Zygomaturus trilobus - Mammoth Cave

Zygomaturus is an extinct genus of giant marsupial belonging to the family Diprotodontidae which inhabited Australia from the Late Miocene to Late Pleistocene.

A jaw of a Zygomaturus trilobus is still adhering to the wall of the cave. In 1999 a small piece of flowstone directly above and below the jaw were dated between 44,000 and 55,000 years old by Dr Linda Ayliffe using Uranium/Thorium isotope dating techniques.

Zygomaturus trilobus had a size and build similar to a pygmy hippopotamus, weighing around 300 to 500 kg. The scientific name refers to the broad zygomatic arches (cheek bones) and the three prominent lobes of the premolar teeth. Some of the features of its skeleton suggest it may have preferred swampy habitats.