Murrayglossus is an extinct genus of long-beaked echidna, known only from a few fossil bones and, in some cases, egg remains, suggesting that these birds laid large eggs.
From Western Australia and dated to the Upper Pleistocene. This fascinating discovery was originally made in 1914 by Ludwig Glauert.
Regarding its size, it is estimated that the body length of the Murrayglossus could reach 1 meter, with a weight of up to 30 kilograms, an enormous dimension for both an echidna and monotremes in general.
Taxonomically, Murrayglossus was originally assigned to the genus Zaglossus under the new species Zaglossus hacketti. However, due to the lack of known cranial material, its generic location was questioned. In a paper published in 2022 reviewing the fossil record of monotremes, Zaglossus hacketti was given its own genus, Murrayglossus, to better reflect its unique characteristics.
Studies indicate that, like other giant Pleistocene birds, Murrayglossus hacketti may have lived in groups, which gave it advantages both in searching for food and defending against predators.
The extinction of Murrayglossus hacketti, which occurred approximately 40,000 years ago, coincides with the arrival of the first humans in Australia. This temporal coincidence suggests that hunting by humans, along with climate and environmental changes, may have played a significant role in the disappearance of this species.
Approximate measurements of the Murrayglossus:
From Western Australia and dated to the Upper Pleistocene. This fascinating discovery was originally made in 1914 by Ludwig Glauert.
Regarding its size, it is estimated that the body length of the Murrayglossus could reach 1 meter, with a weight of up to 30 kilograms, an enormous dimension for both an echidna and monotremes in general.
Taxonomically, Murrayglossus was originally assigned to the genus Zaglossus under the new species Zaglossus hacketti. However, due to the lack of known cranial material, its generic location was questioned. In a paper published in 2022 reviewing the fossil record of monotremes, Zaglossus hacketti was given its own genus, Murrayglossus, to better reflect its unique characteristics.
Studies indicate that, like other giant Pleistocene birds, Murrayglossus hacketti may have lived in groups, which gave it advantages both in searching for food and defending against predators.
The extinction of Murrayglossus hacketti, which occurred approximately 40,000 years ago, coincides with the arrival of the first humans in Australia. This temporal coincidence suggests that hunting by humans, along with climate and environmental changes, may have played a significant role in the disappearance of this species.
Approximate measurements of the Murrayglossus:
- Scale 1:20 Complete
- Length 60 mm
- Height 29 mm
- Scale 1:10 Complete
- Length 118 mm
- Height 57 mm
