The elusive remains of the world’s largest marsupial have been discovered at a “unique” fossil site in Western Australia, a museum has announced.

skeletons belonging DiprotodonA species related to wombats and koalas that lived during the Pleistocene period (about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago). These megafauna were giants, growing up to 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) tall, 12.5 feet (3.8 m) tall at the shoulder, and weighing up to 3.1 tons (2.8 metric tons).

Researchers found at least 10 skeletons in the area Diprotodonsbut they have not yet been fully excavated. The presence of adults and juveniles among the fossils may indicate that the region was on a major migration route. DiprotodonThe team said in a statement released by the Western Australian Museum on 19 October.

Fragments of skulls, bones and teeth of ancient marsupials have been found throughout the landscape, he said. Gilbert PriceA paleontologist from the University of Queensland, who was involved in the dig, during a video interview at the site.

“I’ve never seen fossils like this,” Price said. “It’s not normal to be able to walk across a landscape and just look at the ground and say, ‘This is a vertebra, here’s another part of the leg bone, here’s a skull…’ This is something you’d see in a movie. It’s Jurassic Park.”

Diprotodon It appeared about 2 million years ago and became extinct about 25,000 years ago. Climate change and human activities may have caused their extinction, but they lived alongside Aboriginal people for more than 20,000 years, according to the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Researchers found fossils Diprotodon across Australia. These were first found at the new excavation site in Du Boulay Bay in 1991. According to another explanation, new discoveries revealed that the bay has become an area of ​​great scientific importance.

Researchers also found evidence of ancient mangroves and crab fossils among the megafauna. Price said the fossil bed brings together land-living animals. DiprotodonWith “estuary or near-sea type conditions”.

“This is something completely unique in the fossil record, not just for this part of Western Australia, but for the whole continent,” he added.