Wakaleo schouteni facts for kids
Wakaleo schouteni was an extinct marsupial that lived in Australia a very long time ago. It was a bit like a marsupial lion, but much smaller. Imagine a creature about the size of a small dog, weighing around 23 kilograms (about 50 pounds). Scientists believe it became extinct about 19 million years ago, making it one of the oldest known members of the marsupial lion family.
Contents
Discovering Wakaleo Schouteni
This ancient marsupial lion was named after a talented wildlife artist, Peter Schouten. He worked closely with paleontologists (scientists who study fossils) from the University of New South Wales. Together, they explored the Riversleigh site in Queensland, Australia.
What Scientists Found
During their research, the paleontologists made an exciting discovery. They found several fossilized parts of Wakaleo schouteni. These included a skull, some teeth, and a humerus bone (which is an arm bone). These fossils helped them understand what this ancient animal looked like and how it lived.
Home and Diet of the Ancient Lion
Millions of years ago, when Wakaleo schouteni was alive, the area where its fossils were found was a lush rainforest. This small marsupial lion was a hunter. It likely ate small animals that lived in the rainforest, such as birds, possums, and lizards.
See also
In Spanish: Wakaleo para niños
