Could giant kangaroos really hop like modern ones?

Research suggests that giant kangaroos, weighing up to 250kg, had the necessary bone and tendon strength to hop.

What did scientists study to determine kangaroo hopping ability?

Scientists studied fossils of extinct giant kangaroo species to estimate tendon strength and bone robustness.

Did giant kangaroos exclusively hop?

It's unlikely giant kangaroos exclusively hopped; they likely used a combination of gaits for different purposes.

Home / Science / Giant Kangaroos Could Hop, Study Finds

Giant Kangaroos Could Hop, Study Finds

23 Jan

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Summary

Fossil research suggests 250kg kangaroos had strong bones for hopping.
Ancient kangaroos possessed thick tendons enabling them to leap.
New study focuses on fossils, not just modern kangaroo anatomy.

New research indicates that giant kangaroos, some weighing as much as 250kg, likely possessed the anatomical features necessary for hopping.

This finding challenges earlier assumptions that their immense size would preclude such movement. The study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed fossilized bones and estimated tendon strength from extinct kangaroo species.

Researchers examined fossils from sthenurine and Protemnodon species, focusing on the fourth metatarsal bone and the achilles tendon. The results revealed these ancient marsupials had bones strong enough and sufficient space for thick tendons, making hopping mechanically feasible.

While hopping might not have been their primary or most efficient mode of transport over long distances, the study confirms it was a possible gait. This biological understanding is crucial for further research into the extinction of these megafauna.

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