Ganguroo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ganguroo |
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Ganguroo
Cooke, 1997
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Ganguroo was a type of ancient marsupial that looked a bit like a modern kangaroo or wallaby. Its fossils have been found in Australia, especially at a famous fossil site called Riversleigh. These animals lived a very long time ago, during a period called the Miocene Epoch, which was about 15 to 5 million years ago.
Scientists have identified two main kinds of Ganguroo: Ganguroo bilamina, first described in 1997, and Ganguroo robustiter, discovered in 2015. Both are important for understanding how kangaroos and wallabies evolved.
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What is a Ganguroo?
Ganguroo belongs to a group of animals called macropods. This group includes all kangaroos, wallabies, and their ancient relatives. Ganguroo was a prehistoric animal, meaning it lived long before humans existed.
Where did Ganguroo live?
The fossils of Ganguroo have only been found in Australia. The most important place where they were discovered is Riversleigh, a World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. Riversleigh is famous for its amazing collection of ancient animal fossils.
When did Ganguroo live?
Ganguroo lived during the Miocene Epoch. This was a time period that lasted from about 23 million years ago to 5.3 million years ago. Ganguroo specifically lived in the middle to late parts of this epoch, roughly 15 to 5 million years ago. During this time, Australia's climate was warmer and wetter than it is today, with large rainforests.
Discovery of Ganguroo
The first Ganguroo species, Ganguroo bilamina, was officially described by a scientist named Bernard Cooke in 1997. The name bilamina refers to a special feature of its teeth. Later, in 2015, another species called Ganguroo robustiter was described by Cooke and other scientists. The discovery of these fossils helps us learn more about the ancient animals that once roamed Australia.
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