Sthenurinae

Sthenurinae Temporal range: Pliocene - Recent, 5–0Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
A Simosthenurus occidentalis skeleton mounted in a museum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Diprotodontia
Suborder:	Macropodiformes
Family:	Macropodidae
Subfamily:	Sthenurinae Glauert, 1926
Genera
†Hadronomas †Eosthenurus †Sthenurus †Procoptodon †Wururoo †Ganawamaya †Silvaroo †Simosthenurus

Sthenurinae is a sub-family within the marsupial family Macropodidae, meaning 'short faced kangaroos'. No members of this subfamily remain extant today, with all becoming extinct by the late Pleistocene. Procoptodon goliah, the largest macropodid known to have existed, was a sthenurine kangaroo, however sthenurines come in a range of sizes, with Procoptodon gilli being the smallest at the size of a small wallaby.

The short robust skull of sthenurines is considered to be related to a diet of browse. Some species may have been able to reach obove their head and grasp branches with their semi-opposable hands to assist in procuring leaves from trees. A single digit is present on the feet of sthenurines which increased hopping speed but limited the ability of these kangaroos to turn.

References

• Long, J., Archer, M., Flannery, T. and Hand, S. 2002. Prehistoric Mammals of Australia and New Guinea: One Hundred Million Years of Evolution. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp 157–196. ISBN 0-8018-7223-5.
• Prideaux, G. 2004. "Systematics and Evolution of the Sthenurine Kangaroos". UC Publications in Geological Sciences. Paper vol 146.
• Wells, Roderick Tucker, and Richard H. Tedford. "Sthenurus (Macropodidae, Marsupialia) from the Pleistocene of Lake Callabonna, South Australia. Bulletin of the AMNH; no. 225." (1995).