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New genus of Australian lion discovered in Queensland's Riversleigh World Heritage fossil site
ABC North West Qld / By Kelly Butterworth
Posted 27 Feb February 2020, updated 28 Feb February 2020
An artist impression of Lekaneleo, nicknamed Leo, at the Riversleigh site.(Supplied: Peter Schouten)
A marsupial lion that, in its heyday, would have had some animals "shaking in their boots", has been confirmed as a new genus.
Lekaneleo, nicknamed Leo, was at home to Adels Grove and the Riversleigh World Heritage area, a short 23 million years ago.
The area is a significant fossil site, once visited by Sir David Attenborough.
The cat was about the size of today's domestic cats, and it was previously believed to be part of the Priscileo roskellyae (Thylacoleonidae) genus because of its teeth — with three premolars and four molars — and because of its relatively small size.
More:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-28/australian-lion-discovered-in-outback-queensland/12007324