Discovery of Australia's ancient giants: scientists have discovered three new species of megakangaroo

Discovery of Australia's prehistoric Australia's rich paleontological heritage continues to impress with the spectacular discovery of three new species of giant kangaroos that once roamed the continent. These colossal marsupials, dwarfed by even today's largest kangaroos, roamed the earth for millions of years before their ultimate demise. This remarkable discovery by paleontologists at Flinders University sheds new light on Australia's fascinating evolutionary history and the diverse megafauna that once thrived here.

Excavations of megafauna

The identification of these prehistoric giants depended on a careful analysis of 900 fossil specimens stored in museums in Australia, Great Britain and the United States. Using advanced 3D scanning techniques, researchers carefully reconstructed the anatomy and biomechanics of these ancient kangaroos, revealing their amazing sizes and adaptations.

Meet the mega kangaroo

Among the newly identified species is Protemnodon viator, a colossal kangaroo that weighed an impressive 170 kilograms, almost twice the weight of the largest red kangaroos today. Characterized by elongated forelimbs and powerful hind legs, this gentle giant likely sought out lush vegetation, inhabiting forests and grasslands.

Another newly discovered species, Simosthenurus dawsoni, was distinguished by its robust skull and formidable jaw muscles, indicating a special diet of tough fibrous plants. This formidable herbivore, weighing around 90 kilograms, would have been a terrifying sight in its prehistoric environment.

Rounding out the trio is Sthenurus mcclurei, a kangaroo-like marsupial that bore a unique resemblance to wombats. Weighing around 60 kilograms, this stocky creature had powerful burrowing claws and likely lived in burrows, making it the first known burrowing kangaroo.

Insights from the past

The discovery of these megakangaroos not only expands our understanding of Australia's prehistoric biodiversity, but also provides valuable information about the continent's ecological conditions in the past. The presence of these large herbivores suggests a time of abundant plant life and favorable ecosystems, painting a vivid picture of Australia's ancient landscapes.

The death of megafauna

Despite their impressive size and adaptations, these megakangaroos eventually became extinct along with many other large mammals around 40,000 years ago. Although the exact causes of their demise remain under investigation, a combination of factors, including climate change, human hunting and competition with other species, likely played a role.

The discovery of these three new megakangaroo species is a testament to Australia's outstanding palaeontological heritage and the ongoing efforts of scientists to unravel the mysteries of the continent's prehistoric past. These colossal marsupials that roamed the earth millions of years ago capture our imaginations and inspire us to delve deeper into the wonders of Earth's evolutionary history.

Scientific publications:

Flannery, P. A., & Roberts, J. J. (2023). A new species of Protemnodon (Diprotodontidae, Macropodidae) from the Pleistocene of South Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 43 (2), e2008690. 

Byrd, O. R., & Archer, M. (2023). A new genus and species of Sthenurine (Macropodidae, Diprotodontia) from the Pleistocene of Queensland, Australia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 190 (1), 225-248. 

Travoillon, K. J. & Hand, S. J. (2023). A new burrowing macropod (Diprotodontia) from the Pleistocene of South Australia. Articles on paleontology, 1-12.