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Who wins?
Marsupial Lion 1 (50%)
Bullockornis planei 1 (50%)
Total Votes: 2
Marsupial Lion v Bullockornis planei
Topic Started: Apr 2 2018, 04:19 PM (366 Views)
Taipan
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Marsupial Lion - Thylacoleo carnifex
The Marsupial Lion is the largest meat-eating mammal to have lived in Australia, and one of the largest marsupial carnivores the world has ever seen. It would have hunted animals - including the giant Diprotodon - in the forests, woodlands, shrublands and river valleys, as well as around waterholes. The closest living relatives of this fierce carnivore are the plant-eating Wombats and Koala. Pound for pound, it had the strongest bite of any mammal species living or extinct; a 100 kg (220 lb) individual had a bite comparable to that of a 250 kg (550 lb) African Lion and is thought to have hunted large animals such as diprotodonts and giant kangaroos. It was the most specialised marsupial carnivore to have ever existed and had extremely strong forelimbs, with retractable claws, a trait previously unseen in marsupials. Its strong forelimbs, retracting claws and incredibly powerful jaws mean that it may have been possible for it to climb trees and perhaps to carry carcasses to keep the kill for itself (similar to the leopard today). The Marsupial Lions were 75 cm (29 in) at the shoulder and about 150 cm (75 in) long from head to tail. They averaged 101 to 130 kg (223 to 287 lb), and individuals reaching 124 to 160 kg (273 to 353 lb) were common. They are quite comparable to female lions and tigers in general size.

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Bullockornis planei
Bullockornis planei, nicknamed the Demon Duck of Doom, is an extinct flightless bird that lived in the Middle Miocene, approximately 15 million years ago, in what is now Australia. Bullockornis stood approximately 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) tall. It may have weighed up to 250 kg (550 lb). Features of Bullockornis's skull, including a very large beak suited to shearing, indicate that the bird may have been carnivorous. The bird's skull is larger than that of many small horses. Many paleontologists, including Peter Murray of the Central Australian Museum, believe that Bullockornis was related to geese and ducks. This, in addition to the bird's tremendous size and possible carnivorous habits, gave rise to its colourful nickname. The bird's generic name is translated as "ox-bird."

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Palaeoscincus
Apr 2 2018, 11:55 AM
What about a marsupial lion vs a demon duck? Dromornis spp, genyornis spp, etc?
They were sympatric and its an interaction I've never really seen discussed.
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Lightning
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The bird is twice as big and much faster. The bird wins. The marsupial lion was really slow, not fast and agile like big cats.
Edited by Lightning, Apr 2 2018, 08:56 PM.
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Palaeoscincus
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Has there been any avidence of the lion hunting or interacting with dromornids? Not Bullockornis since it didn't live at the same time, but maybe Genyornis or some other genus?
I think the bird would be more faster as well, at least in being able to turn its body and prevent being flanked by the marsupial.
The birds skull and beak looks like it could deliver some serious force with its strikes, in spite of likely being an non-predator. But if the lion can get within range of the dromornid, I'd expect it to be able to wrestle it down as easy if not easier as a big cat would. I don't think it would prey on adult Diprotodons, but Thylacoleo bite marks have been found on the bones of those species and even a subadult Diprotodon would likely be more physically powerful than this bird.
Edited by Palaeoscincus, Apr 3 2018, 06:10 AM.
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Mammuthus
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Quote:
 
The marsupial lion was really slow, not fast and agile like big cats.

How so?
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Lightning
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Mammuthus
Apr 3 2018, 06:40 AM
Quote:
 
The marsupial lion was really slow, not fast and agile like big cats.

How so?
"Marsupials have a slow metabolism, slow growth, and a slow reproduction rate. Thylacoleo may have been the top predator, but it wasn't a superpredator capable of fast ferocious attacks on large prey," Milewski said. "This is not Australia's answer to the saber-tooth cat. The animal didn't have saber teeth. And it certainly doesn't resemble a lioness in its hunting style."

Anyone expecting the lightning-fast attacks of a lion or tiger would be sorely disappointed, according to Milewski. "More likely, these were brauny, thick-set creatures that were not particularly bright and hunted in a very energy-efficient way—perhaps by frightening marsupial mothers into sacrificing their young by tossing them from the pouch."

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0305_040305_TVsuperpredator_2.html&ved=2ahUKEwi-mJnSxZzaAhUqD8AKHbA0CXoQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw1-wr1XNBulBybIQZHu_pG1

news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0305_040305_TVsuperpredator_2.html
Edited by Lightning, Apr 3 2018, 07:04 AM.
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Mammuthus
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Cool, now that is swaying my opinion on this fight. I would have originally favoured the Lion but as our friend HSS provided me with that I am now unsure. Maybe 50/50 for now.
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