Did you know that there used to be GIANT WOMBATS in Australia? Known as Diprotodons, they were as big as rhinos, and they were the biggest marsupials. EVER.
There also used to be giant echidnas! Three times the size of our current echidnas!
Turns out that Thylacines weren't particularly fast runners. In fact, they were a little bit clumsy. But they could leap like kangaroos!
And lemurs the size of humans known as Tratratratras used to live in Madagascar!
I knew none of these things until I looked through this beautifully illustrated book:
Small and Tall Tales of Extinct Animals
by Helene Rajcak and Damien Laverdunt (Gecko Press)
It is my new favourite. While it makes me quite sad that so many extremely fascinating animals are now extinct (many of them because of humans), it is also VERY interesting and complete with great illustrations and informative cartoons.
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