Desert rat kangaroo

Description

It was formed like a kangaroo,but had the bulk of a small rabbit,and was described as being of a delicate and slender form.Its average body size was estimated to be about 254–282 mm in addition to a 307- to 377-mm-long tail.Its head was short,blunt,and wide,different from that of any kangaroo or wallaby with a naked nose,short and rounded ears.The color of its dense,straight,soft fur was appropriate for its desert surroundings.It was very pale yellowish brown,the hairs tipped with sooty brown;interspersed with the under fur were many long brownish white hairs.Its underbelly was described as white with very pale yellowish-brown feet and tail.A distinguishing feature of this species was the difference in size between the fore and hind limbs.Its fore limbs were quite delicate with bones weighing 1 gram,while its hind limbs are large with bones weighing 12 grams.This difference is related to saltation.Other characteristics related to hopping locomotion include a long,but rather thin tail.