Meet Australia’s first long-distance walker: a 250kg marsupial with ‘heeled hands’

Creatures dubbed the ambulator roamed across the continent's arid interior 3.5 million years ago, scientists say

Scientists have identified one of Australia's first long-distance walkers: a 250kg marsupial with heeled hands" that roamed across the continent's arid interior 3.5 million years ago.

Using 3D scanning, Flinders University palaeontologists have described a new group of ancient marsupial, calling it Ambulator - meaning walker or wanderer - for its specific leg and feet adaptations that equipped it to efficiently roam long distances.