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New species of extinct kangaroos found in Western Australia

Xinhua, July 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Western Australia museum-led study has discovered two new species of extinct kangaroos that lived in ancient Australian rainforests between 24 to 18 million years ago in northern Queensland.

The Western Australia's museum curator for mammalogy Dr Kenny Travouillon said that these two new species were recovered from several fossil deposits at the Riversleigh World Heritage area in north-western Queensland.

"Our analysis of the teeth and bones shows that these two new species (Gumardee springaeand Gumardee richi) are related to bettongs and potoroos, members of the Rat-kangaroo family Potoroidae," Travoullin said.

The study found that these ancient kangaroos didn't feed on grass like most kangaroos did today, but instead ate leaves from trees and shrubs (browsers), while others ate a wide variety of foods (omnivore).

This study is significant because it shows that at least two species of kangaroos had the ability to climb trees, a feature for which they are not well-known.

There are several species of tree-kangaroos, two living in the rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, and 10 others living in New Guinea and surrounding islands. Enditem