Year 10 Science_Assignment

7/28/2019 Year 10 Science_Assignment

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Dominic Chan

Year 10 Assignment

Australias Extinct Megafauna

Marsupial Lion (Thylacoleo)

What was it?

Thylacoleo was the largest Australian carnivorous mammal known. Its limbs were adapted to

running and clawed forelimbs could have been used to bring food to its mouth. It is also evidenced

to have adapted to tree climbing with a pseudo-opposable thumb. Its skull was wide, heavy and

short snouted with a bony bar. The Marsupial Lion also had large serrated upper incisors and

horizontally orientated lower incisors. Its weight has been estimated to range from 90-160

kilograms. Its length has also been estimated to range from 1.5-1.8 meters.

Who are its closest relatives?

The marsupial lions closet living relatives according to DNA testing are wombats. The smaller but

still an adequate hunter, Wakaleo was a relative of the Thylacoleo that is now extinct as well; its

teeth were designed for stabbing and cutting.

When did it live?

The Thylacoleo is thought to have lived around 1 600 000 to 40 000 years ago. Its habitat as

suggested by the locations of fossils was dry open forests.

Why is it extinct?

There are many possible reasons why the Marsupial lion died out. The extinction of mega herbivores

most likely had somewhat of an impact, however the influence of Aborigines shaping the

environment through fire would also have had an influence on the extinction of the Thylacoleo and

other Megafauna.


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Dominic Chan

Diprotrodon

What was it?

The Diprotrodon was a giant hippopotamus sized marsupial, the largest marsupial ever. Resembling

a hornless rhino it had a lightly built skull that was as thin as an eggshell in certain places. Its feet

were also unusual in that fossils show that it walked with its hind feet facing inwards slightly. The

front feet had strong claws and so it was able to ate roots. It was covered with fur, shown in some

footprints which have been found. Some of the largest fossils found spanned 3 meters lengthwise

and 2 meters tall at the shoulder. It is estimated to have weighed up to three tonnes.


Its closet living relatives are wombats and koalas.

When did it live?

It is thought to have lived from around 1 600 000 to 40 000 years ago. Its habitat was close to water

and woodlands or forests.

Why is it extinct?

There are many theories why it became extinct, including climate change, hunting by humans and

change to the environment by humans. The most likely cause is a combination of all reasons each

adding up and killing off the Diprotrodons.


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Dominic Chan

Marsupial Tapir (Palorchestes)

What was it?

The Palorchestes was a large herbivore with a narrow skull, powerful legs and long claws. It had a

small trunk and a long tongue. Its teeth, which from it was first identified by , are large and high

crowned, complete with well developed hindlinks.


It is a relative of the Diprotrodon and living relatives include the Wombat and Koala.

When did it live?

It lived in the Pleistocene epoch and its habitat was thought to have been near a marsh or a shallow

lake surrounded by eucalypt woodland.

Why is it extinct?


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Dominic Chan

Sourceshttp://www.nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/Thylacoleo.htm

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Thylacoleo-carnifex

http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/pleistocenemarsupiallion.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/diprotodon.htmhttp://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-

years/timeline/quaternary/diprotodon/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/3040.shtml

http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-

years/timeline/quaternary/palorchestes/

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Palorchestes-azeal

http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-

bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/marsupialtapir.htm
http://www.nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/Thylacoleo.htmhttp://www.nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/Thylacoleo.htmhttp://australianmuseum.net.au/Thylacoleo-carnifexhttp://australianmuseum.net.au/Thylacoleo-carnifexhttp://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/pleistocenemarsupiallion.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/pleistocenemarsupiallion.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/diprotodon.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/diprotodon.htmhttp://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/diprotodon/http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/diprotodon/http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/diprotodon/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/3040.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/3040.shtmlhttp://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/palorchestes/http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/palorchestes/http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/palorchestes/http://australianmuseum.net.au/Palorchestes-azealhttp://australianmuseum.net.au/Palorchestes-azealhttp://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/marsupialtapir.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/marsupialtapir.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/marsupialtapir.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/marsupialtapir.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/marsupialtapir.htmhttp://australianmuseum.net.au/Palorchestes-azealhttp://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/palorchestes/http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/palorchestes/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/3040.shtmlhttp://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/diprotodon/http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/600-million-years/timeline/quaternary/diprotodon/http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/diprotodon.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/pleistocenemarsupiallion.htmhttp://australianmuseum.net.au/Thylacoleo-carnifexhttp://www.nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/Thylacoleo.htm

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Year 10 Science_Assignment