Paleontologists Claim Evidence of Killer Kangaroos, "Demon Ducks of Doom"

Hokay:

A University of New South Wales team said the fearsome fossils were among 20 previously unknown species uncovered at a site in Australia's northwest Queensland state.

Professor Michael Archer said Wednesday that the remains of a meat-eating kangaroo with wolflike fangs were found, as well as a galloping kangaroo with long forearms that could not hop like a modern kangaroo.

"Because they didn't hop, these were galloping kangaroos, with big, powerful forelimbs. Some of them had long canines (fangs) like wolves," Archer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

It sounds like a velociraptor with bunny ears.

The team also found prehistoric lungfish and large ducklike birds.

"Very big birds ... more like ducks, earned the name 'demon duck of doom', some at least may have been carnivorous as well," Hand told ABC radio.

Archer said the team was studying the fossils to better understand how they were affected by changing climates in the Miocene epoch between 5 million and 24 million years ago.

I realize people are people, but, if you're trying to be a scientist, don't hype a find as a "demon duck of doom" and then tell us "some at least may have been carnivorous" as well.

Because you know what? It also "may have been" just a larger-than-average fuckin' duck.

Thanks to Brad.

posted by Ace at 06:46 PM

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