Kangaroos do not need to drink water as frequently as other animals because they can get a lot of their hydration from the plants they consume, which are rich in water.
Kangaroos have a dense fur that helps them effectively protect themselves from the scorching sun, thus limiting sweating and water loss. Their narrow nostrils and specific snout also reduce the amount of moisture evaporated with each exhalation. They have very few sweat glands, in other words, they sweat little, which prevents unnecessary water loss. Additionally, their highly efficient kidneys strongly concentrate urine — as a result, less water is wasted in the toilets! These few anatomical features are usually enough to keep them safe from dehydration in the vast dry spaces of Australia.
Kangaroos have ultra-efficient kidneys that can concentrate their urine significantly, which greatly reduces the amount of water excreted by their bodies. Their bodies can easily tolerate a slight increase in their internal temperature, thereby avoiding unnecessary sweating to cool down. These animals sweat very little, if at all, further reducing water loss. Even their respiratory system helps: kangaroos have specific nasal passages that capture a significant portion of the moisture in the exhaled air before it is lost to the atmosphere. All of this allows them to stay cool even under the scorching sun without chasing after every drop of water.
Kangaroos obtain most of the water they need from their plant-based diet. By primarily consuming fleshy plants that are high in moisture, particularly shoots, fresh leaves, or succulent roots, they almost never need to drink. This type of herbivorous diet is particularly convenient in areas where free water sources are scarce. By slowly digesting vegetation containing a lot of water, their bodies gradually extract this precious water throughout the day, greatly limiting the need for external water intake.
Kangaroos have gotten into the habit of resting during the hottest hours of the day, preferring to come out at night or at dusk when temperatures are cooler to avoid losing too much water through sweating. During the day, they often choose to stay in the shade and adopt a specific posture: body leaning forward and tail between the hind legs, to minimize their exposure to the sun. Additionally, to keep their bodies cool without evaporating too much water, they lick their forearms to take advantage of the cooling effect of evaporation directly on their skin. These specific behaviors effectively limit their need to drink regularly despite their particularly dry environment.
Kangaroos are true pros at recycling their internal water. Their kidneys heavily concentrate their urine, minimizing unnecessary liquid loss: as a result, their urine is very concentrated, so very little water is wasted. Their digestive system works just as well: the intestines reabsorb as much water as possible during digestion, taking advantage of every drop. The same goes for respiration; they limit water loss by avoiding moist exhalation, keeping maximum humidity in their airways. These little internal tricks allow kangaroos to go a long time without drinking. Not bad, right?
Some species of kangaroos can travel over 20 kilometers a day in search of nutritious, water-rich food to meet their indirect hydration needs.
An adult kangaroo regulates its body temperature by licking its front legs, taking advantage of evaporation to cool down without using large amounts of internal water.
When they find a rare available source of water, kangaroos can drink large quantities quickly (up to 10% of their body weight in water in just a few minutes) in order to maximize their reserves for long periods of drought.
Kangaroos urinate very little and concentrate their urine as much as possible to minimize water loss, a crucial adaptation for surviving in their often arid natural habitat.
Yes, many animals like camels, gerbils, and certain desert reptiles are adapted to drastically reduce their water needs through advanced systems of economy, recycling, and conservation of body water.
Kangaroos remain motionless and in the shade during the hottest hours, are more active at night or at twilight, and minimize their movements during the day, thus reducing water loss through evaporation and perspiration.
Kangaroos have adapted precise physiological mechanisms: they limit sweating, are active during the cooler hours, and lick their fur to regulate their body temperature through minimal evaporation, thereby preserving their internal water reserves.
Generally, kangaroos obtain all the water they need from their plant-based diet, particularly from moist grasses and leaves. However, in extreme conditions or during prolonged droughts, they may exceptionally drink water when it is available.
Kangaroos predominantly consume succulent plants, young shoots, and fresh grass, which contain a high percentage of moisture. This diet usually suffices to fully meet their water needs.
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