Q: What are megafauna? A: During the Pleistocene (2.5 million to 11,700 years ago), the world had many examples of large animals that are collectively known as Megafauna. In the Northern Hemisphere this included animals like mammoths and sabertoothed cats, but Australia also had its own unique examples of megafauna including the huge giant goanna Megalania and the wombat-shaped Diprotodon (which can be seen in our Surviving Australia exhibition). This video is a 3D model of a Diprotodon optatum

Earth’s history includes five major mass extinctions, with up to 95% of species lost in events driven by impacts, volcanic eruptions, or potentially solar outbursts. The terminal Pleistocene extinction, though not part of the “Great Five,” saw the disappearance of North America’s megafauna, focusing on top predators and large mammals. | The Randall Carlson