A study, published earlier this week in the journal Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, has just revealed the discovery of new fossils belonging to the extinct Owen’s giant echidna (Megalibgwilia owenii). This bizarre, egg-laying mammal lived during the Pleistocene Period more than two million years ago.
The fragmentary pieces of skull were collected from Foul Air Cave in Buchan, Victoria, in 1907 and later stored in Museums Victoria’s Palaeontology Collection, but only after being recently re-examined were they properly identified as belonging to M.owenii – a species that was formally established in 1991.
The study, conducted by Tim Ziegler and Jeremy Lockett from the Museums Victoria Research Institute, has filled a gap of over 1,000km between previous finds of giant echidna material, suggesting this 1m-long, 15kg monotreme once roamed Victoria as well as other areas along Australia’s south-east coast.
Prior to this latest study, specimens of M.owenii had been found across Australia, from Western Australia to Tasmania. However, specimens from the south-east part of the continent were mysteriously absent. This puzzled many researchers, given the region’s suitable habitat and rich fossil localities.
In 2021, Ziegler – the collection manager of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria – came across the skull fragments in a tray of unsorted fossils that had been excavated during a 1907 expedition to the cave led by museum officer and naturalist Frank Spry.
- Tiny, blind and totally hairless – baby echidnas are so peculiar
- Meet 21 of the weirdest animals on Earth
- Bizarre prehistoric animal that was 'half-platypus, half-echidna' discovered in Australia
- These are the weirdest mammals on the planet
According to Ziegler and co-author Lockett, these skull fragments – which include the forward-most part of the braincase and part of a snout – may represent the first megafauna fossils recovered from the famous Buchan Caves.
"Over a century ago, Spry along with scientists and locals investigated Buchan’s caves with little more than ropes and kerosene lamps, and they inspired us to carry on their work,” said Ziegler.
After picking out the skull fragments, Ziegler and Lockett conducted 3D scans of them and compared the results with specimens from other echidna species, both living and extinct. This confirmed the identity of the specimen and distinguished its distinctively shallow, broadly arched palate from those of other species.
While M.owenii was likely a similar size to the long-beaked echidnas (Zaglossus) that live in the tropics of New Guinea today, its bones were a lot more robust. Zieger believes that M.owenii was an even more adept digger than today’s species and used strong, clawed limbs to turn over soils and forage for food.
This latest study highlights the value of museum collections and the importance of sustained investment in collection-based research. Today, many scientifically significant discoveries are being made by re-examining material excavated decades or even centuries before, rather than through new field expeditions.
“Museum collections preserve the link between science, heritage and people,” said Ziegler. “The next amazing discovery could come from inside the museum, from continued fieldwork, or the keen eyes of a citizen scientist. I can’t wait to find out.”
Top image: Owen’s giant echidna was one of the largest of its kind. Credit: Chris Edser
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
- Thylacine paintings discovered in Australian cave less than 1,000 years old, say scientists. Here's why that's a big deal
- "Totally unexpected.” Scientists just discovered yet another extraordinary thing about the platypus
- A zookeeper visited a former penal colony in Australia only to find it overrun with adorable wombats
- Scientists observed the hunting behaviour of tarantulas – and discovered something groundbreaking
