Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

michaelrohansmith t1_jdu9d56 wrote

Reply to comment by Nikkolai_the_Kol in Why are nonhuman erect bipedal animals so rare? by violetmammal4694

Also Kangaroos who I would argue are the second most successful land based biped.

38

MrBensvik t1_jduk6nu wrote

Could also argue kangaroos are tripedal, as their massive tail is often used to support their weight.

59

envybelmont t1_jduc1jm wrote

The great apes seem to have a pretty dominating spot too. Not sure if they count as a proper biped though since they will often drop to all fours, for example when they’re charging at a person with death in their eyes and let out a furious roar that would soil the pants of even the bravest of men.

9

hal2k1 t1_jdudaqk wrote

There are somewhere between 49 and 53 million kangaroos in Australia. Far more kangaroos than people.

Excluding humans I don't know how many great apes there are.

10

AvcalmQ t1_jdx1d37 wrote

....That's a lot of Kangaroos. I did not realize how many Kangaroos there were.

5

hal2k1 t1_jdxksw9 wrote

Australia is a fairly big place. It's either the world's largest island or the smallest continent depending on how you define it.

5

michaelrohansmith t1_jduelsk wrote

Well yeah its humans then kangaroos but thinking about it there are a few land based birds like the emu which have also perfected bipedal locomotion, even if they are smaller in numbers.

2

hal2k1 t1_jdufmsp wrote

There are only a hundred or so species of kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies and kangaroo rats but, if you count birds capable of flying as well as walking, there are many thousands of species of bipedal birds.

6

michaelrohansmith t1_jdulith wrote

Yes but only a few which are primarily land based, and capable of covering ground as well as a kangaroo or human. Emus, ostriches, and a few others.

1

hal2k1 t1_jdum41b wrote

How Fast Can a Kangaroo Run?

In terms of covering ground kangaroos have some impressive statistics. Interestingly kangaroos don't run, they jump. Kangaroos are recognized in the jumping category as the best jumpers in the world. They can spend more than 30 minutes jumping as they have excellent resistance and know how to manage their energy well.

4

Saint_Declan t1_jdw1h86 wrote

>Not sure if they count as a proper biped though since they will often drop to all fours

It's more the other way round, they are mainly on all fours and occasionally stand up to two

9