Austagom

Austagom is a genus of extinct mammals that lived during the Oligocene epoch in Australia. These marsupials are known from fossilized remains found in the Naracoorte Caves in South Australia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its rich fossil deposits. The genus Austagom currently comprises a single described species, Austagom pliocenus.

The fossils indicate that Austagom was a relatively small animal, roughly the size of a modern-day rabbit. Its diet is believed to have consisted primarily of vegetation, with its teeth adapted for grinding plant matter. The discovery of Austagom has contributed to our understanding of Australian marsupial evolution and the diversity of mammal life that inhabited the continent during the Cenozoic era. Research into its anatomy and phylogenetic relationships continues to shed light on its place within the broader marsupial family tree. The specific environmental conditions and ecological niche occupied by Austagom are subjects of ongoing scientific investigation, drawing upon the detailed paleoenvironmental reconstructions possible from sites like Naracoorte.