Macropus sp.

2 Macropod at Jerrabomberra, NSW

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Identification history

Macropus sp.	10 Sep 2022	DonFletcher
Trichosurus vulpecula	10 Sep 2022	SteveBorkowskis
Unidentified	10 Sep 2022	SteveBorkowskis

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2 comments

DonFletcher wrote:

10 Sep 2022

Hi Steve. Well done with the photos from almost every angle. It helps a lot with ID from skulls. Scale helps too, but there isa human hand in one, which helps too. This is certainly the skull of a macropod, likely an Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

If you're interested some key features are: (1) the diastema, i.e long gap between the front teeth (incisors) and the next ones (a premolar in this case) which is typical of grazing mammals whether they are marsupial or eutherian in origin. (2) The not yet erupted 4th molar at the back of the jaw. Only elephants and macropods have a system of molars erupting at the back and migrating forward to provide fresh grinding teeth. (3) At the front of the row of molars is a pre-molar. It is permanent in the Swamp Wallaby and Potoroids but deciduous in the other wallabies and kangaroos. In this case it has not quite gone, although it would if the animal had lived a bit longer. (4 ) a distinctive feature of marsupials is the 'shelf' protruding inward from the lower jaw - not visible in these pics, but a good feature to look for in future when you have a skull to ID.

SteveBorkowskis wrote:

10 Sep 2022

Thanks for all the information Don, very interesting.

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