Fossils Marsupial lion

drawing of t. carnifex skull fragments richard owen

fossils of marsupial lion have been found @ several sites in australia since mid-19th century. complete articulated skeleton discovered in limestone caves under nullarbor plain in 2002. ends of limb bones not fused, indicating animal not full-grown.

unlike fossils, these bones not mineralised , had been preserved in state 500,000 years low humidity , cool temperature of cave. partial remains of 10 other individuals found in or nearby caves, along hundreds of other specimens of other animals.

the animals apparently fell deaths tens of metres below, through narrow openings in roof of caves known sinkholes. caves , sinkholes formed groundwater dissolving , eroding limestone forming bed of plain (once shallow sea).

possible marsupial lion trace fossils have been found in lake bed in south-western victoria, along trackways of vombatid, diprotodontid diprotodon optatum, , macropodid. footprints imprinted on short period of time may suggest association between marsupial lion , other taxa present. in addition, marsupial lion body fossils have been found in same area , dated around same time trace fossils, coincidence extremely rare , may aid in more complete assessment of biodiversity in australia during pleistocene epoch. other fossils found @ site have bite marks presumably caused marsupial lion.