What does the size spectrum of macropods suggest about the evolutionary trajectory of large kangaroos?
Answer
Many of the largest kangaroos represent later, specialized enlargements from a smaller ancestral template
The continuous size spectrum observed across the macropod family suggests that size differentiation was not static but evolved over time. The text indicates that the ancestral stock was likely smaller, resembling modern wallabies more closely. Therefore, the largest kangaroos are viewed as having developed later in evolutionary history as specialized enlargements, adapting specifically to local environmental demands, such as requiring greater bulk to thrive on open plains, rather than being the original, dominant body plan.
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