Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Giant wombat skeleton found

Scientists in Australia have found the skeleton of a "giant wombat" which lived some two million years ago.

The plant-eating marsupial would have been the size of a four-wheel drive car and weighed three tonnes. Its bones were found on a farm in north-eastern Australia's Queensland state.

The find is one of Australia's most significant pre-historic discoveries ever because the skeleton is complete.

It is the first time a complete skeleton of a Diprotodon optatum has been uncovered.

The animal was widespread across Australia about 50,000 years ago, when it is believed the first indigenous people lived.

The discovery is extraordinary as it is the most gigantic marsupial ever known.

It is like a gigantic wombat on steroids.

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