Macropodidae | 台北市立動物園資訊網

This is the second largest family of marsupials[1] (after Didelphidae[2]), with around 54 species placed in 11 genera. Macropodids are found in Australia, New Guinea, and on some nearby islands. Members of this family are of medium to large size (0.5 - 90 kg). Their posture is plantigrade[3]. They have long, narrow hind feet and powerful hind limbs. The fourth toe of the hind foot is the longest and strongest. It lies in a line with the main limb elements and transmits the thrust of hopping[4] (this toe is secondarily somewhat reduced in rock wallabies and tree kangaroos). The outside (fifth) toe is also large. As is true of all members of their order (and members of the order Peramelemorphia[5] as well), macropodids are syndactylous[6], that is, the second and third toes are fused for most of their length, but end in separate nails that are used for grooming. The hallux[7] is greatly reduced or (usually...