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Re: DROMORNITHIDS, GASTORNITHIDS & DUCKS
<(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.