Wombat complete subfossil mandible
Maker
McCoy Society for Field Investigation and Research (estab. 1935, closed 1998)
Date
06 Dec 1937-26 Jan 1938
Description
Complete subfossil mandible in two parts of a common wombat (Vombatus ursinus), first molar absent. The mandible has been coated in wax; a museum technique of the early to mid-20th century used to stabilise fragile bones. This specimen was collected by the McCoy Society on their expedition to Bass Strait's King Island from December 6th 1937 to January 26th 1938. In 1802, the log books of the sailing ship the Lady Nelson recorded the existence of wombats on King Island, but the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria failed to find any during their 1887 visit, suggesting that the species went extinct on the island some time before the beginning of the twentieth century.
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