Three new species belong to the extinct genus Kangaroo Protemnodon was a common member of Cenozoic communities in Australia and New Guinea until extinction in the late Pleistocene.
Artist's impressions of newly described fossil species Protemnodon Viator and their relatives protemnodon anak, compared in scale with modern red kangaroos and eastern gray kangaroos. Image credit: T. Klarenbeek, Flinders University.
Protemnodon Kangaroos lived in Australia and New Guinea from about 5 million to 40,000 years ago.
The first species is Protemnodon Described in 1874 by British paleontologist Owen, he followed the common approach of the time, focusing primarily on fossilized teeth. He observed slight differences in teeth between specimens and described the teeth of six species. Protemnodon.
Protemnodon They looked similar to giant kangaroos, but were generally stockier and more muscular.
Some species weighed around 50 kg, while others were much larger than modern kangaroos.
However, one new species was named as part of the research – Protemnodon Viator – was much larger and weighed up to 170 kg. This is about twice the size of the largest male red kangaroo.
Protemnodon Viator They were well adapted to the arid habitats of central Australia and lived in areas similar to today's red kangaroos.
This species was a kangaroo with long limbs and could jump fairly quickly and efficiently.
The remaining two new species are Protemnodon Mamukura and Protemnodon dorsonae.
“Previously, some or all Protemnodon Dr Isaac Kerr, a paleontologist at Flinders University, says:
“However, our research suggests that this is true for only three or four species of animals. ProtemnodonIt could have animated things like quokkas and potoroos. Sometimes it would jump on four legs, sometimes on two legs. ”
“The newly described Protemnodon Mamukura Probably one of these. A large but thick-boned and strong kangaroo, it probably moved quite slowly and inefficiently. Perhaps it only rarely jumped when it was startled. ”
“The best fossils of this type come from Green Waterhole Cave in south-eastern South Australia, on the land of the Boadick people.”
“It is unusual for a single genus of kangaroos to live in such diverse environments. Protemnodon They are now known to inhabit a wide range of habitats, from the arid regions of central Australia to the rain-rich, forested mountains of Tasmania and New Guinea. ”
Protemnodon dorsonae Compared to the other two species, there are fewer known fossils and more mysteries. It was probably a medium speed hopper, something like a swamp wallaby.
“By about 40,000 years ago, all Protemnodon “It is now extinct in mainland Australia, but may survive for a little longer in New Guinea and Tasmania,” the authors said.
“This extinction occurred despite differences in size, adaptation, habitat, and geographic range.”
“For reasons that are not yet clear, the same thing did not occur in many similar relatives, such as wallaroos and giant kangaroos.” I might be able to answer that.”
“It's great that we now have some clarity on the identity of the animal species.” Protemnodon' said Professor Gavin Prideaux from Flinders University.
“Fossils of this genus are widespread and regularly discovered, but in many cases there is no way to be sure which species you are looking at.”
“This study may help researchers approach their studies with more confidence.” Protemnodon”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper Published in today's magazine Megataxa.
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Isaac AR Carr other. 2024. Systematics and paleontology of the late Cenozoic genus Kangaroo Protemnodon (Marsupialia, Megapoda). Megataxa 11(1); doi: 10.11646/megataxa.11.1.1
Source: www.sci.news
