Protemnodon

Recent analysis of mtDNA extracted from fossils indicates that Protemnodon was closely related to Macropus. The species formerly known as Protemnodon bandharr and Protemnodon buloloensis have been moved to a new genus, Silvaroo, while the New Guinean species P. nombe has been moved to the new genus Nombe. A 2024 review of the genus recognized seven valid species, including three new ones: • P. anak Owen, 1874 (type species) • P. otibandus Plane, 1967 • P. snewini Bartholomai, 1978 • P. tumbuna Flannery et al., 1983 • P. mamkurra Kerr et al., 2024 • P. viator Kerr et al., 2024 • P. dawsonae Kerr et al., 2024 P. chinchillaensis and P. hopei were considered junior synonyms of P. otibandus and P. tumbuna respectively. P. brehus, P. roechus, P. mimas, P. antaeus, and P. devisi were considered nomina dubia. ==Description==

Based on fossil evidence, Protemnodon is thought to have been physically similar to wallabies, but generally larger and more robust. Protemnodon roechus was the largest in the genus, weighing around 170 kg. Some studies show that Protemnodon species ranged from efficient hoppers of dry open habitats (such as P. viator) to slower, more quadrupedal forest dwellers (like P. tumbuna), The shape and articulation of the forelimbs suggests that they may have been adept at digging, while the claws on their hind feet had a curved shape, perhaps to help stabilise the animal on uneven ground. == Palaeobiology ==

An analysis of fossil-derived 87Sr/86Sr from Protemnodon from a rainforest ecosystem that existed around Mt. Etna around 280 ka has found that they had a very small lifetime foraging range for a megafaunal animal. The mean area of these individuals' home range was 11.6 ± 5.8 km2. ==References==