Marsupial Lion of Australia

Marsupial Lion

Marsupial Lion Thylacoleo carnifex 

-Marsupial Lion lived in forests and was a very successful predator for almost 2 million years

-Don’t let the name fool you.  It was a marsupial and not related to lions. 

-It was more closely related to possums, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, etc.

-It was between the size of a female lion and a leopard.  

-Only animal in Order: Diprotodontia that was a pure carnivore.  Most animals in the order are herbivores.  

-350,000 years ago Australian climate started to dry up

-The forests started to disappear

-Marsupial Lion was an ambush predator that hunted in thick jungles 

-It could not adapt to hunting in open areas

-It was once thought to have been hunted starting 60,000 years ago when early Man cane to Australia.  

-Marsupial Lions went extinct around 35-45 thousand years ago. 

-New research indicates it probably went extinct due to climate change and the resulting disappearance of most of Australia’s forests.  .  .  NOT by being hunted by Man.  

-The research analyzed fossils chemically and found that the Marsupial Lion ate forest dwelling animals.

-Notice That this animal lacks canine teeth.  It had big killing incisors instead, and a bite 80% as strong as a lion’s.  

-So it could tear the flesh of its prey and chomp the leftover bones as well. 

-The research was done by The University of New South Wales Sydney, University of Queensland,  & Vanderbilt University in Tennessee USA.  

-The flora is indicative of ancient Australian forests.  It includes:

    *Cycad Tree (a conifer that looks like a palm 

       tree.  It makes its seeds in cones.  

    *. Wollemi Pine Tree

    * Ferns 

    * Flowering Shrubs

    * Grasses

    * Other broadleaf trees such as gum tree

       (a type of Eucalyptus Tree)

-The flowering bush is from Australia.  It is called a Crimson Red Botllebrush Bush.

-The pine trees are also from Australia.  They are Wollemi Pines. 

NOTE:  Printable versions of the drawing are found by clicking the correct button up top:  Either click on Paleontology or All Printables.  Then scroll down.  Newer drawings like this are at the bottom of the correct list.  However, the Marsupial Lion drawing will be at the bottom of the first sub-list on the Paleontology Page.  This sub-list is titled Animals of the Cenozoic.