• This forum is specifically for the discussion of factual science and technology. When the topic moves to speculation, then it needs to also move to the parent forum, Science Fiction and Fantasy (SF/F).

    If the topic of a discussion becomes political, even remotely so, then it immediately does no longer belong here. Failure to comply with these simple and reasonable guidelines will result in one of the following.
    1. the thread will be moved to the appropriate forum
    2. the thread will be closed to further posts.
    3. the thread will remain, but the posts that deviate from the topic will be relocated or deleted.
    Thank you for understanding.​

Tiny kitten-sized marsupial lion fossil named after David Attenborough

Alessandra Kelley

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian
Staff member
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
Messages
16,939
Reaction score
5,320
Location
Near the gargoyles
Website
www.alessandrakelley.com
Kitten-sized extinct 'lion' named after David Attenborough

A miniature marsupial lion, extinct for at least 18 million years, has been named after Sir David Attenborough after its fossilised remains were found in a remote part of Australia.

Teeth and bone fragments from the kitten-sized predator, named Microleo attenboroughi, were found in limestone deposits at the Riversleigh World Heritage Fossil site in north-western Queensland.

The researchers named the new species after the British broadcasting legend because of his work promoting the famous fossil site, which provides a record of nearly 25 million years of Australia's natural history.
Click to expand...

Dr Gillespie and her team estimate that their "little guy" weighed only 600g, and was about the size of a kitten.

"We weren't expecting to find a marsupial lion of this small size," she says. "It might have been a bit too big to fit in your pocket, but it would have fit quite comfortably in a handbag. It would have been very cute."
Click to expand...
 
mirandashell

mirandashell

Banned
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
16,197
Reaction score
1,889
Location
England
That is so cool that they have named it after him. He has been the voice of natural history television for almost longer than I have been alive and he will be missed when he is gone. He has taught several generations of Brits more than he knows and set the standard for nature programmes on TV.
 
Friendly Frog

Friendly Frog

Snarkenfaugister
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
4,179
Reaction score
5,130
Location
Belgium
Attenborough must be the only guy with so many species named after him without having been involved in the actual study, description and naming process. *is a big fan*

I think Microleo is beyond cute as a name. :LilLove:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.