Mammal · GBIF taxon 4975145
Ekaltadeta ima
Ekaltadeta imaAlso known as Killer Rat-kangaroo, Carnivorous Rat-kangaroo
Ekaltadeta ima roamed the dense, lush rainforests of ancient northern Australia as a robust, predatory relative of modern rat-kangaroos. Equipped with powerful jaws and a distinctive serrated, buzz-saw cheek tooth, it likely crushed bone, sliced through flesh, and cracked tough invertebrates with ease. Unlike its gentle grazing modern kin, this forest-floor dweller relied on a bounding gait to stalk small vertebrates across prehistoric Riversleigh.
PrehistoricCarnivorousFossil
Licensed referenceSeismicShrimp / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small reptiles
- Ancient forest mammals
- Invertebrates
Predators
- Mekosuchine crocodiles
- Prehistoric pythons
- Thylacine relatives
ThreatsLate Cenozoic climate cooling, aridification, and ancient forest contraction
HabitatsDense subtropical and temperate prehistoric rainforests
Life spanEstimated 8–15 years
Classification
- OrderDiprotodontia
- FamilyPotoroidae
- GenusEkaltadeta
- SpeciesEkaltadeta ima
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Identification: Look for the towering serrated premolar blade characteristic of the lower jaw.
- Museum Exhibits: Examine cranial casts and fossil remains at the Riversleigh World Heritage Centre.
Co-occurring Predator Peter Schouten / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Living Relative (c) Alan Bell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Bell · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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