Researchers Identify 170 kg Kangaroo and Discover Traces of Three New Species in Australia
Researchers at Australia's Flinders University have identified three new species of extinct giant kangaroos in Australia and New Guinea, based on the fossil remains found in these regions.
The newly identified species, belonging to the extinct genus Protemnodon, have been named Protemnodon viator, Protemnodon mamkurra, and Protemnodon dawsonae. According to the researchers, these creatures could have roamed the lands of present-day Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea anywhere from five million to 40,000 years ago.
Paleontologists suggest that these ancient giant kangaroos might have resembled the modern-day grey giant kangaroo, albeit being stockier and more muscular. While some species may have weighed around 50 kilograms, others were significantly larger than today's kangaroos.
Among the findings, the Protemnodon viator species has been of particular interest, with research indicating it could have weighed up to 170 kilograms double the weight of the modern red giant kangaroo. Isaac Kerr, the lead author of the study, revealed that the research spanning five years involved examining fossils from British, American, and New Guinean museum collections, totaling 14 collections worldwide. This information was shared by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) public news service.
The comparisons for identifying the new species were made against ancient marsupial and kangaroo remains found in the bed of Lake Callabonna in South Australia. According to their descriptions, the three new species significantly differ from each other.
Protemnodon viator, the largest among them, might have resembled the red kangaroo but had a stronger skeletal structure and more muscles, notes Kerr. It likely lived in central Australia, near large lakes and streams. Protemnodon mamkurra, on the other hand, probably had a similar diet to Protemnodon viator but was smaller in size. This species could have inhabited southern Australia's coastlines, the mountains of Tasmania, and the eastern shores of present-day New South Wales.
These creatures were adept at moving on all fours rather than hopping. Kerr remarked that less is known about Protemnodon dawsonae, suggesting it might have been a predecessor to the other two species, resembling modern-day wallabies or red-necked kangaroos.
The scientists note that these three newly discovered species presumably went extinct about 40,000 years ago, though the exact cause of their extinction remains undetermined. No evidence has been found to suggest they fell victim to significant climatic events or hunting. The first species of the Protemnodon genus were initially identified by British naturalist Richard Owen in 1874, though subsequent studies have partially contested those descriptions.