New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia
New craniodental specimens that are referrable to the thylacinid marsupial, Thylacinus potens, are described from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia. The remains include a largely complete maxilla and dentary, showing for the first time the anterior dentition o...
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PeerJ Inc.
2014-08-01
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Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/547.pdf |
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author | Adam M. Yates |
author_facet | Adam M. Yates |
author_sort | Adam M. Yates |
collection | DOAJ |
description | New craniodental specimens that are referrable to the thylacinid marsupial, Thylacinus potens, are described from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia. The remains include a largely complete maxilla and dentary, showing for the first time the anterior dentition of the dentary. The new remains indicate that Th. potens was a more variable species than previously recognised. The dentary, in particular, is more gracile, than other specimens referred to this species. A revised apomorphy-based diagnosis of Th. potens that takes this variability into account is presented. A cladistic analysis supports previous analyses that placed Th. potens in a derived position within Thylacinidae, close to the modern Th. cynocephalus. New estimations of body size are made using published regressions of dental measurements of dasyuromorphians as well as by assuming geometric similitude with Th. cynocephalus. All methods produce body mass estimates in excess of 35 kg. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:41:42Z |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2167-8359 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:41:42Z |
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spelling | doaj.art-cc7c5eb98fb9404285e4f72137391c172023-12-03T10:50:54ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592014-08-012e54710.7717/peerj.547547New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central AustraliaAdam M. Yates0Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Museum of Central Australia, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, AustraliaNew craniodental specimens that are referrable to the thylacinid marsupial, Thylacinus potens, are described from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia. The remains include a largely complete maxilla and dentary, showing for the first time the anterior dentition of the dentary. The new remains indicate that Th. potens was a more variable species than previously recognised. The dentary, in particular, is more gracile, than other specimens referred to this species. A revised apomorphy-based diagnosis of Th. potens that takes this variability into account is presented. A cladistic analysis supports previous analyses that placed Th. potens in a derived position within Thylacinidae, close to the modern Th. cynocephalus. New estimations of body size are made using published regressions of dental measurements of dasyuromorphians as well as by assuming geometric similitude with Th. cynocephalus. All methods produce body mass estimates in excess of 35 kg.https://peerj.com/articles/547.pdfMioceneAustraliaThylacinidae Thylacinus potens AlcootaBody size |
spellingShingle | Adam M. Yates New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia PeerJ Miocene Australia Thylacinidae Thylacinus potens Alcoota Body size |
title | New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia |
title_full | New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia |
title_fullStr | New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia |
title_full_unstemmed | New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia |
title_short | New craniodental remains of Thylacinus potens (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae), a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia |
title_sort | new craniodental remains of thylacinus potens dasyuromorphia thylacinidae a carnivorous marsupial from the late miocene alcoota local fauna of central australia |
topic | Miocene Australia Thylacinidae Thylacinus potens Alcoota Body size |
url | https://peerj.com/articles/547.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv | AT adammyates newcraniodentalremainsofthylacinuspotensdasyuromorphiathylacinidaeacarnivorousmarsupialfromthelatemiocenealcootalocalfaunaofcentralaustralia |