Fossil Tomb in Australia

2007/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Eboluzioa
• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

The Nullabor plain, south of Australia, hides buried limestone caves. In ancient cycles, the entrances to these caves open and close, and when they are open they are usually a trap for the animals of the area. Many animals have fallen, accumulated and fossilized inside.

Four years ago, paleontologists discovered a treasure of these characteristics: dozens of fossils were found in a cave, including mammals, birds and reptiles. Many fossils belong to previously unknown species. Excavation began and the first results have now been published. Among others, fossils have been extracted from twenty-three species of kangaroos - eight totally unknown - and the complete skeleton of a marsupial lion (seen in the image).

From the evolutionary point of view, these fossils have brought new data, but, instead of giving answers, they have generated new questions such as the disappearance of large animals: most of the large animals living in the plain disappeared 11.500 years ago, including the marsupial lion. According to a theory, the disappearance is due to climate dryness, but the fossils of the caves of Nularde belong to animals well adapted to the dry climate. Therefore, paleontologists have questioned the theory. Perhaps the only remaining explanation is human influence.