Part 6/10:
Researcher Dr. Liz Reed and her partner investigate Naracoorte Caves, discovering fossils of extinct marsupials like the marsupial lion, weighing as much as a modern-day tiger. Australia’s diverse flora and fauna flourished, supporting larger species capable of thriving in its challenging ecosystems. The absence of large competitors post-dinosaur extinction allowed these creatures to become the rulers of their environments.
The stark difference between New Zealand's giant insects and birds versus Australia's giant marsupials demonstrates how distinct evolutionary pressures fostered diverse adaptations in two neighboring, yet ecologically disparate, lands.