Procoptodon

Procoptodon is an extinct genus of giant short-faced (sthenurine) kangaroos that lived in Australia during the Pleistocene Epoch. P. goliah, the largest known kangaroo species that ever existed, stood at about . They weighed about . Other members of the genus were smaller, however; Procoptodon gilli was the smallest of all of the sthenurine kangaroos, standing approximately tall. The genus is derived from Simosthenurus, making the latter genus paraphyletic. Procoptodon physiology was likely similar to that of the contemporary kangaroos; however, Procoptodon goliah was characterised by its large size. These sthenurines, or short-faced kangaroos, included species that were more than three times the size of the largest kangaroos living today. The largest, P. goliah, was tall and weighed up to . These animals lived alongside modern species of kangaroos, but specialised on a diet of leaves from trees and shrubs. Procoptodon were large and short-faced, distinguishable by their flat faces and forward-pointing eyes. On each foot, they had a single large toe or claw somewhat similar in appearance to a horse's hoof. On these unusual feet, they moved quickly through the open forests and plains, where they sought grass and leaves to eat. Their front paws were equally strange; each front paw had two extra-long fingers with large claws. They may have been used to grab branches, bringing leaves within eating distance. Procoptodon is mainly known for living in semiarid areas of South Australia and New South Wales. These environments were harsh, characterised by vast areas of treeless, wind-blown sand dunes. However, the area around Lake Menindee, in western New South Wales, had a cooler, wetter climate at the time Procoptodon existed. The surrounding area was a mosaic of sclerophyll forest, woodland, savannah, and plains, but sand dunes would have also formed along the edges of the Menindee. Fossilized footprints have also been found on Kangaroo Island. Procoptodon was not able to hop as a mode of transportation, and would have been unable to accelerate sufficiently due to its weight.