HOME | DD

Description
Thylacoleo carnifex

Evolution can produce true oddities. Animals during prehistory are no exception. Take the Diprotodontian marsupials. Today, they are the most common group of Marsupials in Australia. Furthermore, they are among the most specialized herbivores on the planet, from the grazing species of Wombats to the Eucalyptus browsing Koala. However, wind the clocks back 50,000 years ago, and things were very different.

At the end of the Oligocene, small omnivorous marsupials similar to Tree Kangaroos and Opossums evolved. They were known as the Thylacoleoids. Over the course of the next 25,000,000 years, they would evolve from small, tree-dwelling Opossum-like omnivores; to becoming the most unique and powerful of all mammalian land carnivores. Thylacoleo carnifex, AKA: "The Marsupial Lion".

It was around the size of a Jaguar. However, while it was the size of a jaguar and called a "lion", some think these animals had stripes like a tiger. Recent finds in caves made by Ancient Aborigine Australians possibly show cave paintings of this animal, striped. However, there is a question as to whether or not this is a Marsupial Lion or a Thylacine. However, the robust limbs are what most proponents point to it being a Marsupial Lion.

As mentioned, its robust limbs, specifically its forelimbs. At the ends of their forelimbs, they were equipped with a unique hand with a semi-opposable thumb designed for grappling prey. They had retractable claws as well, from convergently evolving with felines. However, this was not the only gift it was given through convergent evolution.

The molars had become shearing-like blades similar to carnassials. The front-most incisors became weapons designed for puncturing prey. And these unique teeth were backed up by powerful muscular jaws. In fact, pound-for-pound, this creature had the most powerful bite force of any mammalian predator. Upwards of 1600lbf in its jaws. Capable of killing even the largest Australian Megafauna. When it bit down, the teeth would literally wrench the vital parts of the neck out and into the rear pseudo-carnassials. Likely killing its prey in seconds.

In terms of the animals it killed, scraping bite marks on the bones of the giant marsupial Diprotodon suggests that it was one of its main food sources. Other large marsupials like giant short-faced kangaroos and giant true wombats like Phascolonus would have been prey to this formidable predator.
The way it hunted is something that has had a unique depiction since its discovery. It was thought that it climbed up trees and dropped on prey. While evidence suggests it could climb based on trace fossil evidence suggests it was an adept climber, this is rather an overly colorful way they hunted. The reason being is that this animal was probably too heavy to scale most trees in the Pleistocene Outback. With large specimens cresting >300lbs, tree branches would not have been a good place for them to perch from. Furthermore, the idea of hanging in a tree waiting for prey to pass by under you would be quite an inefficient way to capture prey.
Nowadays, most paleontologists think that it was likely an ambush predator similar to modern Jaguars and Leopards. Stalk in the brush, get as close as you can, a brief sprint or pounce, and then grapple onto the prey. The teeth would make short work of its quarry.

Furthermore, it's believed its tail was used as a prop, similar to modern-day Tasmanian devils when they perch up on their hind limbs. It has been theorized it would rear up on its tail and hind limbs and use its forelimbs to cut or manipulate prey like the kangaroos or wombats.
On the topic of climbing and behavior for these creatures, trace fossils consisting of scratch marks on caves in South Australia suggest they were indeed good climbers. Furthermore, the scratches in the cave are mainly smaller animals with a handful of larger ones alongside them. It suggests that these caves were dens for females to rear their young. Whether or not these were social animals or just several generations of Marsupial Lions cannot be ascertained.

This would have been a sight to behold in the odd world of Pleistocene Australia. However, it ultimately went extinct. When the giant herbivores died out, it marked the end of these powerful predators. Unable to sustain themselves on smaller herbivores, they would succumb to extinction since their food source dwindled some 40,000 years ago.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
This is one of my favorite prehistoric mammals—a powerhouse of epic proportions and one of the weirdest carnivores in the prehistoric world. And one I'm so psyched to show in the next episode of Past Meets Present, which PART 1 IS UP (link below)!!!

I will add that I'VE GOT NO IDEA how much pressure (in lbf) its jaws could generate. Spotted Hyenas which are smaller with record specimens nearing ~200lbs, have a bite force of ~1200lbf, 7 times their body weight. I've heard figures between 900lbf to as high as 3500lbf. So I went with a number in the middle. It's more powerful than the Hyena, and it is not beyond the bounds of sanity for its size. If anyone knows a figure in lbf/kgf, please leave a comment.

This was an animal I thankfully found on my old hard drive. I got the skin, and the adult and baby model. So glad I did since the Thylacoleo that was available for download looked really weird. I would list where I got it, HOWEVER the source model I got back in 2013 from Philly (an old designer), and the skin was made by my acquaintance Tyranachu. I did make some mods for the animal by giving it lips on the mesh.

Original Model by Philly and skinned by Tyranachu, modded by me.

For Past Meets Present:
Past Meets Present (Pt4 is Up) - The ZT2 Round Table

Description
Thylacoleo carnifex

Evolution can produce true oddities. Animals during prehistory are no exception. Take the Diprotodontian marsupials. Today, they are the most common group of Marsupials in Australia. Furthermore, they are among the most specialized herbivores on the planet, from the grazing species of Wombats to the Eucalyptus browsing Koala. However, wind the clocks back 50,000 years ago, and things were very different.

At the end of the Oligocene, small omnivorous marsupials similar to Tree Kangaroos and Opossums evolved. They were known as the Thylacoleoids. Over the course of the next 25,000,000 years, they would evolve from small, tree-dwelling Opossum-like omnivores; to becoming the most unique and powerful of all mammalian land carnivores. Thylacoleo carnifex, AKA: "The Marsupial Lion".

It was around the size of a Jaguar. However, while it was the size of a jaguar and called a "lion", some think these animals had stripes like a tiger. Recent finds in caves made by Ancient Aborigine Australians possibly show cave paintings of this animal, striped. However, there is a question as to whether or not this is a Marsupial Lion or a Thylacine. However, the robust limbs are what most proponents point to it being a Marsupial Lion.

As mentioned, its robust limbs, specifically its forelimbs. At the ends of their forelimbs, they were equipped with a unique hand with a semi-opposable thumb designed for grappling prey. They had retractable claws as well, from convergently evolving with felines. However, this was not the only gift it was given through convergent evolution.

The molars had become shearing-like blades similar to carnassials. The front-most incisors became weapons designed for puncturing prey. And these unique teeth were backed up by powerful muscular jaws. In fact, pound-for-pound, this creature had the most powerful bite force of any mammalian predator. Upwards of 1600lbf in its jaws. Capable of killing even the largest Australian Megafauna. When it bit down, the teeth would literally wrench the vital parts of the neck out and into the rear pseudo-carnassials. Likely killing its prey in seconds.

In terms of the animals it killed, scraping bite marks on the bones of the giant marsupial Diprotodon suggests that it was one of its main food sources. Other large marsupials like giant short-faced kangaroos and giant true wombats like Phascolonus would have been prey to this formidable predator.
The way it hunted is something that has had a unique depiction since its discovery. It was thought that it climbed up trees and dropped on prey. While evidence suggests it could climb based on trace fossil evidence suggests it was an adept climber, this is rather an overly colorful way they hunted. The reason being is that this animal was probably too heavy to scale most trees in the Pleistocene Outback. With large specimens cresting >300lbs, tree branches would not have been a good place for them to perch from. Furthermore, the idea of hanging in a tree waiting for prey to pass by under you would be quite an inefficient way to capture prey.
Nowadays, most paleontologists think that it was likely an ambush predator similar to modern Jaguars and Leopards. Stalk in the brush, get as close as you can, a brief sprint or pounce, and then grapple onto the prey. The teeth would make short work of its quarry.

Furthermore, it's believed its tail was used as a prop, similar to modern-day Tasmanian devils when they perch up on their hind limbs. It has been theorized it would rear up on its tail and hind limbs and use its forelimbs to cut or manipulate prey like the kangaroos or wombats.
On the topic of climbing and behavior for these creatures, trace fossils consisting of scratch marks on caves in South Australia suggest they were indeed good climbers. Furthermore, the scratches in the cave are mainly smaller animals with a handful of larger ones alongside them. It suggests that these caves were dens for females to rear their young. Whether or not these were social animals or just several generations of Marsupial Lions cannot be ascertained.

This would have been a sight to behold in the odd world of Pleistocene Australia. However, it ultimately went extinct. When the giant herbivores died out, it marked the end of these powerful predators. Unable to sustain themselves on smaller herbivores, they would succumb to extinction since their food source dwindled some 40,000 years ago.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
This is one of my favorite prehistoric mammals—a powerhouse of epic proportions and one of the weirdest carnivores in the prehistoric world. And one I'm so psyched to show in the next episode of Past Meets Present, which PART 1 IS UP (link below)!!!

I will add that I'VE GOT NO IDEA how much pressure (in lbf) its jaws could generate. Spotted Hyenas which are smaller with record specimens nearing ~200lbs, have a bite force of ~1200lbf, 7 times their body weight. I've heard figures between 900lbf to as high as 3500lbf. So I went with a number in the middle. It's more powerful than the Hyena, and it is not beyond the bounds of sanity for its size. If anyone knows a figure in lbf/kgf, please leave a comment.

This was an animal I thankfully found on my old hard drive. I got the skin, and the adult and baby model. So glad I did since the Thylacoleo that was available for download looked really weird. I would list where I got it, HOWEVER the source model I got back in 2013 from Philly (an old designer), and the skin was made by my acquaintance Tyranachu. I did make some mods for the animal by giving it lips on the mesh.

Original Model by Philly and skinned by Tyranachu, modded by me.

For Past Meets Present:
Past Meets Present (Pt4 is Up) - The ZT2 Round Table