Megafauna Hervbivorous Marsupial- similar to a tapir to bunyip

Palorchestes azael, dubbed the “marsupial tapir,” was a large herbivorous marsupial with a horse-sized body and a small trunk-like snout. You could think of Palorchestes as a mash-up of a small elephant’s trunk on a big wombat’s body with claws like an anteater’s, It used its long tongue and powerful claws to strip leaves and bark in ancient Australian forests or reach into termite mounds.

General info about this unusual Megafauna Mammal

Palorchestes was an unusual mammal – early palaeontologists thought its fragmentary skull resembled a tapir, hence its nickname. About as big as a cow or horse (but much stockier), Palorchestes azael lived alongside Diprotodon in the Pleistocene.

It likely moved slowly on all fours, using its claws to pull down branches. Its presumed trunk would make it one of the few trunked marsupials known, perhaps an adaptation for grasping foliage. Fossils of Palorchestes are rarer than Diprotodon, suggesting it was less common or had more restricted habitats (possibly woodlands along waterways). This creature shows the diversity of the megafauna herbivores – not all were wombat-like; some, like Palorchestes, filled a niche akin to large browsing ungulates.

Fossil finds – (mostly jaws and limb ones) have been found in sites like Alcoota (Northern Terriorty) , desposits in N.S.W and Qld – various remains appear at Naracoorte Caves (SA) and Lancefield (VIC). The finds are fewer than Diprotodon’s; a nearly complete skeleton is yet to be discovered.

Anatomical Features

• Free standing fibreglass sculpt
• Life-size reproduction – Marsupial animal
• Had a short trunk – the nasal bones of the skull are retracted, indicating a proboscis like a tapir
• This, along with an elongated tongue, would help grab leaves.
• Its forelimbs were very strong with large claws on the digits
• This tongue-trunk combo would let it reach into tree canopies or termite mounds. Some palaeontologists humorously describe Palorchestes as a marsupial that tried to be a mix of a panda and a sloth (a folivore with claws). It’s a great example of convergent evolution: a marsupial evolving features similar to placental animals on other continents (like tapirs).

This fossil evidence has provided enough information for Natureworks to sculpt megafauna animals as a true-to-life 3D reconstruction. If you need help bringing any palaeontological fossil finds to life, Natureworks can help you build a museum-quality display.

Download our megafauna catalogue here

Megafauna sculptures are suitable for:

• Museum displays
• Tourist information centres
• Environmental education centres
• Mini-golf courses
• Educational display
• Palaeontological enthusiasts