A new and improved model of Thylacoleo carnifex, Australia’s ancient marsupial lion, is now on display at the Naracoorte Caves in South Australia.
This updated reconstruction includes, for the first time, a complete tail and other backbone features, thanks to the latest research by paleontologists at Flinders University.
The Naracoorte Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have long been known for preserving fossils of Australia’s prehistoric megafauna.
The new display is part of the Caves’ Megafauna Experience and marks 30 years since the site was added to the World Heritage list.
“Thylacoleo has always been a symbol of the Naracoorte Caves,” says Thomas Shortt, Site Manager for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
“This updated model will help our guides share even more fascinating stories about this incredible predator with visitors.”
The Naracoorte Caves have acted as natural traps for animals for over 500,000 years, preserving fossils that span multiple ice ages and the arrival of humans in the region.
Among these fossils, Thylacoleo carnifex—commonly called the marsupial lion—stands out as one of the most fearsome predators of ancient Australia.
The first partial skeleton of Thylacoleo was discovered at Naracoorte in the 1960s, and a model made from casts of these bones has been on display for years.
However, new discoveries in 2006 at Naracoorte and in 2010 on the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia have provided enough fossil evidence to reconstruct a complete skeleton.
Emeritus Professor Rod Wells, one of the original explorers of the Naracoorte fossil chamber, explains: “The new fossils allowed us to fill in the gaps, including the tail, which gives us a better understanding of how Thylacoleo moved and hunted.
This predator likely used its strong tail and claws to ambush prey in dramatic fashion.”
The new model, crafted by Flinders University’s Paleontology Lab, includes updated features like the reconstructed tail and hands. It was built using 3D scans of fossils and molds from the original discoveries, creating a lifelike representation of the marsupial lion in an ambush posture.
Weighing up to 120 kilograms, Thylacoleo carnifex was the largest mammalian predator in ancient Australia during the Pleistocene period.
With sharp claws, a semi-opposable thumb, and powerful incisor teeth, it was well-equipped to catch and kill prey. These animals were widespread across the continent but went extinct around 50,000 years ago.
The new model not only provides a more complete picture of this fascinating creature but also highlights its role in Australia’s prehistoric ecosystems. Visitors to the Naracoorte Caves can now see the marsupial lion as it might have appeared tens of thousands of years ago—ready to pounce.
