Re: DROMORNITHIDS, GASTORNITHIDS & DUCKS

["philidor11" <philidor11@snet.net>]

<(The last "marsupial lion", *Thylacoleo
carnifex*, which died out after humans came to Australia, is thought to have
been the most specialised carnivorous mammal ever.)>

How specialized?  It ate a variety of large kangaroos, died out with its
prey about 18,000 years ago.  Interestingly, it strangled its prey with its
hands.  Had strong, clawed, hooded, opposable (if I read correctly) thumbs.
Definitely a possum that could make road kill of passersby (arboreal
ambusher, apparently).

<Thylacoleo appears to have vanished along with many of the large marsupial
herbivores during a time of great aridity which occurred about 18,000 years
ago.  It was a period when the great ice sheets of the northern hemisphere
reached their maximum.>


http://livingplanet.virtualave.net/thylacoleo/0_introducing_tc_1.htm
The quote is from page 2.