Can kangaroos jump backwards?

Kangaroos cannot jump backwards. The kangaroo's feet and its muscular tail, which can be between 35 and 43 inches long, prevent them from jumping backwards.

A native species of Australia, the kangaroo can jump between 30 to 40 feet in a single hop. A kangaroo is capable of hopping as fast as 40 miles per hour. When a kangaroo hops, it spends 70 percent of its time in the air. A kangaroo is able to use its tail as a third leg for propping itself up when standing. The tail is also used to help the kangaroo keep its balance when traveling.