User:T.carnifex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marsupial 'Lion'

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Superkingdom: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Thylacoleonidae
Genus: Thylacoleo
Species: T. carnifex
Binomial name
Thylacoleo carnifex
Owen, 1859

The Marsupial ‘Lion’ (Thylacoleo carnifex, Owen, 1859) is a large extinct carnivorous marsupial that inhabited Australia from the late Pliocene to the late Pleistocene (1,600,000–40,000 years ago). The name "Thylacoleo carnifex" is derived from thylakos to mean "pouched," leo to mean "lion" and carnifex to mean "butcher," with Sir Richard Owen describing it as "the fellest and most destuctive of predatory beasts."[1] Thylacoleo carnifex is a species among what is known as the Australian megafauna.

Contents

[edit] Description

Thylacoleo carnifex was the largest known carnivorous marsupial to have ever existed in Australia. From information gathered in the fossil record, sizes of animals were different from province to province (Southwest, South Central, Inland, Southeast, Tasmania, Lower East, Upper East, North), with weight estimates ranging from 80 kilograms to 120 kilograms, and could measure up to 75cm at the shoulder and about 150cm long from head to tail.

[edit] Dentition

Thylacoleo was a diprotodontid, having two large primary incisors. It is thought by palaeontologists that these large incisors were used to pierce flesh, or possibly to “pop” joints. The third premolar was highly specialised. It was very large and sharp, often described as being "blade-like," and appears to have functioned much like the carnassal of placental carnivores of today, serving to slice large chunks of meat from its prey.
It has been hypothesised by some scientists that behind this impressive set of chompers lay the strongest bite force (weight for weight) of any animal, living or extinct[2].

[edit] Functional Morphology

Thylacoleo carnifex had strong forelimbs, perhaps used for climbing trees or tackling prey. It also sported long sharp claws, which appear to be retractable, and a semi-opposable thumb, tools for attacking and slashing at prey.
This section is to be expanded

[edit] Behaviour

Behaviour simliar to that the Leopard has been suggested, where Thylacoleo would make a successful kill, then drag the prey up into a tree.
This section is to be expanded

[edit] Distribution

Fossil remains of Thylacoleo carnifex have been found in all Australian provinces, with dated middle-Pleistocene (780,000-126,000 ka) records found in the Southwest, South Central, Inland, Southeast, Tasmania and possible or undated remains in the Lower East and Upper East. Records of taxonomic uncertainty also occur in the North[3]. This suggests that during the middle-Pleistocene, Thylacoleo carnifex populations were diverse, well spread and healthy.

A map of Australia showing the aforementioned provinces.
A map of Australia showing the aforementioned provinces.

[edit] Fossil Record

Fossil remains of Thylacoleo are widespread, as mentioned above, with records of some description having been found in all Australian provinces. Some of the notable Thylacoleo sites are the Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Fossil Mammal Site (Victoria Fossil Cave) and the Nullarbor Plain (most notably, the Thylacoleo Caves).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rich, P.V., van Tets, G.F., Knight, F. (1990) Kadimakara: Extinct Vertebrates of Australia, 2nd Edition, Princeton University Press, Princeton
  2. ^ Wroe, S., McHenry, C., Thomason, J. (2005) Bite club: comparative bite force in big biting mammals and the prediction of predatory behaviour in fossil taxa, Proceedings of the Royal Society 272, p. 619-625
  3. ^ Prideaux, G.J. 2007. Mid-Pleistocene vertebrate records - Australia. In S.A. Elias (ed.), Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, pp.1518-1537. Elsevier Science.
  • Prideaux, G.J. 2007. Megafauna, caves and climate: records from Southern Australia, Selwyn Symposium 2007 GSA Victoria Division, Geological Socitey of Autstralia, Abstracts 79, p. 11-18.
  • Rich, P.V., van Tets, G.F., Knight, F. (1990) Kadimakara: Extinct Vertebrates of Australia, 2nd Edition, Princeton University Press, Princeton
  • Wroe, S., McHenry, C., Thomason, J. (2005) Bite club: comparative bite force in big biting mammals and the prediction of predatory behaviour in fossil taxa, Proceedings of the Royal Society 272, p. 619-625

[edit] External Links

[edit] Note!

This is only a user page, however, the user name being T.carnifex, I thought I'd construct my page to look like a profile page for the actual animal. This page is also an ongoing project, and is still not complete, however, in my opinion, close enough for release onto the web. Over time, as I clarify some imformation, or as new discoveries are published, they will be added and the page revised.

[edit] User Statement

I, User:T.carnifex, am a wikipedian dedicated to improving the quality of wikipedia entries related to Australian fauna, in particular the extinct Megafuana. T.carnifex (talk) 11:07, 12 March 2008 (UTC)