The most surprising discovery was the relationship between koalas and marsupial lions, one of Australia's largest carnivorous mammals. Despite the obvious differences in size and lifestyle, their common ancestor lived about 25–35 million years ago, greatly reducing the evolutionary distance between these species.
In addition to marsupial lions, the study also covers the extinct species Zygomaturus trilobus and Palorchestes azael. Collagen sequence analysis showed that these species also belonged to the Vombatiformes group, which includes modern koalas and koalas.
Learn about the extinction of Australian megafauna
These studies help clarify the chronology of the extinction of the Australian giants. By the end of the Pleistocene, nearly 90% of the continent's large land animals had disappeared. Scientists debate the causes include climate change, human activity or a combination of both.
The ZooMS method allows you to identify even the smallest bone fragments and accurately determine species identity. This opens up the possibility of shedding light on the duration of megafauna and comparing it with the arrival of humans on the continent.
“The new method can analyze thousands of fossil samples in a short time,” said Buckley. “We can refine species composition, track extinction sequences and gain a deeper understanding of Australia's ancient biodiversity.”
A new look at ancient ecosystems
The discovery of a relationship between koalas and marsupial lions demonstrates that the evolutionary lineage of Australia's megafauna is more complex than previously thought. Collagen fingerprints are helping to reconstruct the links between extinct and living species, suggesting that large predators and small marsupials share a common origin.
This study opens new perspectives in the study of ancient Australian fauna, allowing us to clarify the evolutionary history and consequences of megafauna interactions with climate and humans.
A dragon prince, an 86-million-year-old ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex, was discovered in Mongolia.
Collagen helped discover hippopotamus-sized koalas in ancient Australia
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