Macropus pan facts for kids

Macropus pan was a truly giant kangaroo that lived in Australia a very long time ago, during a period called the Pliocene epoch. We know about this amazing animal only from the fossils that scientists have found in different places across Australia.

This ancient kangaroo was a relative of the modern grey kangaroos we see today. It was part of the same family tree as the Western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) and the Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus).

Discovering the Giant Kangaroo

The first time Macropus pan was officially described was in 1895. A scientist named Charles W. De Vis studied some fossil bones that were kept at the Queensland Museum. These bones helped him understand what this extinct kangaroo looked like.

Fossils of Macropus pan have also been found in other areas. For example, some were discovered at a site in Western Australia called Quanbun. Although the exact spot where the very first fossil was found isn't known, scientists believe it probably came from Chinchilla, Queensland.

How Big Was It?

Imagine a kangaroo much bigger than any you've ever seen! Macropus pan was larger than any kangaroo living today. Scientists estimate that when it stood up tall, it could have been over two meters (more than 6.5 feet) high. That's taller than most grown-ups! This makes it one of the largest kangaroos ever to have lived.