Thylacoleo
Often referred to as the marsupial lion, Thylacoleo carnifex was a predator which does not have any real equivalent in modern Australia. A pouched marsupial reaching up to 1.5m in length, it had a powerful jaw, sharp, slicing teeth and strong retractable claws. Thylacoleo is believed to have hunted large prey, probably as an ambush predator.
Reconstructed skeleton of Thylacoleo (left) and modelled Thylacoleo head (right). Displays from the South Australian Museum.