Научници во Австралија открија пештера наполнета со останки на праисториски цицачи. Наодот обелоденува изненадувачки сличности меѓу загубените суштества и денешните кенгури и коали.

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The treasure trove of preserved fossils found in an outback cave has given palaeontologists a rare view into the weird and breathtaking world of prehistoric Australia.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales say they've found the remains of some of the strangest specimens anyone could possibly imagine.

The discovery includes 26 skulls from an extinct, wombat-like marsupial that was an odd-looking creature the size of a sheep, which had giant claws. These may have been used to climb trees - as koalas do today.

Finding such a large cluster of fossils has indicated these lost animals may have roamed the countryside in herds - like modern-day kangaroos. How they ended up deep underground is a mystery. One theory is they accidentally plunged into the cave through an opening that was obscured by vegetation. They either died from the fall, or became trapped and starved to death.

These ancient gems were unearthed at the famous Riversleigh World Heritage fossil fields in north-western Queensland, which scientists have been exploring since the early 1990s.

Its ancient deposits are among the richest and most extensive to be found anywhere.

Reporter:

Phil Mercer

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treasure trove
збирка вредни нешта

fossils
зачувани останки на животни или растенија кои вообичаено се наоѓаат во карпите

outback
област во внатрешноста на Австралија

palaeontologists
научници кои ги изучуваат фосилите

breathtaking
возбудливо и изненадувачки

specimens
примероци

marsupial
торбари, животни често најдени во Австралија, кои ги носат младенчињата во џеп во кожата, наречен торба

plunged
ненадејно падна, пропадна

gems
високо ценет предмет, прекрасни нешта

unearthed
откриен, откопан