The Family Macropodidae is named for a shared physical trait relating to what part of the body?
Answer
Large feet
The name of the family **Macropodidae** is descriptive, originating from Greek terminology where 'macro' means large and 'pod' relates to foot. This indicates that the shared characteristic among kangaroos, wallabies, and quokkas in this family is their reliance on large hind feet for locomotion. This locomotion style, characterized by hopping utilizing powerful hind legs, is the defining functional trait that unites the members of this diverse family, even though the quokka's hopping style is less sustained than that of larger kangaroos.
Related Questions
What specific anatomical feature does the specific epithet brachyurus in Setonix brachyurus describe?What characteristic structure defines the Order Diprotodontia, which includes the quokka?The Family Macropodidae is named for a shared physical trait relating to what part of the body?What term describes the taxonomic situation where the Genus Setonix contains only the single living species S. brachyurus?What is the highest taxonomic rank classification assigned to the quokka in the formal system of life organization?Which structural feature is fundamental in classifying the quokka under the Phylum Chordata?Which geographic location supports the healthiest concentration of Setonix brachyurus populations due to environmental factors?What common name, highlighting its size relative to vermin, was sometimes historically used for the quokka?What is the critical characteristic that places the quokka within Class Mammalia?Compared to the diverse Macropus genus, what does the structure of the Setonix genus imply about the quokka's evolutionary path?