Australian megafauna is a word used to describe a number of animal species in Australia that are quite a bit bigger than their closest living relatives. These species became extinct during the Pleistocene (16,100±100 - 50,000 years before present), but exact dates for their extinction have only been discovered recently.
Some mythological creatures from the Aboriginal dreamtime look a bit like animals from the prehistoric Australian megafauna.
A: Australian megafauna refers to a group of animal species in Australia that are larger than their closest living relatives.
A: These species became extinct during the Pleistocene, which is estimated to be between 16,100±100 to 50,000 years before present.
A: No, the exact dates for their extinction have only been discovered recently.
A: Yes, some mythological creatures from the Aboriginal dreamtime look similar to animals from the prehistoric Australian megafauna.
A: These animals are referred to as megafauna because they are much larger than their closest living relatives.
A: No, there are no living animals in Australia that are considered megafauna.
A: The reasons for their extinction are not entirely clear, but it is believed that climate change and human activity played a role.
