Scientists in a remote Australian rainforest are studying the small marsupial musky rat-kangaroo, seeking clues to why its larger kangaroo relatives, such as wallabies, exclusively hop instead of walk. The musky rat-kangaroo, a distant ancestor of the larger kangaroo species and weighing no more than a loaf of bread, provides insight into the origins of the unique hopping locomotion of Australia’s iconic kangaroos. Researchers observed the musky rat-kangaroo moving using a ‘bounding’ motion, suggesting it might represent an evolutionary stage between quadrupedal movement and bipedal hopping. This discovery could illuminate how bipedal hopping emerged in kangaroos, with a progression from all-fours walking to musky-like bounding and ultimately the distinctive kangaroo hop. The findings are published in the journal Australian Mammalogy.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/21/rat-kangaroo-why-they-hop-research