Zygomaturus — updating the giant
Join Dr David Hocking, TMAG Senior Curator of Vertebrate Zoology and Palaeontology, with Monash University doctoral candidate Jack O’Connor, and members of the Lovell family for the opening of a new TMAG display case.
This exciting display will be the new feature in TMAG’s much-loved ‘cabinet under the Henry Hunter Stairs’. It will feature a 3D-printed replica of one of TMAG’s most important megafauna objects — the fossilised skull of the Zygomaturus, the largest marsupial to have ever inhabited lutruwita/Tasmania. This extinct creature lived in the Pleistocene Age, which commenced some 2 million years ago, and ended with the mini ice age some 12,000 years ago.
A complete skeleton of Zygomaturus was discovered by Mr E. C. Lovell in early 1920 while draining his selection at ‘Mowbray Swamp’, three miles west of Smithton. As part of the launch of this new display, members of the Lovell family will also be sharing their knowledge and family memories of the property and the find.
Zygomaturus — updating the giant will show how scientific understanding of ‘Zygo’ has evolved since that discovery, driven by changing technologies in the science of palaeontology.
This project has been generously supported as a legacy project of the TMAGgots (2006–2022) with the assistance of the Friends of TMAG.
This is a FREE EVENT and is for members only. We will be serving afternoon tea as part of the celebrations. Former TMAGgots members, we especially hope that you can attend!
