The treasure trove of preserved fossils found in an outback cave has given palaeontologists a rare view into the weird and breathtaking world of prehistoric Australia.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales say they've found the remains of some of the strangest specimens anyone could possibly imagine.

The discovery includes 26 skulls from an extinct, wombat-like marsupial that was an odd-looking creature the size of a sheep, which had giant claws. These may have been used to climb trees - as koalas do today.

Finding such a large cluster of fossils has indicated these lost animals may have roamed the countryside in herds - like modern-day kangaroos. How they ended up deep underground is a mystery. One theory is they accidentally plunged into the cave through an opening that was obscured by vegetation. They either died from the fall, or became trapped and starved to death.

These ancient gems were unearthed at the famous Riversleigh World Heritage fossil fields in north-western Queensland, which scientists have been exploring since the early 1990s.

Its ancient deposits are among the richest and most extensive to be found anywhere.

Reporter:

Phil Mercer

Bấm Nghe các từ

treasure trove

kho báu, nơi có nhiều thứ quý giá, giá trị

fossils

hóa thạch

outback

vùng đất thuộc khu nông thôn của Úc

palaeontologists

các khoa học gia chuyên nghiên cứu về hóa thạch

breathtaking

gây thú vị, ngạc nhiên

specimens

mẫu phẩm

marsupial

động vật có túi (để đựng con trước bụng), thường chỉ có ở Australia

plunged

bất ngờ tụt giảm

gems

đá quý, vật rất quý giá, rất đẹp

unearthed

phát hiện ra