Australian Fossil Mammal Sites

　　The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites are situated in both the northern and southern regions of eastern Australia. The sites at Riversleigh and Naracoorte are ranked among the world’s top ten fossil locations, powerfully representing various evolutionary stages of Australia’s unique fauna. The fossil sites of Riversleigh and Naracoorte reveal the ancient climate and environment of Australia, as well as the evolutionary history of marsupials over the past 25 million years.

　　The site complex dates back to before 280,000 BCE and provides an unparalleled record of the environment and ecology from pre-European times and the late Pleistocene in Australia. This includes exceptionally preserved fossils of megafauna (giant, now-extinct mammals, birds, and reptiles) from the Ice Age in Australia, as well as fossils of more recent species such as bats, snakes, parrots, turtles, mice, lizards, and frogs. To date, 5,200 catalogued specimens have been excavated, making it the largest and best-preserved fossil site in Australia.

　　Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte) Reason to visit: The largest and best-preserved fossil site in Australia Continent: Oceania Country/Region: Australia State/Province: Queensland and South Australia