Macropus is a marsupial genus in the family Macropodidae. It has two extant species of large terrestrial kangaroos. The term is derived from the Ancient Greek μάκρος, makros "long" and πους, pous "foot". Thirteen known extinct species are recognised. The type species is the eastern grey kangaroo.
Macropus[1] Temporal range: Miocene - Present
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Eastern grey kangaroo | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | Macropodidae |
Subfamily: | Macropodinae |
Genus: | Macropus Shaw, 1790 |
Type species | |
Macropus giganteus Shaw, 1790
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In 2019, a reassessment of macropod taxonomy determined that Osphranter and Notamacropus, formerly considered subgenera, should be moved to the genus level.[2] This change was accepted by the Australian Faunal Directory in 2020.[3]
Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
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Western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) | ||
Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) |
A currently-unnamed Pleistocene Macropus species from Australia was the largest kangaroo ever, with an estimated mass of around 274 kg (~604 lb).[4]