Procoptodon: Giant Kangaroos of Ancient Australia

extinct animals · Australia · giant marsupials · Pleistocene

Towering kangaroos. Procoptodon goliah was the biggest kangaroo that ever lived, standing about 6.6 feet tall (as tall as a grown-up man) and weighing 440 to 530 pounds. That's way bigger than any kangaroo hopping around Australia today.

Heavyweight hoppers. These giant kangaroos were as heavy as a grand piano or a small car, making them among the most powerful marsupials to ever exist on Earth.

Pleistocene Australia. Procoptodon lived during the Pleistocene Epoch when Australia had a very different climate and landscape, sharing the land with other amazing giant creatures that no longer exist.

Size variety. Not all Procoptodon were giants, though. Procoptodon gilli was much smaller, standing only about 3 feet tall, showing that even within this kangaroo family there were very different sizes.

Short faces. These kangaroos had shorter faces compared to modern kangaroos, which is why scientists call them 'short-faced kangaroos,' and this feature helped them adapt to their ancient Australian environment.