Palorchestopsinae

Palorchestopsinae is an extinct subfamily of marsupials, belonging to the order Diprotodontia. These remarkable animals, often referred to as "marsupial tapirs" due to their superficial resemblance to the modern tapir, inhabited Australia during the Pleistocene epoch. Their most striking feature was an elongated, prehensile snout, which is the characteristic that gives them their name (Palorchestos meaning "ancient chewer"). This specialized snout, along with their large, procumbent incisors, suggests a herbivorous diet, likely involving browsing on tough vegetation such as leaves, bark, and roots.

Fossil evidence indicates that Palorchestopsids were large, robust animals. The skull possessed a unique morphology, with the nasal bones extending significantly forward, supporting the elongated snout. Their limbs were strong and stout, adapted for terrestrial locomotion. While their exact evolutionary relationships are still debated, they are generally considered to be part of the extinct family Thylacopidae, which itself is part of the larger order Diprotodontia, grouping marsupials with paired lower incisors. The disappearance of Palorchestopsids coincides with the widespread extinction event that affected much of Australia's megafauna around 40,000 years ago, likely driven by a combination of climate change and human arrival.