Archaeological site in the Australian Outback: Early relatives of modern marsupials discovered.
Foto: Arthur Crichton / dpa
Researchers have discovered the remains of a previously unknown prehistoric species of koala in the Australian Outback, which inhabited the Earth 25 million years ago. The species has been named Lumakoala blackae, according to a study published in the scientific journal „Scientific Reports“ led by Flinders University. Fossilized teeth of the marsupial were found in the Northern Territory region, approximately one hundred kilometers south of Alice Springs, as stated by lead author Arthur Crichton.
Größenvergleich zwischen Lumakoala (ganz links) und modernem Koala (rechts)
Foto: Arthur Crichton / dpa
The ancient koalas were much smaller, weighing only about 2.5 kilograms, compared to modern specimens that can weigh up to 14 kilograms. They primarily fed on soft leaves, but likely also consumed insects.
The scientists explain in their study that the dental structure of koalas is characterized by teeth known as selenodont teeth. These molars, which have a series of crescent-shaped cusps, are found in herbivorous mammals and are used to break down tough plant material.
Vergleich von Lumakoala-Backenzahn (Mitte) mit dem eines Koalas und anderer prähistorischer Beuteltiere
Foto: Arthur Crichton / dpa
According to Crichton, the discovery helps fill a gap of 30 million years in the evolution of iconic marsupials. „Our computer analysis of its evolutionary relationships shows that Lumakoala is a member or close relative of the koala family,“ he explained. However, the species also resembles several much older fossil marsupials, specifically Thylacotinga and Chulpasia, which were found in the 55 million-year-old Tingamarra site in the northeast of the country.
„In the past, it was suspected that the mysterious Thylacotinga and Chulpasia could be closely related to marsupials from South America,“ said Crichton. However, the discovery of Lumakoala suggests that these two species could actually be early relatives of herbivorous marsupials from Australia, such as koalas, wombats, kangaroos, and possums.
Fundstelle im Northern Territory
Foto: Arthur Crichton / dpa
„This animal order called Diprotodontia is highly diverse today, but nothing is known about the first half of its evolution due to a long gap in fossil findings,“ it said. Co-author Robin Beck from the University of Salford in the UK explained, „This demonstrates how the discovery of new fossils like Lumakoala, even if they consist only of a few teeth, can revolutionize our understanding of the history of life on Earth.“
The number of koalas living exclusively in Australia has been greatly reduced due to ongoing droughts, devastating bushfires, diseases, and habitat loss. In some states, the conservation status of these adorable eucalyptus eaters was upgraded from „vulnerable“ to „endangered“ last year.