1st Complete Thylacoleo Found
Posted by: Loren Coleman on February 5th, 2007
Thylacoleo carnifex
The January 25, 2007, issue of Nature announced the first analysis of a treasure trove of fossils unearthed in southern Australian underground caves in the Nullarbor plains.
Hundreds of fossils were extremely well preserved, from the the middle Pleistocene (200,000 and 800,000 years ago).
They constitute a veritable Rosetta stone for ice age Australia. We discovered 69 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including a remarkable eight new species of kangaroo, the most common of which sported unusually large brow ridges. – Palaeontogist Gavin Prideaux
Western Australia Museum
Bert Robert, on left, Mike Morwood, right.
The most impressive find was the first complete skeleton of the marsupial lion, Thylacoleo carnifex. Dr. Bert Roberts, who was involved in the analysis of Thylacoleo, was also one of the main members of the team behind the announcement of the discovery of the Flores woman, Homo floresiensis, the Hobbits.
Mike Morwood, Thomas Sutikna and Bert Roberts.
We didn’t have a complete skeleton of that animal [Thylacoleo carnifex] at all until we made that discovery; now we have dozens. – Bert Roberts
University of Wollongong
Within cryptozoology, a surviving species of Thylacoleo is postulated by some Australian cryptozoologists as the candidate mostly likely to succeed in explaining the reports of the cryptid Queensland tiger.
Heavy brow ridges?
Have they discovered Neanderthylacoleo?
Nice story Loren. I like the gang at thylacoleo.com – especially the forums – where they discuss possible current sightings of this animal.
By the way – that top drawing looks surprisingly similar to the famous “JAWS” photo from some years back.
Here’s the link: http://www.thylacoleo.com/desertcats/jaws/jaws01.html
Blue Steel
Neanderkangaroo actually
Thylacoleo, thylacoleo, wherefore art thou thylacoleo?
Chris.
I still await the marsupial Yowie.
Note to self:
Next time I see a female Yowie:-
Ask if said Yowies has a pouch?
There, that aught to do it.
Interesting. It gives more fuel to the possibility that the big cat sightings could be due to a thought to be extinct native species. But native aborigines do not have a history of sighting this animal as far as I know so that is definately something to consider as well. If the modern Queensland tiger or big cat sightings are this Thylacoleo, then where has it been hiding for so long?
Very nice, but I still hope that finally somebody discovers a complete skeleton of Megalania.