title: The size of the largest marsupial and why it matters.
abstract: We show that at 2786 kg, the largest known marsupial, Diprotodon optatum, was much larger than has previously been suggested. Our results contradict the conclusion that the maximum attainable body mass of an Australian marsupial has been constrained by low productivity.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. swroe@bio.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wroe
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dortch
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001824:Body Constitution; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005580:Fossils; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012044:Regression Analysis