What did the genus name Thylacoleo translate roughly to, reflecting its historic misidentification?
Answer
Pouched lion
The genus name *Thylacoleo* itself carries historical context regarding the confusion surrounding this extinct animal. The name is derived from two Greek components that roughly translate to 'pouched lion.' This moniker cemented the early perception based on its ecological role as an apex predator—a lion of the marsupial world—even though its underlying taxonomy was entirely different from true felines.
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