Guugu Yimithirr

In 2012 scientists studied a painting of a very large kangaroo-like animal, very muscular, with big hairy ears and a short round face, unlike today’s kangaroos. His foot terminates with a single large claw. Scientists have found very old bones of big kangaroos with a flat face and with one toe, so this could be the painting of a Procoptodon goliah, the biggest of the many Short-faced kangaroo species that still existed in Sahul when people arrived in the country.

Under the giant kangaroo there is an image of a large bird with a bulky body covered with coarse feathers but without wings and legs. The big beak is broad, flat and long like a goose, it does not look like an emu. Scientists have found many bones of Genyornis newtoni and we know that this giant bird also had a goose-like beak and a big body. It was about 2m tall and could not fly.

English

In 2012 scientists studied a painting of a very large kangaroo-like animal, very muscular, with big hairy ears and a short round face, unlike today’s kangaroos. His foot terminates with a single large claw. [Images’ permissions TBD]

Scientists have found very old bones of big kangaroos with a flat face and with one toe, so this could be the painting of a Procoptodon goliah, the biggest of the many Short-faced kangaroo species that still existed in Sahul when people arrived in the country.

Under the giant kangaroo there is an image of a large bird with a bulky body covered with coarse feathers but without wings and legs. The big beak is broad, flat and long like a goose, it does not look like an emu. Scientists have found many bones of Genyornis newtoni and we know that this giant bird also had a goose-like beak and a big body. It was about 2m tall and could not fly.