Scientists: Large Wombat-like Animal Lived in Australia 25 Million Years Ago
2020-07-03
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1Scientists say a relative of modern wombats, about the size of a black bear, lived in central Australia around 25 million years ago.
2Fossils of the creature's head and other bones were discovered in 1973, under Lake Pinpa, a dry, salt lake in South Australia state.
3The fossils were housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and went unstudied for years.
4Robin Beck, a professor at the University of Salford in Britain, led the research, which appeared in the publication Scientific Reports.
5"It may have looked a bit wombat-like, but with a smaller head," Beck said.
6He said the animals also had longer tails and strong legs.
7The researchers named the plant-eating mammal Mukupirna nambensis.
8The name means big bones in the local Aboriginal language.
9The shape of the creature's hands and forelimbs suggest it was a skillful and powerful digger, scientists say.
10Mukupirna is one of the earliest-known large-bodied Australian marsupials, the report said.
11Its discovery helps explain the development of a marsupial group called vombatiforms.
12The group includes wombats as well as koalas.
13Marsupials are mammals that give birth to less developed young that are carried and fed in a pouch on the mother's body.
14They were the common mammals found across Australia following the end of dinosaurs.
15Other mammals, like cats, dogs, elephants, apes, horses, developed more commonly on the other continents.
16Mukupirna was not a direct ancestor of wombats but a close relative.
17At about 150 kilograms, it was about five times the size of modern wombats.
18Beck said in a news release Mukupirna "probably lived in an open forest environment without grasses, and developed teeth that would have allowed it to feed on sedges, roots, and tubers that it could have dug up with its powerful front legs."
19"It is a very unusual animal," he added.
20In fact, researchers have identified Mukupirna as its own animal family.
21Mike Archer is a professor at the University of New South Wales, Australia.
22He helped write the report on the Mukupirna.
23He was also among the scientists that discovered the bones almost 50 years ago.
24He said the find was extremely lucky.
25Normally, Lake Pinpa is covered with sands from nearby hills.
26"But because of rare environmental conditions" before the team arrived, he said, the fossil-rich surface was on full show.
27Archer described the unexpected sight as "breathtaking."
28I'm Caty Weaver.
1Scientists say a relative of modern wombats, about the size of a black bear, lived in central Australia around 25 million years ago. 2Fossils of the creature's head and other bones were discovered in 1973, under Lake Pinpa, a dry, salt lake in South Australia state. The fossils were housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and went unstudied for years. 3Robin Beck, a professor at the University of Salford in Britain, led the research, which appeared in the publication Scientific Reports. 4"It may have looked a bit wombat-like, but with a smaller head," Beck said. He said the animals also had longer tails and strong legs. 5The researchers named the plant-eating mammal Mukupirna nambensis. The name means big bones in the local Aboriginal language. The shape of the creature's hands and forelimbs suggest it was a skillful and powerful digger, scientists say. 6Mukupirna is one of the earliest-known large-bodied Australian marsupials, the report said. Its discovery helps explain the development of a marsupial group called vombatiforms. The group includes wombats as well as koalas. 7Marsupials are mammals that give birth to less developed young that are carried and fed in a pouch on the mother's body. They were the common mammals found across Australia following the end of dinosaurs. Other mammals, like cats, dogs, elephants, apes, horses, developed more commonly on the other continents. 8Mukupirna was not a direct ancestor of wombats but a close relative. At about 150 kilograms, it was about five times the size of modern wombats. 9Beck said in a news release Mukupirna "probably lived in an open forest environment without grasses, and developed teeth that would have allowed it to feed on sedges, roots, and tubers that it could have dug up with its powerful front legs." 10"It is a very unusual animal," he added. In fact, researchers have identified Mukupirna as its own animal family. 11Mike Archer is a professor at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He helped write the report on the Mukupirna. He was also among the scientists that discovered the bones almost 50 years ago. He said the find was extremely lucky. 12Normally, Lake Pinpa is covered with sands from nearby hills. "But because of rare environmental conditions" before the team arrived, he said, the fossil-rich surface was on full show. 13Archer described the unexpected sight as "breathtaking." 14I'm Caty Weaver. 15Reuters reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted the story for Learning English. 16________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18mammal -n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin 19forelimb -n. an arm, fin, wing, or leg that is located toward the front of the body 20pouch -n. a pocket of skin on the stomachs of some female animals (such as kangaroos and koalas) that is used to carry young 21allow -v. to permit; to let 22sedge -n. a plant like grass that grows in wet ground or near water 23We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.