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Free Entry [PAST EXHIBITION]
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Exquisitely preserved skeletons of ancient animals including Australia's largest and most ferocious mammal carnivore, the marsupial lion, have been excavated from caves on the Nullarbor by the Western Australian Museum. The expedition team led by the Museum's palaeontologist, Dr John Long, included the WA Museum Documentary Unit, which will make a special feature about the megafauna and the excavations.
The excavation has resulted in the world's first complete and intact skeleton of Australia's ancient predator, the marsupial lion, Thylacoleo (pronounced Thy-lac-oh-lee-oh). This discovery is undoubtedly one of
Australia's most significant fossil finds for many decades, of one of the world's most interesting ancient predators. The discoveries were made a few months ago by cavers Ken Boland, Ray and Chris Gibbons, Peter Ackroyd, Nicholas White, Darrel Carr, Margaret James, Paul Devine and Eve Taylor. The skeletons are so well preserved that they look like the animals died very recently. Dating on sites around Australia suggest these megafauna died out some 46,000 years ago. The discovery will be dated and could provide new information on when megafauna walked the earth. Samples will also be taken for ancient DNA analysis. The complete Thylacoleo specimen is on display in the Francis Street Foyer at the Western Australian Museum in Perth. Entry is free. Souvenir badges are available from the Museum Shop. CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE THYLACOLEO EXHIBITION 
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