Evolution of Macropodidae | 台北市立動物園資訊網

TheMacropodidaeareanextantfamilyofmarsupialwiththedistinctionoftheabilitytomovebipedallyonthehindlegs,sometimesbyjumping,aswellas ...

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The Macropodidae are an extant family of marsupial with the distinction of the ability to move bipedally on the hind legs, sometimes by jumping, as well as quadrupedally. They are herbivores, but some fossil genera like Ekaltadeta are hypothesised to have been carnivores.[1] The taxonomic affiliations within the family and with other groups of marsupials is still in flux.[2]

In Australia there are various fossil taxa described from the Oligocene–Miocene boundary from Riversleigh of Queensland, Lake Tarkarooloo, Namba, Etabunna and Wipajiri formations of South Australia.[3] No fossils Macropodidae have been found that predate the Late Oligocene.[2] Using 12S ribosomal RNA transversions, the Hypsiprymnodontidae were found to have diverged from th...