What anatomical characteristics define wallabies as members of Macropodidae alongside kangaroos?
Answer
Large hind feet and hopping locomotion
Wallabies, despite being smaller than full-sized kangaroos, share fundamental locomotive and structural characteristics inherent to the Macropodidae family. Specifically, the text notes that wallabies retain the characteristic large hind feet and employ hopping locomotion, which are shared traits linking them closely to their larger kangaroo relatives within this family. These features represent ancient adaptations inherited from the shared ancestral stock that established macropod dominance on the Australian continent, distinguishing them morphologically from other marsupials.
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