Queensland Museum Network paleontologists have announced the discovery of new extinct Australian megafauna that lived until 40,000 years ago in tropical northern Australia. In 2008, Barada Barna, the area’s Traditional Owners were conducting a cultural heritage survey of BHP’s mine at South Walker Creek near Mackay when they discovered fossilized bones.

Queensland Museum Network palaeontologist Dr Scott Hocknull identified that these were bone fragments from giant extinct megafauna.

Recognising the significance of this discovery, a research team led by Queensland Museum Network has been systematically excavating the sites.

The research concluded that extreme environmental change was the most likely cause of their extinction. The findings published in the open access scientific journal, Nature Communications outlines how the successive loss of water flow, intensified drying, increased burning and vegetation change created the conditions to drive the extinction of at least 13 species of super-sized megafauna, including four reptilian mega predators, a marsupial 'lion' and the world's largest wombats and kangaroos.

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These discoveries, combined with advanced digital technologies such as 3D scanning, 3D modelling and computer analysis will continue to help find answers to mysteries surrounding their life and extinction. These rare and fascinating insights into the past allow scientists to better understand the present and the impacts of a changing climate on Australia’s living ecosystems.

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