Thylacoleo carnifex Tapestry

Also known as the Marsupial Lion, it was the largest known mammalian predator roaming Australia from 1.6 million to 46,000 years ago. Despite it’s common name, Thylacoleo wasn’t closely related to lions or cats at all, but was a member of the order Diprotodontia, which includes modern day kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, and wombats (it’s closest living relative). Thylacoleo lived at a time when Australia was packed with huge animals, such as 20 foot lizards, 10 foot tall kangaroos and multi-ton wombats. To combat this it grew big, reaching 287 pounds with muscular forearms and jaws like bolt cutters.