 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2010) |
| Thylacinus megiriani Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| Dentary | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
| Family: | †Thylacinidae |
| Genus: | †Thylacinus |
| Species: | †T. megiriani
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| Binomial name | |
| †Thylacinus megiriani Murray, 1997[1]
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Thylacinus megiriani lived during the late Miocene, 8 million years ago; the area T. megiriani inhabited in the Northern Territory was covered in forest with a permanent supply of water.
Thylacinus megiriani was a quadrupedal marsupial predator, that in appearance looked similar to a dog with a long snout. Its molar teeth were specialized for carnivory, the cups and crest were reduced or elongated to give the molars a cutting blade, and in proportion with its body, its teeth were exceptionally large, possibly adding to its body weight. Its estimated weight is over 57 kg.
Thylacinus megiriani, along with crocodiles and giant monitor lizards, were thought to be the only predators in Alcoota.
Thylacinus megiriani fossils, along with those of T. potens, have been discovered in Alcoota in the Northern Territory, although the remains of Thylacinus in Alcoota are very rare. Paleontologist have found specimens densely packed together that died within a matter of years of one another. Drought and unpredictable weather likely were the cause.
- ^ Murray, P.F. (1997). "Thylacinus megiriani, a new species of thylacine (Marsupialia: Thylacinidae) from the Ongeva Local Fauna of Central Australia". Records of the South Australian Museum. 30: 43–61.