Discovered Kangaroo Fossil Unearthed After Two-Year Excavation in Underground Caves
Diving Headfirst into the Dark
Into the heart of an abyss, dripping with sweat and cursing the darkness. Bats and spiders, waterfalls that bite, treacherous paths that leave no room for error. How far would you go for a piece of history? We found out, spending nearly 60 hours trapped deep within the recesses of Potholes Cave in Gunaikurnai Country, Australia.
Nestled in the valley, the limestone hills hide dozens of cave entrances, little more than cracks in the Earth. Yet within one, Nightshade Cave, the Museums Victoria Research Institute uncovered a remarkable relic: a near-complete skeleton of the extinct short-faced kangaroo, Simosthenurus occidentalis. By June this year, it will be on display at Melbourne Museum.
Unforeseen Discoveries
Like many great finds, this one began with a lucky break. In 2011, a casual exploration by a local caving group around Nightshade Cave led one of its members, Joshua Van Dyk, to stumble upon an unusual skull. He reported it to Melbourne Museum, but it was deemed inaccessible. Years passed, the cave remained sealed... until one day in 2021, we decided to venture back.
Dropping down into the darkness, we fought our way through suffocating passages and claustrophobic chambers, coated in a layer of twisted stalactites. It was a race against the elements, hours of damp, cramped misery that tested our limits. But it was worth it.
A Treasure Trove of History
Reaching our destination, we found a fragmented skull unlike any we'd ever seen. Convinced it was a piece of paleontological history, we called in the experts—members of the Victorian Speleological Association, who helped us return to the cave to secure the find.
Over the course of our journey, we uncovered a mind-boggling treasure trove. More than 150 preserved bones, carefully interlocked, hinting at a single animal that met a violent end in this subterranean tomb. This discovery shattered all expectations, offering a glimpse into Australia's long-lost past.
A Giant among Giants
Despite its fractured state, we could tell this wasn't your ordinary kangaroo. Its massive size and powerful build hinted at something far greater. Detailed analysis confirmed our suspicions—this extraordinary creature belonged to the genus Simosthenurus occidentalis, one of the few remaining examples of the extinct short-faced kangaroos that once ruled Australia.
To make matters even more intriguing, this particular specimen was a juvenile, untouched by the ravages of age. Its teeth still sharp, its bones yet to fuse, offering a rare glimpse into the life of this ancient giant at a crucial stage.
An Echo of Extinction
Short-faced kangaroos first appeared around 10 to 15 million years ago, thriving in the shifting landscapes as the climate grew drier. But around 45,000 years ago, their reign came to an abrupt end. Fossil records suggest they vanished, along with up to 85% of Australia's megafauna. Radiocarbon dating places our recovered skeleton at 49,400 years old, making it one of the very last of its kind.
Walking the hills of eastern Gippsland today, you might still spot the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, a living reminder of the giants of the past. We can only wonder at the awe-inspiring throng that once roamed here, lost to time and circumstance.
A Window into the Past
This fossil, now housed and protected at Melbourne Museum, offers a unique opportunity for researchers around the world to study these ancient creatures in unprecedented detail. By analyzing the skeleton's unusual structure, we may finally unlock the secrets of the short-faced kangaroos' legendary strides and unravel the reasons behind their mysterious extinction.
As their story comes to light, we gain a newfound appreciation for the fragile tapestry of life and the precious gifts that lie hidden beneath our feet. For every journey into the darkness, there's an adventure waiting. Will you take the plunge?
Tim Ziegler, Collection Manager, Vertebrate Palaeontology, Museums Victoria Research Institute. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Insights
- Gunaikurnai Country: The traditional lands of the Gunaikurnai people, located in Eastern Victoria, Australia.
- Potholes Cave Reserve: A location within Gunaikurnai Country known for its caves that serve as natural repositories for various fossil remains.
- Short-faced kangaroos: A group of extinct kangaroo species characterized by their robust build and short, flat faces.
- Simosthenurus occidentalis: A specific type of extinct short-faced kangaroo, with the recovered skeleton being the most complete one found to date in Victoria.
- Australia's megafauna: Large mammal species that once roamed Australia, including various types of kangaroos, giant wombats, and giant herbivores.
- Extinction Event: A massive die-off of megafauna around 45,000 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of humans in Australia.
- Radiocarbon dating: A method for determining the age of organic materials using the decay of carbon-14.
- Melbourne Museum: The institution that currently houses and protects the fossil skeleton of Simosthenurus occidentalis.
- Cave Preservation: Recognizing the importance of caves as not only paleontological sites but also areas of deep cultural significance for indigenous communities.
- Scientific Contributions: Offer insights into anatomy, evolutionary adaptations, and potential causes of extinction, helping inform modern conservation efforts and our understanding of ancient ecosystems.
- Despite initial assessments deeming it inaccessible, the lucky discovery of a skull in Nightshade Cave in 2011, by Tim's colleague Joshua Van Dyk, was strengthened by the unsettling fact that the cave remained sealed until their return in 2021.
- Upon revisiting Nightshade Cave, Tim and his team were greeted by a fragmented skull that sparked their curiosity and suspicion about its potential origins.
- As they delved deeper into Potholes Cave in Gunaikurnai Country, the team's perseverance paid off when they uncovered a treasure trove of over 150 preserved bones, which suggested a single, massive creature met its untimely end in the subterranean tomb.
- The detailed analysis of the recovered skeleton confirmed that the enormous creature belonged to the extinct species Simosthenurus occidentalis, further scattering pieces of the puzzle about Australia's lost history and the mysteries associated with the extinction of its megafauna.
