#574 Killer Headaches

 Fact# 574

Killer Headaches

While draining the Mella swamp near his house in 1920, Mr. Lovell discovered the bones of an ancient lumbering beast. It was large and unlike any bones he had previously found intime becoming known as one of the largest Wombats to have ever walked the earth.  This “Beast of Mella” is known today as “Zygomatrus” or more commonly “The Swamp Bear”.

A relative of modern Wombats, the 500kg (1,102 pound) Zygomatrus is named after its high cheekbones or zygoma which also show evidence of a three lobed nose. This nose may have helped it breath while partially submerged as it is hypothesized to have spent most of its time in swamps and bogs. Even more evidence supporting this is the fact that its marsupial pouch was located on its back, so as to keep its young from drowning while foraging for food. Yet the last bit of evidence for this may prove the most interesting of all, since it has some of the largest sinuses to body size of any creature yet discovered –particularly in the skull.  While the benefit of this would have been reduced weight and better buoyancy it also seems to have weakened the strength of the Skull (though still pretty strong in terms of megafaunal skulls) and limited brain size. Even worse, these sinus cavities show evidence of infection and may have actually killed one Zygomatrus with evidence that the sinus burst the section of the skull it was in, inwards towards the brain. A truly Killer headache! 

Despite this seemingly critical flaw, Zygomatrus  is thought to have been one of the latest lasting of Australia’s extinct megafauna with the earliest extinction date being 45,000 years ago. 

Personal story which may interest those who are concerned –not part of the normal fun Facts–  In SHort there may be sa slight drop off in quality this week.

Speaking of headaches, this weekend was an interesting one. First off my Mom’s surgery was successful although they are investigating a sample of mal-colored tissue they found (hoping it's not cancerous should hear late Friday from Madison) so thank you to those who expressed concern and please continue praying for her. Then there was the issue of my Discovering my dog ,Jack, had gnawed on his own tail in stress which resulted in a vet trip where we learned it was infected. He now wears the Cone of shame, and is enjoying his new pastime of knocking over standing lamps wherever he goes. 

Saturday morning began with preparing and then going to the Danfoss Company picnic with the robotics group which was fun but tiring until it ended at 4pm, followed by a quick trip to 640 meats (they just reopened this week), and then returning home only to be told proudly that I am being replaced!! A close Family Friend is sending his son John late this December to stay with us while he looks to apply here at Woodward and wishes to be such a fast fit to the household that we’ve been told he is joking about being the improved version of me!! …. I was most put off by this news –although I know him and he is a good fellow.

    Finally came Sunday with Church in the morning (very good), Followed by yard work –where I discovered one of our trees previously thought dead has sprouted new leaves and begun producing berries, which after some research I learned are Chokeberries which are great at attracting Cardinals and Red-winged-blackbirds. I hope the tree remains living from now on. We made some candied bacon (Ok for a first attempt), ran sprinklers in the yard to help promote grass growth and then learned that someone tried to assassinate Trump again –this time while he was golfing. Finally got inside only to learn from my Sister's Boyfriend (Hunter) that I missed the Packer’s game (I prefer the bears anyway) and that somewhere along the way I had neglected to notice accidentally putting a (small) hole in the back of my neck and had to go deal with that which resulted in my missing the Bears game too. . . I still don't know the score

All of which is the long way to say this was an unexpectedly busy weekend where I didn't have adequate time to pre research/write this week’s fun facts so I apologize if there is a slight drop-off in quality.  As always thank you for reading and please have a wonderful day.