Reconstruction of Kolopsis torus by P. Murray

Kolopsis torus was a bull-like marsupial that stood nearly 1 metre high and was about 1.5 metres long. It is related to our modern day koalas and wombats. Kolopsis was a herbivore and ate leaves, stems and small plants. Kolopsis fossils are very common at Alcoota and they probably lived in large herds.

Kolopsis lived during the Miocene period at Alcoota about 8 million years ago. There were forests as well as grasslands and a small permanent water supply. Predators on Kolopsis torus probably included crocodiles and thylacines but plant eaters like Kolopsis far outnumbered the carnivores at Alcoota.

Scientists don't know for sure why animals died out at Alcoota. One theory is that a severe drought killed the plants and food sources ran out for animals like Kolopsis torus. They would have eventually died of starvation.

Kolopsis torus reconstruction, Museum of Central Australia	Kolopsis torus reconstruction of skull, by P. Murray	Kolopsis torus skull, Museum of Central Australia