Macropodiformes

Macropodiformes is a clade of marsupials within the order Diprotodontia that includes the diverse group of animals commonly known as macropods, such as kangaroos and wallabies, as well as their closer relatives. Extant families are Hypsiprymnodontidae (the musky rat-kangaroo), Potoroidae (potoroos and bettongs), and Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, and quokkas). The group is primarily distributed in Australia and New Guinea, occupying a range of habitats from forests to open grasslands and arid regions.

Members of Macropodiformes share adaptations for saltatory locomotion, with elongated hind limbs and large hind feet that enable efficient hopping. The musky rat-kangaroo is the smallest living member, while tree-kangaroos show semi-arboreal adaptations, including a relatively heavier tail used for balance and climbing. In general, macropodiforms display a spectrum of locomotive and body-size diversity suited to their varied environments.

As marsupials, macropodiforms give birth to relatively undeveloped young that complete development in a pouch. Reproductive strategies vary among species, but in most macropodiforms, the young spend a substantial period in the pouch before emerging and continuing growth outside it.

Diet is predominantly herbivorous, including grasses, leaves, and fruits, with feeding modes ranging from grazing to browse. Social structures range from solitary to group-living in some kangaroo and wallaby species, where male competition and display can be conspicuous in certain populations.

Fossil evidence suggests Macropodiformes diverged from other diprotodonts in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene. Today, many species face threats from habitat loss, introduced predators, and climate change, leading to conservation concerns for several taxa within the clade.