DIPROTODONTIDAE

family of extinct marsupial mammals that existed from the Late Oligocene epoch into the Pleistocene epoch (from 30 million to roughly 10,000 years ago) in Australia. It included Diprotodon, which was the largest known marsupial (3.5 m long). Diprotodon was characterized by a wombat-like body the size of a large rhinoceros. Its limbs and skeleton were massively constructed to support its imposing bulk. The incisor teeth were well developed and resemble those of gnawing animals. The Diprotodontidae also included Palorchestes, of the Pleistocene, a large kangaroo-like marsupial. All members of the family were presumably herbivorous. They are perhaps distantly related to kangaroos and wombats.