Giant Koala

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Giant Koala Fossil range: Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Phascolarctidae Genus: Phascolarctos Species: P. stirtoni
Binomial name
Phascolarctos stirtoni

The Giant Koala (Phascolarctos stirtoni) was an arboreal marsupial which existed in Australia during the Pleistocene epoch. The Giant Koala was about one third larger than the contemporary Koala, and was a part of the Australian megafauna.

The two koala species co-existed during the Pleistocene; the reason for the extinction of the larger of the two about 50,000 years ago is unknown.

[edit] External links

• Extinct Animals - Phascolarctos stirtoni
• A Brief History ...