It’s not every day that giant prehistoric creatures are discovered in far off lands! Scientists have found the skeleton of a 2 million year old wombat in Queensland, Australia. If the plant eater were still alive, it would be the size of a four-wheel drive vehicle and weigh three tons! Yikes!
Get more on the wombat after the jump!
The newly discovered skeleton is of a diprotodon, a creature similar to a wombat known for its small brain and giant tusks, and is the largest marsupial on record. The creature became extinct 55,000 years ago due to climate change and/or the arrival of human civilization.
The wombat-like creature was uncovered at the Floraville Station in northern Queensland which is known for being fossil-rich. This prehistoric discovery is huge for Australia. Researcher Professor Sue Hand, a University of New South Wales palaeontologist, spoke with Australian Geographic:
It was the biggest of them all – the biggest marsupial that ever lived on any continent. It was a bit like a wombat but looked more like a massive, rhino-type beast … We’ve found the skull and jaws, as well most of the rest of the skeleton. It’s a really good specimen.