Thylacoleo carnifex

Overview

Thylacoleo carnifex is an ancient carnivorous marsupial from Australia. It is characterized by a short, heavy head, large incisors, and cheek teeth that cut like scissors. Its teeth and feet are as unfamiliar as its nickname, the marsupial lion, suggests.^[1]

Key facts

Not every large tooth is a canine. In Thylacoleo, large incisors and cutting cheek teeth catch the eye. Looking at the large thumb claw on the forefoot as well reveals a distinctive combination of body structures for handling food.^[1]

Time and place

It is known from Pleistocene Australia. The Pleistocene was roughly 2.6 million–12,000 years ago. It represents an ancient mammal from a region where marsupials flourished in diverse forms and lifestyles.^[1]

The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.

Size, form and skeleton

The museum gives a length of about 1.5m from head to tail and a shoulder height of about 75cm. Body mass is estimated at about 90–160kg. Its short snout, heavy head, and forefeet with large thumb claws are distinctive.^[1]

Habitat and reproduction

The museum interprets several localities as dry, open woodland environments. The large thumb claws and forefeet provide clues for studying climbing and food handling. The jaws and teeth are associated with a carnivorous lifestyle.^[1]

Fossils from Moree include an adult female, the lower jaw of a very young offspring, and the skull of an older young animal found together. The institution interprets them as a family and explores the rearing of young. Multiple individuals found together, as well as body function, offer evidence about life.^[1]

Fossil discovery

The museum states that the first complete skull was described in 1956. In 1966, a nearly complete skeleton was found at Moree in Australia. Material from young individuals at the same site also added clues for studying growth and family relationships.^[1]

References

1. Thylacoleo carnifex
2. Richards et al. (2019) — The unusual limbs of palorchestids
3. Museums Victoria — Palorchestes azael

Research questions

How did the marsupial lion differ from a lion of the cat family? The incisors, cheek teeth, and forefeet of two predators from different lineages can be compared side by side. Even with similar feeding habits, the body’s tools can be built in several ways.^[1]

Observation

From the short, broad head, imagine the large incisors and cutting cheek teeth. Then move your gaze to the thumb claw of the forefoot to see different clues for studying predatory life.^[1]