Sarcophilus harrisii and Protemnodon sp.

Tasmanian Devil and Protemnodon

This bone is the fourth metatarsal from a species of Protemnodon kangaroo. At its distal end are several neat punctures that fit closely with the size and shape of the canines of Sarcophilus harrisii. The fossil comes from the deposits of the lower Cooper Creek in the Lake Eyre Basin, where bite-marked bones are relatively common.

Skeletal element: Metatarsal IV (right)
Specimen number: SAMA P25141
Significance of specimen: An excellent example of Sarcophilus bite marks
Geological age: Late Pleistocene, Katipiri Formation
State/territory: South Australia
Locality/site: Katapiri Waterhole, Cooper Creek