Thaindian News

July 19 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Scientists have made a rare discovery in the caves of the Outback, when they found fossils of marsupials which date back to 15 million years ago that are very similar to kangaroos and koalas, according to a report written in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

What is being called a “treasure trove of beautifully preserved fossils”was discovered in a cave. The findings include 26 skulls that are from extinct Nimbadon lavarackorum, which is a wombat like creature the size of a sheep that had giant claws.

Mike Arthur, a paleontologist from the University of New South Wales who co-wrote the article stated, “It’s extraordinarily exciting for us. It’s given us a window into the past of Australia that we simply didn’t even have a pigeonhole into before. It’s an extra insight into some of the strangest animals you could possibly imagine.”

The researchers have been excavating the site located in the Riversleigh World Heritage fossil field which is in northwest Queensland since 1990, and discovered the first of these skulls in 1993. They were shocked at the level of preservation the fossils showed, and by how many there were.

Since so many of the fossils were found together, it suggests that the animals may have traveled in a pack or a herd much like today’s kangaroo. It is unknown how the animals ended up in the cave. Some suggestions say that they feel in and were trapped.

A few of the fossils showed babies which were still in the mother’s pouch, which suggests they were much like kangaroos with sharp claws that may have allowed them to climb trees like koalas.