Zygomaturus
Skeleton of Zygomaturus
Zygomaturus refers to a genus of extinct marsupials of Australia. The animals reached the size of a cow, where they were but much bigger. With the types Zygomaturus trilobius and Zygomaturus nimborensia the genre came to the Late Pleistocene ago in Australia and New Guinea. As the well-known genus Diprotodon Zygomaturus belonged to the family of Diprotodontidae. Because of ossification on snout and forehead, which can be seen as a horn approaches, the animals are sometimes referred to as a bag rhinos.
Characteristics and Evolution
Early findings of the genus have been frequently described under the name Nototherium mitchelli. Characteristic features are the pronounced cheekbones ( zygomatic ), one of which is also the scientific name derives. Unlike Diprotodon, whose remains were also found in the interior of the Australian continent, Zygomaturus seems to have been limited to the wetter, forested coastal areas. Zygomaturus likely to have evolved from the Miocene genus Kolopsis and lived in Australia from the late Miocene to late Pleistocene.
Species
Zygomaturus trilobius came down to the late Pleistocene ago in Australia. Zygomaturus nimborensia is also represented from New Guinea to the late Pleistocene. Another Pleistocene species was Zygomaturus macleayi while Zygomaturus keanei lived in the Pliocene. Among the earliest types Zygomaturus gilli counts from the late Miocene.
Swell
- Extinct Marsupial
- Marsupial
- Metatheria