Fossils of the giant Diprotodon, ancestor of the modern wombat and koala, are found throughout the Australian continent. What do we know about this extinct animal?
Top ten facts about the Diprotodon.
Diprotodon is recognized as the largest marsupial to have ever existed. It reached lengths of up to 4 meters/13 feet and weighed as much as 2,800 kilograms/about 6,200 pounds.
Diprotodon lived during the Pleistocene epoch, about1.6 million years ago to around 46,000 years ago.
The name "Diprotodon" means "two forward teeth." That’s because the Diproton had two prominent lower incisors, which are well-preserved in the fossil record.
Diprotodon went extinct about 46,000 years ago, possibly due to the expansion of the human population and climate change. Evidence of hunting by early humans has been found in association with Diprotodon fossils, suggesting that they were preyed upon.
Aboriginal people lived alongside Diprotodon. The animal is featured in Aboriginal culture Dreamtime Stories and is depicted in cave painting and rock art in Australia. It’s also thought that stories of Diprotodon may have contributed to legends of creatures like the "bunyip" in Australian folklore.
Diprotodon was an herbivore that consumed around 100 to 150 kilograms/220 to 330 pounds of vegetation per day! Its substantial diet consisted mainly of shrubs, leaves, and grasses. It pulled vegetation from the ground and stripped leaves from branches using its chisel-like incisors. Diprotodon's large, bilophodont molars allowed for effective grinding, similar to that of modern herbivores.
Diprotodon had a robust, large-bellied body. Its skull was lightweight and filled with space which helped reduce its overall weight. Its limbs were elephant-like to support its massive frame as it travelled long distances, inhabiting most of Australia. Its front feet were powerful paws, likely used for digging and foraging for vegetation.
As a large herbivore, Diprotodon is thought to have been an "ecosystem engineer." Its grazing habits likely cleared undergrowth and dispersing seeds, which would have influenced the vegetation structure of its habitat.
While Diprotodon is sometimes depicted as moving in large herds, evidence suggests that they likely lived in smaller family groups. Although large numbers have been found at certain fossil sites, it’s thought that this is because they gathered around drying waterholes.
Diprotodon lived in semi-arid plains, savannahs, and open woodlands and their fossils are found in abundance across Australia, including significant sites like Eulo, Lake Callabonna and the Naracoorte Caves.
You can excavate Diprotodon in Outback Australia with the Eromanga Natural History Museum. Find out more.
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