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Million Year Old Prehistoric Kangaroo Discovered in Australia

Prehistoric kangaroo, or 'giant wallaby.'
Prehistoric kangaroo, or 'giant wallaby.' Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

A type of extinct kangaroo, known as the “giant wallaby,” lived during the Pleistocene era. These creatures existed around two and a half million to ten thousand years ago. Let’s Discover how recent studies suggest they moved differently from modern kangaroos!

Study by the University of Bristol

Artistic interpretation of prehistoric kangaroo.
Artistic interpretation of prehistoric kangaroo. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

Scientists from the University of Bristol conducted a study on the giant wallaby’s movement. Interestingly, their findings challenge previous assumptions about how this creature moved. Specifically, the research reveals that the giant wallaby was not as efficient at hopping as modern kangaroos!

Protemnodon Species

Skull of prehistoric kangaroo.
Skull of prehistoric kangaroo. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

The giant wallaby belongs to a group of large extinct kangaroos called Protemnodon. These species were significantly bigger than current kangaroos and are their ancestors. Previously it was believed that despite their size, they hopped like their modern counterparts.

Quadrupedal Movement

Reconstruction of giant wallaby skeleton.
Reconstruction of giant wallaby skeleton. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

The new study shows that Protemnodon likely moved on four legs most of the time. Obviously, this contrasts with the typical hopping movement of modern kangaroos by a significant margin. The quadrupedal movement was more suited to the body structure of these extinct kangaroos and helped to accommodate their size.

Insights from the Humerus Bone

Size of giant wallaby compared to a human.
Size of giant wallaby compared to a human. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

Researchers analyzed the humerus (upper arm bone) of Protemnodon. Specifically, their study revealed that this bone structure supported more weight on the forelimbs than in modern kangaroos. Consequently, this suggests the giant wallaby was more reliant on its front legs for movement.

Ankle Structure and Hopping

Diptrodon, a creature that lived at the same time as the giant wallaby.
Diptrodon, a creature that lived at the same time as the giant wallaby. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

Previous research highlighted that Protemnodon’s ankle bones were not built for hopping. So, this added to the evidence that they were not efficient hoppers. The stresses of hopping were too great for their ankle structure, which makes sense for an animal of that stature! These prehistoric kangaroos seem like they would shake the earth if they were to hop everywhere!

Limb Proportions of Protemnodon

Cave drawing of a giant wallaby.
Cave drawing of a giant wallaby. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

The study also compared the limb proportions of Protemnodon to living kangaroos. Through this, researchers found that Protemnodon had short feet, unlike modern kangaroos. This further supported the idea that they were primarily quadrupedal, walking on four limbs.

Study Focus on Limb Proportions

Cave drawing from the same time as the prehistoric kangaroo.
Cave drawing from the same time as the prehistoric kangaroo. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

The study conducted a detailed analysis of limb proportions. Then, this was combined with qualitative discussions about other anatomical features. Eventually, these insights helped confirm the movement patterns of the extinct giant wallaby and correct the previous misconceptions about this animal.

Locomotor Diversity in Pleistocene Kangaroos

Diptrodon, the largest marsupial to ever live, was alive at the same time as the giant wallaby.
Diptrodon, the largest marsupial to ever live, was alive at the same time as the giant wallaby. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

The study showed that Pleistocene kangaroos had diverse ways of moving. While some species were hoppers, others, like Protemnodon, moved differently. This diversity highlights the range of species that existed in ancient Australia. To me, it is super interesting to think of the animal diversity present between the dinosaurs and today!

Professor Christine Janis’ Findings

Ancient creatures of the Australian outback.
Ancient creatures of the Australian outback. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

Professor Christine Janis, from the University of Bristol, previously studied extinct kangaroo locomotion. She found that another group of kangaroos, called sthenurines, also moved differently from modern species. Instead, these kangaroos walked on two legs rather than hopping. Can you imagine an ancient kangaroo walking up to you on two legs?

Australian Pleistocene Environment

Cave drawing from the Australian outback.
Cave drawing from the Australian outback. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

The diversity in the kangaroo movement suggests a variety of habitats in Pleistocene Australia. The region was likely less arid than it is today. So, different kangaroo species adapted to different environments during this period.

Protemnodon’s Movement Resembling Tree Kangaroos

Artistic interpretation of a Thylacine, a creature from the time of the giant wallaby.
Artistic interpretation of a Thylacine, a creature from the time of the giant wallaby. Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

According to Professor Janis, Protemnodon may have moved similarly to modern tree kangaroos. Tree kangaroos use all four limbs to bind on the ground. So, this movement style could resemble how the giant wallaby traveled.

Implications for Kangaroo Evolution

Area where many cave drawings were discovered.
Screenshot from How Ancient Art Captured Area where many cave drawings were discovered. Australian Megafauna Source: YouTube Channel: PBS Eons

This study adds to our understanding of kangaroo evolution. For example, it shows that ancient kangaroos had more varied movement patterns than previously thought. Furthermore, these findings help paint a clearer picture of their adaptation to different environments.

Conclusion

Red Kangaroo
Red Kangaroo, Melbourne Zoo. Image via fir0002 flagstaffotos [at] gmail.com Canon 20D + Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L, GFDL 1.2 http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html, via Wikimedia Commons

The discovery that the giant wallaby was a poor hopper and mainly quadrupedal changes our understanding of extinct kangaroos. Moreover, by studying bone structures and locomotion, scientists have uncovered important insights into their behavior. This research sheds light on the diversity of kangaroo species and their habitats in ancient Australia!