From Stuart Leslie
In your look at various aspects of the human body (16 March, p 32), you mention that humans are among the champions of long-distance running. However, I believe the real champion of mammalian endurance is the good old kangaroo.
Due to the extraordinary energy efficiency of its hop, a big red kangaroo can travel at 30 kilometres per hour for up to 8 hours at a time and cover remarkable distances.
• Not so fast. Biologist David Carrier, who has studied the impact of human biomechanics and endurance on our ability to hunt, cites recorded examples of Indigenous Australians using long-distance pursuit to exhaust and catch kangaroos (Current Anthropology, vol 25, p 483)
Dorrigo, New South Wales, Australia
