Kangaroos are talented fighters, but it doesn’t mean they can outdo anything that comes their way. Gorillas, on the other hand, are gentle creatures but very muscular.
So, who would win a fight between a gorilla and a kangaroo? This would be a good matchup to watch.
In this article, we’ve broken down everything to help you know who can stand out the best in a fight between the two. Keep reading to gain the amazing facts.
Read: Orca vs Polar Bear: Who Would Win in a Fight?
Contents
What is Gorilla?
The gorilla is a large and powerful primate that is native to the forests of central and eastern Africa. They are the largest living primates and are known for their muscular build and distinctive black fur. Gorillas are social animals and live in groups called troops, which are led by a dominant male called a silverback.
They are herbivores, eating a diet that includes leaves, stems, and fruits. Gorillas are highly intelligent and have been observed using tools and showing empathy towards other troop members.
They are also known for their impressive physical strength, with males being significantly larger and stronger than females. Despite being protected by law in many countries, gorillas are considered endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease.
What is Kangaroo?
The kangaroo is a marsupial mammal that is native to Australia. They are known for their distinctive hopping gait, with powerful hind legs and a long tail that helps them to balance. Kangaroos are herbivores, eating a diet that includes grasses, leaves, and other vegetation.
They are social animals and live in groups called mobs, ranging in size from a few individuals to several dozen. Kangaroos are also known for their unique reproductive system, with females carrying their young in a pouch on their stomachs until they are fully developed.
Kangaroos are important to their ecosystem as they help control vegetation growth and provide food for predators. Despite being protected by law in Australia, kangaroos are sometimes hunted for their meat and hides, and are also threatened by habitat loss and other human activities.
Gorilla vs. Kangaroo Fact Sheet
| Gorilla | Kangaroo | |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Hominidae | Macropodidae |
| Length | 1.7 meters | 1 – 1.7 meters |
| Height | 4 – 6 feet | 2 meters |
| Weight | Between 136 and 227 kg (300 and 500 lb) | 26 and 66 kg |
| Speed | 32 km/h (20 mph) | 20 – 26 km/h (13 – 17 mph), 70 km/h |
| Strength | 1,800 pounds | 270 pounds |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforest, mountain rainforest, and bamboo forests of Central Africa | Savannas, plains, woodlands, and forests of Australia and Tasmania |
| Food | Leaves, fruits, roots, seeds, and bamboo shoots | Shrubs, fruits, grasses, and flowering plants |
| Lifespan | 35 – 40 years | 6 – 20 years |
| Bite power | 1,300 PSI | 925 PSI |
| Predators | Humans, leopards and crocodiles | Dingoes, humans, wedged-tailed eagles and Tasmania tigers |
Family
Gorillas belong to the Hominidae family, like other apes and human beings. Members of this family have an improved level of intelligence. Gorillas look almost similar to chimps but grow larger and more muscular.
Kangaroos are marsupial animals from the family Macropodidae. Members of this family have big feet, and for the sake of kangaroo, they have unusually long hind legs. They use these hind legs for hopping around.
The thick tail helps in balancing when running or when fighting. Kangaroos are in 6 different types: red kangaroo, Antilopine kangaroo, Western grey kangaroo, Eastern grey kangaroo, common Wallaroo, and Black Wallaroo.
Length
Gorillas are of different species growing to different lengths, but the average estimated length of gorillas is about 1.7m (66.8 in.) long. The largest of all the species is the mountain gorillas. Like those of chimpanzees, gorilla’s arms grow longer than their legs.
The length of a kangaroo from its head to the rump is approximately 3.30 to 5.30 feet (1 to 1.7 meters) long. The tail also measures a length of 40 – 44 inches. Their hind limbs grow longer than their forelimbs.
However, the story of Big Jake, the largest kangaroo ever recorded, is fascinating. This kangaroo had a length of 2.1 meters, which is not a length for the wild kangaroos.
Height
Gorillas are semi-bipedal, meaning they can sometimes stand and walk on two limbs. Adult gorillas can measure 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall. The average and common height for most gorillas you’ll ever come across is 4 feet high.
Kangaroos, on the other hand, can stand at 2 meters high. Eastern grey kangaroo and red kangaroo are the tallest among the species.
Kangaroos are bipedal, meaning they walk on two limbs. The tail only helps in balancing when standing and when moving or fighting.
Weight
Unlike an average person, gorillas weigh more. The average weight of male gorillas is between 136 and 227 kg (300 and 500 lb). Females weigh less than males, with an average weight of 68 and 113 kg 9150 and 250 lb). The gorilla’s size is enough to scare you away.
Kangaroos vary in size, but their average weight ranges between 26 and 66 kg. Eastern grey kangaroos are the heaviest, followed by red, antilopine, and western grey kangaroos.
Although the kangaroos are small compared to gorillas, they are the largest marsupials. The eastern grey is the heaviest, while the red kangaroo is the greatest.
Speed
The average running speed of gorillas is 32 km/h (20 mph), but they can sometimes reach 40 km/h. The Silverback gorillas are the fastest, running up to 40 km/h. They attain the speed when running on their four limbs.
Running on two limbs will be slower and more challenging to balance. But the fact that they grow heavy should not be underestimated in running.
On the other hand, Kangaroos are bipedal and hop as a way of movement. The average hopping speed of kangaroos is 20 – 26 km/h (13 – 17 mph). But under a short distance, a kangaroo can attain a speed of 70 km/h while sustaining a 40 km/h speed for about 2 kilometers.
The faster the kangaroo hops, the less energy it utilizes. However, it is not yet proven to be true.
Strength
Gorillas are the strongest in the primates group. Gorillas are ten times stronger than their weight; this means that the strength of a fully grown silverback gorilla is that of 20 men combined.
A gorilla can bench press at a force of 4,000 pounds, while a trained person can only reach 800 pounds. Besides, a gorilla can lift 1,800 pounds; this is great energy.
Kangaroos are quite muscular and stronger when compared to other animals like monkeys. Their hind legs can deliver a kick force of about 759 pounds. Their tails are also powerful enough to deliver 270 pounds of force.
Kangaroo’s energy is estimated to be six times stronger than that of human beings but not as strong as that of a gorilla.
Hunting Techniques
Unlike chimpanzees, gorillas do not eat meat and stick to their vegetarian diet. In short, gorillas lack hunting techniques but never underestimate them. They will always defend themselves in case of danger.
Kangaroos have no hunting techniques; they are herbivores and will never hunt other animals for their meat.
Habitat
Gorillas inhabit places with plenty of vegetation. They typically live in tropical rainforests, mountain rainforests, and bamboo forests of Central Africa.
The estimated altitude of their habitat is between 1,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level. The rainforests have plenty of food, and for this reason, gorillas love inhabiting these places.
Kangaroos are in Australia, Tasmania, and the surrounding islands. These places have a variety of habitats, like savannas, plains, woodlands, and forests. Different kangaroo species occupy different habitats.
Food
Gorillas are entirely herbivores, and their main diet consists of leaves, fruits, roots, seeds, and some bamboo shoots. However, the western lowland gorillas can sometimes shift their diet to termites and ants. Any vegetable you think of, a gorilla can eat.
Kangaroos are herbivores, and their diet consists of shrubs, fruits, grasses, and flowering plants. However, diet changes depending on the species and the habitat it occupies. Some of the species predominantly graze on grass, while others browse.
Lifespan
The oldest known gorilla is the Collo, a western gorilla at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, which lived for 60 years. However, the average lifespan of gorillas is between 35 and 40 years. Some can make it to 50 years, but it depends on the nutrition they consume.
Kangaroos’ lifespans vary depending on the species and habitat. Kangaroos in habitats with plenty of food and water are likely to live more than those in dry regions. Kangaroos’ lifespan ranges from 6 to 20 years.
Surviving in the wild can be quite tough for some individuals; this explains why the majority do not reach maturity.
Bite Power
Although gorillas are not carnivorous, they are known for their great biting force of about 1,300 PSI. They have strong, strong jaw muscles—not living behind the well-developed teeth that can tear out tree bark.
Kangaroos also have incredible jaw muscles that can deliver powerful bites of up to 925 PSI. This biting force is less than that of gorillas but stronger than that of humans. Be aware of their bites if you are to box with a kangaroo.
Predators
Humans are the leading threat to the gorilla population. But other predators like crocodiles and leopards are reducing the gorilla population. Today, the number of gorillas is shrinking due to increased levels of killing.
Young gorillas are also a feast for the eagles. However, all the apex predators feast on gorillas.
Kangaroos, on the other hand, are slowly reduced by humans for their meat. But fortunately, kangaroos have very few natural predators. Animals like Dingoes, wedged-tailed eagles, and Tasmania tigers predate on kangaroos.
Eyes
All the gorilla species have dark brown eyes with dark black rings around the iris. Like humans, their eyes are in the front of the face, allowing for a three-dimensional vision.
The eyes have a three-display color vision called a trichromatic spectrum that helps distinguish colors. Three light-sensitive cells inside the retina distinguish blue, green, and red wavelengths. In short, gorilla eyes work like those of humans.
On the other hand, the Kangaroo’s eyes are on each side of the narrow face, allowing front and side vision. The kangaroo’s eye color can sometimes vary depending on the species. Some have brown eyes with dark iris, while others have dark eyes.
Kangaroos are the only animals apart from primates known to see all types of colors. And the ability of the eyes to see in the dark enables them to be nocturnal animals.
Read: Chimpanzee vs Lion: Who Would Win in a Fight?
Who Would Win in a Fight? Gorilla or Kangaroo
A gorilla would be the winner in a fight consisting of an adult gorilla and an adult kangaroo. Although kangaroos are great at boxing, it will only take a single hold from the gorilla, and the kangaroo will never have the chance to display its skills.
Besides, gorillas grow larger and heavier than kangaroos and can bench press at 4,000 pounds and lift 1,800 pounds, while kangaroos only have a punching power of 759 pounds, which is not enough to take down a fully-grown gorilla.
Another amazing fact about gorillas is their biting power. Gorillas have a biting power of 1,300 PSI, while that of a kangaroo is 925 PSI. If we are to consider biting force, then gorillas would naturally win the fight.
