Reconstruction of Palorchestes.
Image: Peter Trusler
Source: Museum Victoria
Reconstruction of Palorchestes skull. Side view.
Image: Peter Trusler
Source: Museum Victoria
Reconstruction of Palorchestes skull. Front View.
Image: Peter Trusler
Source: Museum Victoria
Reconstruction of Palorchestes skull. Top view.
Image: Peter Trusler
Source: Museum Victoria
Palorchestes was a large marsupial herbivore that browsed forest shrubs. When fossilised Palorchestes teeth were first discovered, they were thought to be from a giant kangaroo. As more fossils were discovered it became clear that the narrow skull, powerful legs and long claws made Palorchestes quite different from any living animal.
This Palorchestes skull is the most complete in Australia, preserving the thin bones of the brain case. Discoveries like this, from a cave near Buchan in eastern Victoria, help us understand what this animal looked like.