Megalania, a very huge Australian lizard that lived at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch and whose name means "Giant Romer" in Greek, was once common. Richard Owen, an English naturalist, is credited with finding the first Megalania fossil, which he named Megalania prisca. The species was later placed in the Varanus genus and given the name Varanus priscus, though the term "Megalania" persisted in popular culture.
The cast fossil of Megalania from Queensland Australia in Melbourne Museum. It is an extinct giant goanna or monitor lizard.
We can compare our appearance to that of the Komodo dragon and the Perentie, two animals believed to be Megalania's closest living cousins.
These animals could have ranged in length from 15 to 26 feet, according to fossil evidence. Depending on which of the lizards stated above Megalania is closest to in the phylogenic tree, the question of Megalania's length is in question. Megalania's larger tail would enable her to grow up to 26 feet long if she were closer to the monitor lizard.
Megalania definitely occurs within the Varanidae genus, although its exact location within the genus is unclear. Similarities in the shape of the skull point to a connection to the Prentie.
Additionally, studies have suggested that the Komodo dragon belongs to a sister taxon. This indicates that the two species are equally removed from their first common ancestor, in this example, the earliest varanus.
These inquiries also reveal a discrepancy in the animal's reported weight. Megalania would weigh well over 4,200 pounds at her tallest (23–26 feet). The lizard may have weighed slightly more than 700 pounds at its lightest.
Megalania belongs to the Toxifera genus, which includes all venomous reptiles. We can predict that Megalania's venom would enhance the blood flow from wound sites, startling victims and making them more vulnerable, based on its evolutionary cousins.
According to estimates, Megalania resembled a monstrously enormous Komodo dragon because she had strong limbs, a crested cranium, and a full mouth of serrated fangs.
Megalania Behavior
Based on the behavior of other Varanidae family members, we may make an educated guess about Megalania's behavior.
The majority of Varanidae spend a lot of time close to shallow water. Additionally, they have powerful swimming abilities and are skilled divers, occasionally making it out to sea. If the trees were sturdy enough to support Megalania's enormous body, you might have also seen it lazing on rocks by the water or stretched out horizontally.
If you venture far enough from the water, you might witness Megalania scavenging the waterside nests of potential prey or scavenging for other ancient Megafauna to consume. They would move about at a speed of about 5 or 6 miles per hour, which is about the same as a freshwater crocodile.
The majority of the Varanus family spends the day sleeping. Notably, the time needed to heat and cool Komodo dragons depends on their size. Larger people take longer to heat and cool than smaller people.
If Megalania is included, they would have to spend a lot of time trying to regulate their temperature by basking in the sun or the shade, respectively.
What Did Megalania Eat?
Given its size, Megalania would have been a powerful apex predator in its prehistoric ecology. Megalania would have been a carnivore, preferring to eat medium-sized to big animals. The monitor lizards of today are severe carnivores as well.
The many marsupials living in Australia at the time may have made up a significant portion of their diet. Large marsupials like Diprotodon and Procoptodon, which were found in Australia, were prey for many other fearsome hunters like Thylacoleo. Diprotodon was around the size of a hippopotamus.
Other animals that Megalania hunted included birds (and their eggs), other lizards, and a few smaller mammals of different sorts.
These people would have hunted heavily, but they wouldn't have been the main predators in the region. There are known predators of a comparable size that once roamed all of Australia. Furthermore, the fact that so few Megalania fossils have been found indicates that the population was probably rather limited.
Habitat – When and Where It Lived
Megalania lived on the Australian plains, preferring to settle near streams, rivers, the sea, or other trustworthy bodies of water. Nevertheless, these adaptable Megafauna might be found in a range of habitats.
As long as they had a reliable source of food, they could probably survive anywhere in Australia. There were several options, including forests, grasslands, woodlands, caves, and more. Most fossil finds are made along river or tributary beds in eastern and southeast Australia.
Threats and Predators
Megalania was what is referred described as a "apex predator." They were at the top of the food chain, according to this. But because they inhabited a variety of settings, it's impossible to predict what additional apex predators they may have come across.
The only potential dangers to Megalania would have been comparable huge animals that existed in Australia at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch. The aforementioned "marsupial lion," Thylacoleo carnifex, would have been a possible adversary.
Similar to Megalania, other apex predators would probably flock to the same areas. The two species would therefore have justification for conflict over the food source. That being said, this, the biggest known terrestrial lizard of all time, wouldn't have faced many predators or hazards.
Finds & Fossils: Where They Were Found
Megalania was first discovered in 1859. The bones' discovery is attributed to Sir Richard Owen.
Only a few vertebrate bones were found in the discovery, which also included many additional marsupial bones. All of these fragments were lying at the bottom of a branch of the Condamine River, which flows close to Australia's east coast.
The majority of additional Megalania fossils have been found somewhere close to Australia's eastern or southeastern shores.
When Did It Go Extinct?
It is estimated that Megalania went extinct between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. About 65,000 years ago, humans first set foot on the Australian continent.
Megalania's demise likely had something to do with humans, like many other animals that perished towards the end of the Pleiocene Epoch. Although they may have, it wasn't necessarily the case that people hunted Megalania; rather, they engaged in widespread prey hunting.
There would have been fewer species for Megalania to consume as a result. Other apex predators would have been impacted by the scarcity as well, which would have decreased the available food and increased competition. Homo sapiens, a new apex predator, significantly altered the ecology, especially for species like Megalania that were extremely sluggish.
Climate Change
The Pleistocene Epoch's end was characterized by a dramatic increase in glacial activity and a change in the planet's climate. Extreme environmental changes may have caused Megalania to go extinct.
The epoch would have gradually changed temperatures, animals, predators, and prey, reaching a peak around 11,000 years ago. Sea levels began to recede about that period, revealing the land bridges that early humans had originally utilized to reach Australia.
These components working together undoubtedly caused Megalania to disappear.
