Alcoota Kolopsis
Scientific name: Kolopsis torus
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Alcoota Kolopsis (Kolopsis torus)
Image: A Musser
© A Musser
© A Musser
Fast Facts
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Classification
- Genus
- Kolopsis
- Species
- torus
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- Size Range
- Length (head and body): 1.5 m; 80cm tall (at the shoulder)
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View Fossil Record
- Fossil Record
- Miocene Epoch
(24 million years ago - 5 million years ago)
Lived
8 million years ago, late Miocene.
Description
The Alcoota Kolopsis is a diprotodontoid marsupial that browsed on leaves and stems in the subtropical open woodlands. Its closest living relatives are the wombats and Koalas.
The Alcoota Kolopsis lived at a time in Australia when big, lumbering diprotodontoids outnumbered kangaroos in number of kinds and number of individuals.
Fossils
Fossils of the Alcoota Kolopsis come from Alcoota Station in the Northern Territory. A complete skull has been found, as well as some individual teeth.
Did you know?
Alcoota Kolopsis probably travelled in large herds.
