Giant Kangaroos: Could They Really Hop?
In the past, Australia was home to massive kangaroos. These giants weighed up to 250kg, far more than today's largest kangaroos, which max out at 90kg. Scientists have long wondered if these colossal creatures could hop like their smaller cousins.
The Importance of Hopping
Hopping is crucial for kangaroos—it helps them move fast and save energy. However, hopping puts tremendous stress on their legs. The Achilles tendon, a key part of hopping, has its limits. If a kangaroo grows too large, the tendon might snap.
The Study
A team of researchers investigated this mystery. They studied fossils from two types of giant kangaroos:
- Sthenurine kangaroos (lived between 13 million and 30,000 years ago)
- Protemnodon (lived between 5 million and 40,000 years ago)
The team focused on two key factors:
- The strength of the Achilles tendon
- The strength of the fourth metatarsal bone (the weakest bone in the hindlimb)
The Findings
The results were fascinating:
- All giant kangaroos had strong enough bones to support hopping.
- They also had enough space in their heel bones for thick tendons.
This suggests that giant kangaroos could hop, though not as efficiently as modern kangaroos.
Could Thicker Tendons Hinder Hopping?
Some scientists believe thicker tendons might make hopping harder. However, the researchers disagree. They point to kangaroo rats, which have thick tendons but still hop. Therefore, it's possible that giant kangaroos hopped too.
Did They Really Hop?
The study can't say for sure. It only shows that hopping was possible. Giant kangaroos might have hopped sometimes, but not always. They likely used different movement methods, such as walking on their tiptoes.
Why It Matters
Understanding how giant kangaroos moved helps us unravel their extinction. If we know what they were like, we can better understand their world and what happened to them.
