Unearthing Ancient Tracks: Thylacine Footprints on South Australia's Coastline

The recent revelation of preserved thylacine footprints along the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia has captivated palaeontologists and the public alike. Dating back approximately 120,000 years, these fossilized impressions offer a rare glimpse into the life of the Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), a carnivorous marsupial long thought confined to Tasmania in historical times. Discovered in the Bridgewater Formation—a series of calcareous coastal dune ridges formed during the Pleistocene epoch—these tracks challenge and expand our understanding of the animal's range across mainland Australia.

Researchers from Flinders University, including palaeontology lecturer Aaron Camens, identified the prints through their distinctive circular impressions and repeating patterns characteristic of a dog-like gait. With no dingoes present in Australia over 100,000 years ago, the thylacine emerges as the prime candidate. These findings, documented in Flinders' Virtual Australian Museum of Palaeontology (VAMP), highlight how coastal environments can preserve delicate trace fossils through natural processes like sea spray forming protective salt crusts buried by wind-blown sand.

Flinders University's Role in Pioneering Trace Fossil Research

Flinders University in Adelaide stands at the forefront of Australian palaeontology, particularly through its Palaeontology Lab and VAMP project. Led by experts like Aaron Camens, the team has cataloged numerous trace fossils, including the Coffin Bay thylacine trackway (specimen FU2798a&b), providing 3D scans accessible worldwide. This digital archive not only preserves fragile sites threatened by erosion but also supports global research collaborations.

The university's hands-on fieldwork involves students and volunteers, such as retired ranger Ross Allen and researcher John Sherwood, who contributed to documenting sites near Coffin Bay and Lincoln National Park. Such interdisciplinary efforts underscore Flinders' commitment to training the next generation in field techniques, stratigraphic analysis, and digital palaeontology. Programs like the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Palaeontology equip students with skills in fossil identification, geological dating, and ecological reconstruction, directly contributing to discoveries like these thylacine tracks.

Camens emphasizes the repeating patterns in trackways: 'You might not see something that you can clearly say, "Oh, yeah, that looks like a thylacine print," but if you see a repeating pattern with the same shapes and spacing, then that means you're probably looking at a trackway.' This methodical approach has revealed a diverse assemblage, from megafauna kangaroos to birds like oystercatchers, painting a vivid picture of Pleistocene coastal ecosystems.

The Thylacine: Evolutionary History and Unique Adaptations

The thylacine, often misnamed the Tasmanian tiger due to its striped back, was Australia's apex marsupial predator. Evolving around 23 million years ago, it filled a niche similar to placental wolves or dogs but with distinct marsupial traits: a pouch for joeys and powerful shearing teeth for bone-crushing. Standing up to 180 cm long and weighing 20-30 kg, it preyed on wallabies, wombats, and smaller mammals across New Guinea, mainland Australia, and Tasmania.

Fossil evidence shows thylacines thrived during the Pleistocene, coexisting with megafauna like Diprotodon and giant short-faced kangaroos. Their footprints, with four main toes and occasional dewclaw impressions, differ from dingo tracks by broader pads and less arched claws. The Eyre Peninsula finds confirm their presence in arid coastal zones, suggesting adaptability to varied habitats before mainland extinction.

Unraveling the Mystery of Mainland Extinction

Thylacines vanished from mainland Australia around 3,200 years ago, synchronous with Tasmanian devils, as confirmed by high-quality radiocarbon dating from University of Adelaide research. The arrival of dingoes ~4,000-5,000 years ago likely played a key role, competing for prey and possibly hybridizing or transmitting diseases. Climate shifts and human hunting (Aboriginal arrival ~65,000 years ago) compounded pressures, isolating populations in Tasmania.

These South Australian footprints predate extinction by over 100,000 years, bridging knowledge gaps in the thylacine's late Pleistocene distribution. Studies from UNSW Sydney on Riversleigh fossils reveal three new thylacine ancestors, enriching our evolutionary tree.

Insights into Pleistocene Ecosystems from Trace Fossils

The Bridgewater Formation yields a treasure trove: extinct kangaroo tracks, potential marsupial lion prints (Thylacoleo), and Diprotodon relatives alongside thylacines. This assemblage indicates a dynamic coastal plain with dunes, wetlands, and prey-rich environments. Erosion reveals new sites, but climate change and sea-level rise threaten preservation.

Flinders' work parallels Kangaroo Island discoveries (2017), where thylacine and devil tracks were found, reinforcing South Australia's role as a fossil hotspot. Such data informs models of megafauna decline, aiding conservation of extant marsupials like quokkas and numbat.Explore VAMP for 3D models.

From Fossils to the Future: De-Extinction at University of Melbourne

Flinders' fossil insights fuel de-extinction ambitions at the University of Melbourne's Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research (TIGRR) Lab, led by Professor Andrew Pask. Partnered with Colossal Biosciences, they've achieved a near-complete thylacine genome in 2025, targeting proxy thylacine pups by 2028 and release by 2030.

TIGRR uses CRISPR to edit dunnart genomes (closest living relative), focusing on marsupial stem cells and reproduction. This research, blending palaeontology and genomics, promises tools for conserving endangered species like Tasmanian devils. Students in Melbourne's MSc in Genomic Science gain hands-on experience, bridging Flinders' fossil legacy with biotech frontiers.

Palaeontology Education Across Australian Universities

• Flinders University: Honours in Palaeontology emphasizes fieldwork; VAMP trains in digital archiving.
• University of Queensland: Dr. Gilbert Price's vertebrate palaeoecology program explores megafauna extinctions.
• Monash University: Adams Lab studies thylacine functional morphology for niche reconstruction.
• University of Adelaide: Wildlife Evolutionary Genomics analyzes thylacine ancient DNA.
• UNSW Sydney: Riversleigh research uncovers thylacine ancestors.

These programs offer BSc, MSc, and PhD pathways, with opportunities in grants from ARC (Australian Research Council). Careers span museums, conservation, and biotech, with demand rising amid de-extinction hype.

Conservation Lessons from Thylacine Fossils

The footprints remind us of human impacts: habitat loss mirrors ancient pressures. Ross Allen warns, 'Our wildlife is under threat from human impacts, particularly habitat clearing.' Modern efforts protect coastal sites, using GIS mapping and community involvement. Linking to AcademicJobs.com's resources, aspiring palaeontologists can explore university jobs in Australia or research positions.

Photo by Steve Davison on Unsplash

Future Directions in Thylacine Palaeontology

Ongoing Flinders surveys may yield more trackways, while TIGRR advances proxies. Interdisciplinary collaborations promise ecological reintroductions, restoring balance to Tasmania's forests. For students, this field offers adventure and impact—apply to Flinders or Melbourne programs today.

These ancient steps forward a story of loss and hope, showcasing Australian universities' leadership in unearthing our past to shape the future.