"Uncovering the Unique Walking Abilities of Australia's Extinct Marsupial Giants"
Scientists have discovered the remains of Ambulator keanei, an extinct quarter-ton marsupial that roamed Australia during the Pliocene epoch. The newly described species belonged to the Diprotodontidae family and had a body plan similar to a bear or rhinoceros. Its unique walking style, which evenly distributed its weight, may have enabled it to walk long distances in a rapidly changing ecosystem. The discovery sheds light on the mysteries surrounding other extinct marsupials, including the largest ever marsupial, Diprotodon optatum.