometric pressure), and air moves into the alveoli by bulk flow. In contrast, the impact of the organs against the diaphragm at each landing causes expiration. Specifically, upon landing, the abdominal organs flop into the diaphragm, causing it to return to its dome shape and decreasing the vertical dimension of the thoracic cavity. This compresses the alveolar gas volume and elevates alveolar pressure above barometric pressure, so air is expelled". This massive jump of up to 29 feet in distance and approximately 6 feet in height, enables them to attain a speed of 35 mph for a short period of time. However they can maintain a speed of 12 mph for hours on end, conserving energy. The Red Kangaroos are well adapted to their barren environment including the inland woodlands and arid deserts. They shut down their reproductive system when conditions are too dry to breed successfully, and reboot it only when conditions improve. They are one of the most highly adapted animals to desert conditions, especially when it comes to breeding and nutritional needs. Red Kangaroos rely solely on plants for their nutritional needs, making them herbivores. When selecting plants to eat, they generally choose grasses, other plants, and shrubbery with a high water content. This species avoids the sweltering daylight sun by searching widely for food or provisions at night when temperatures are much cooler.
Show More

Related Documents: Australian Animal Analysis Essay

Riddells Creek Landcare Essay

Macro-environment The environment considered as those factors outside the organization which influence strategy. It considers as one of the most difficult part of the analysis, for two main reasons. Firstly the breadth of the analysis required and the uncertainty and ambiguity that exist with many signals that are received from the environment make the interpretation difficult. Secondly, it deals with issues that organization cannot control. We break the environment into two sections…

Words 2290 - Pages 10

Aboriginal Health Issues

This essay will look into the contemporary Indigenous Australian circumstance of Indigenous Health and well-being. “Indigenous people are the original people of Australia. Their continuity, history and cultural traditions are unrivalled in the world”. (Australian Indigenous Health Info Net, 2017) Health Info Net explains that the Indigenous people have survived many challenges which include, Droughts, floods and scientific proof of extreme climate due to period of arid climate change has been found…

Words 922 - Pages 4

Financial Issues Essay

1.0 Comprehensive analysis of a company's operations and performance AACo is a world leader in the beef industry and other anima food sector with its over 600 thousand head of cattle and operate in 19 cattle stations across Australia. It also has two feedlots and three farms that are spread across more than 7.2 million hectares of land across Queensland and other parts of Northern Australia (AACo 2013). The company was established in 1824, and is still standing firm as the oldest and continually…

Words 1763 - Pages 8

Essay about Airpork Case Study Analysis Report

Case Study Analysis Report: “Airpork” From Zero to Hero: What Next? August 12th, 12013 Table of Contents: Executive summary ……………………………. 2 Introduction ……………………………………. 2 Body……………………………………………. 2 Conclusion …………….………………………. 4 References ………..……………………………. 5 Appendices …………………………………….. 6 Executive summary: “Airpork” is one of the products of APL, Australian Pork Limited, which succeeded to grow its sales drastically within very short period of time. Their success was…

Words 2738 - Pages 11

Mai Wong Major Depression And Animal Model Summary

through animal models, which leaves us the question of “How does scientists develop animal models in mental disorders such as depression? ” The paper ‘Major Depression and Animals Model’ by Ma-Li Wong (...) demonstrate the general process and consensus around Animal Modelling for Depression and hence answer our question. Ma-Li Wong…

Words 1115 - Pages 5

Mobile Phone and Wotif. Com Essay

BSBMKG501B IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES Case Study 1 WOTIF.COM Introduction Wotif.com was born in 2000 taking advantage of a marketing opportunity when the e-commerce was just starting its way as the new era of the business. Now with offices around the world, Wotif.com is one of the most important companies in the touristic area, serving as a bridge between the accommodation suppliers and the customers. -Current market and business need During these years Wotif.com has been always…

Words 1067 - Pages 5

Mindmap Brainstorm Essay

Australian-Indigenous (Aboriginal) Culture and symbolism Dance Dreamtime Rainbow serpent Drawings Representations Colours Techniques Hunting + Gathering Equipment Boomerang etc. Music Equipment Didgeridoo Symbols (Representations) + Languages Variety of languages Tribes + Nomadic lifestyle Transient living arrangements Spiritual Relation to the land Painting Analysis The U shape reflects the mark left behind by a person. Groups of U shapes would indicate a meeting place for aboriginal people…

Words 565 - Pages 3

Kevin Rudd's Apology Analysis Essay

Analysis: Aspect One Kevin Rudd’s apology was to the Aboriginals; but in particular, to the Stolen Generations. From 1909-1969, the Australian Government forced a policy know as assimilation upon the Aboriginals. Assimilation is the forced integration of minority groups onto the dominant society. Inhumane acts were inflicted upon these proud people because of the ‘Aborigines Protection Board’ which entailed that the Australian Government had full rights to forcibly remove half-caste children from…

Words 1157 - Pages 5

Oodgeroo Noonuccal's Poem 'We Are Going'

An Analysis of the poem “We are Going” as evidence of disproving the ‘One Aussie Experience’ Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s literary masterpiece serves as a stunning critique into Australia’s past, and a reason as to what the rest of the world views it today, by recounting how indigenous history and culture was subsequently destroyed with the arrival of the British and as such, the emerged stereotypical “one white Australian experience”. In ‘We Are Going’, Noonuccal reveals the tyranny encountered by the…

Words 519 - Pages 3

Animus: Behavior and Reduce Excessive Drinking Essay

Word Count: 1584 Abstract Alcohol has a complex place in Australian society; many Australians drink at high levels, and increased risk of alcohol related harm. Current addiction models suggest that alcohol- related stimuli will acquire incentive-motivational properties and increase cravings. This study investigated the efficacy of systematic desensitisation of alcohol-related cues on a single participant. (32 year old Anglo-Australian male). This study showed that while systematic desensitisation…

Words 2179 - Pages 9