Kangaroos’ giant ancestor probably able to hop despite 250kg weight, scientists say

A new study suggests that giant kangaroos, weighing up to 250kg and extinct for thousands of years, were likely capable of hopping. Researchers at the University of Manchester analyzed fossils from various giant kangaroo species, including sthenurines, Protemnodon, and giant Macropus, to assess the strength of their Achilles tendons and metatarsal bones. The team estimated the strength of the achilles tendon in the ankle and the bone strength of the fourth metatarsal. Published in Scientific Reports, the study found that the metatarsals were strong enough to support hopping, and the heel bones could accommodate tendons thick enough for the movement. This challenges previous assumptions that their size would have made hopping impossible, indicating that these ancient marsupials likely used hopping as a means of locomotion.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories