Bunyip/Diprotodon
The Bunyip is a mythological creature that has been referenced by Australian aborigines for centuries. It is claimed the creature is known for hunting prey in places like swamps, creeks, riverbeds, and watering holes. The Bunyip is usually described as being amphibious and almost entirely aquatic, but the other defining characteristics are numerous and rarely agreed upon. It is claimed that most of the believed sightings resemble seals or dogs going for a swim. A smaller portion of sightings is of a long-necked creature with a small head. Thus, it is hard to really describe but the ambiguity is what allows the Bunyip to remain a known legend.
However, while mysterious animals like this tend to be myths entirely…there is potentially a creature it is based on. The Diprotodon was a creature from the Pleistocene era, yet was not only a marsupial but often found in Australia. Massive fossils were discovered in 1830 and were almost confused for a rhino or elephant. Sir Richard Owen essentially gave it the Diprotodon name. They grew as large as 5 feet, 11 inches and from head to tail, could be 13 feet or so. Yet the creatures weighed over 7,000lbs. They died off around 25,000 years ago but it’s possible early humans in Australia saw them or came across fossils to create the Bunyip legend.