Diprotodon optatum (skull)

3D Model

Diprotodon optatum was the world’s largest-ever marsupial, standing up to 1.8 m at the shoulder, 3.5 m in length, and weighing around 3,000 kg. This specimen is around 91 cm long from the anterior tip of the first incisor to the posterior margin of the occipital condyle. It’s from a male that, judging by the degree of wear on the molar teeth, was very old at the time of its death.

Many other bones of this specimen were also recovered making it one of Australia’s most complete D. optatum individuals.

This specimen was collected from a Pleistocene fossil locality in northwest Queensland, Australia, by a team including researchers from The University of Queensland and University of New South Wales. Fossil preparation was carried out by Ian Sobbe.

For more information about Diprotodon, please see: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00387.x