Early studies indicate that the phenomenon of handedness, term used to identify the dominance of one hand from the other, only happens in humans. Well, that notion needs to be re-examined. 

Russian scientists from St. Petersburg State University collaborated with a wildlife ecologist and a doctorate student at University of Tasmania in conducting a study on kangaroos. The study showed that they use their left hands favorably in doing usual tasks, such as grooming, feeding or propping. 

Like Us on Facebook

Dr. Yegor Malashichev, senior author of the research published in the journal of Current Biology, called this discovery as parallel evolution. Early studies revealed that handedness initially appeared in primates, which belongs to the placental mammals group — a separate evolutionary tree branch from marsupials, BBC News reported. 

There is hand preference in humans and primates because of the neural connections between their left and right hemispheres. The reason why researchers did not expect this to happen in kangaroos is because their brains don't have such, CNET has learned.

Isn't this amazing? Do you want to know more interesting kangaroo facts?  Check out the list below for five interesting facts about this pouched mammal. 

1. Origin of the Name

Kangaroo was derived from the word gangurru, a Guugu Yimithirr word, which means grey kangaroos. It was first documented as Kangooroo or Kanguru by Lieutenant James Cook.

2. The Australian Symbol 

Kangaroos were selected as one of the Australian icons because they cannot move rearward. They are always moving onward, which is a symbol of the country's advancement. 

3. The Mobs 

Consist of ten individuals, kangaroos live together as mobs. The oldest and the biggest male usually acts like the leader, with a special privilege of being the only one to mate with the females in the group. 

4. Kangaroos box.

It seems that humans are not the only ones who like boxing. According to Outback Australia, kangaroos box to either compete for a female or for leisure.

Their hind legs, with long sharp toenails, are powerful and dangerous weapons. With these, they can gut their predators and other kangaroos. 

5. Female kangaroos are permanently pregnant. 

Flyers or female kangaroos mate again as soon as the younger kangaroo is born. However, the embryonic development is halted after a couple of days.  

Mother kangaroos can immediately give birth when grown joeys leave their pouches.  

They can have three babies at the same time — no, not triplets! This means that the flyer already has an older joey outside the pouch but is still feeding, a younger one inside attached to a teat and an embryo waiting to be born. 

Tagskangaroos, Facts, Science, Study, Australia