Discovery of giant echidna fossil in Victoria reveals Ice Age species' presence
Consensus Summary
A fossil fragment of an extinct giant echidna, *Megalibgwilia owenii*, discovered in *Foul Air Cave* near *Buchan, Victoria*, has rewritten understanding of the species’ range during the *Pleistocene epoch*. Originally excavated in *1907* but misidentified, the skull piece was rediscovered in *2021* by *Tim Ziegler* of *Museums Victoria*, filling a *1,000km gap* in the echidna’s known distribution across Australia. The species, weighing up to *15kg* and measuring *1 metre long*, likely roamed alongside other *Ice Age megafauna* in Victoria’s ancient landscapes. The find highlights the value of *museum collections* and historical archives, with researchers now searching for additional evidence in *unearthed fossils* and *unexplored cave systems*. Both sources agree the discovery reshapes Victoria’s prehistoric narrative, though the ABC emphasizes the cave’s broader fossil diversity, while the Guardian details the echidna’s robust skeletal adaptations for foraging.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The extinct giant echidna species is named *Megalibgwilia owenii* (Owen’s giant echidna)
- The fossil was found in *Foul Air Cave*, part of the *Buchan cave complex* in *East Gippsland, Victoria*
- The fossil was originally excavated in *1907* during an expedition led by museum officer *Frank Spry*
- The specimen is a *skull fragment* (partial skull) that was initially misidentified as a *small kangaroo hind limb*
- *Tim Ziegler*, collection manager of vertebrate palaeontology at *Museums Victoria Research Institute*, rediscovered and identified the fossil in *2021*
- *Megalibgwilia owenii* lived during the *Pleistocene epoch* (beginning 2.5 million years ago) and grew up to *1 metre long* and *15kg* in weight
- The discovery fills a *1,000km gap* in the species’ known distribution, linking previously confirmed sites in *South Australia* and *New South Wales*
- The research was published in *Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology*
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The fossil’s *symmetry, arch of the palate, and internal air passages* were key features that identified it as an echidna beak.
- The echidna’s *skeleton was more robust* than comparably sized *Zaglossus* (long-beaked echidnas), with *deeper muscle scars* and *larger ligament attachments*, suggesting it used *greater force* when foraging (e.g., digging for larvae or tearing tree bark).
- The Buchan Caves are on *Krauatungalung Country*.
- The fossil was found in a *tray of unsorted fossils* and required *3D scans of modern and fossil echidna specimens* for confirmation.
- The fossil was preserved in a *pitfall trap* in the cave and discovered *by random chance* over a century later.
- The Buchan Caves are described as *one of the most diverse and abundant fossil sites in caves in south-eastern Australia*, alongside evidence of *marsupials weighing over a ton* and *jaguar-sized predators*.
- Ziegler emphasized the *continuity between past and present* expeditions, noting the cave was first explored *by torchlight and rope* in the early 20th century.
- The ABC article includes multiple *photographs of the fossil* (e.g., *right lateral*, *dorsal views*) and quotes Ziegler on the *scientific value of museum collections*: 'Nothing is ever forgotten in a museum collection.'
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the fossil was *initially plucked from a tray of unsorted fossils in 2021*, while the ABC does not specify the exact year of rediscovery beyond 'recently' in museum collections.
Source Articles
Giant echidnas weighing 15kg roamed Victoria – and the evidence was hiding in plain sight
A skull fragment found in a tray of unsorted fossils collected more than a century ago leads to discovery Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A prehistoric fossil, hiding in plain sight in museum storage for more than a century, has revealed that giant echidnas once roamed Victoria. The Owen’s giant echidna, Megalibgwilia owenii , lived during the Pleistocene , a geological epoch that began 2.5m years ago. It grew to
Giant echidna fossil rewrites understanding of Victoria's prehistoric past
A fossil hidden in a museum collection for 119 years has revealed giant echidnas once roamed Victoria's east, filling a major gap in Australia's prehistoric record.