New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia
New jaws and teeth referable to the rare thylacoleonid marsupial Wakaleo alcootaensis are figured and described. The species is the geologically youngest known member of the genus and is only known from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia. A revised diagnosis of...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2015-11-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/1408.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797418837357887488 |
|---|---|
| author | Adam M. Yates |
| author_facet | Adam M. Yates |
| author_sort | Adam M. Yates |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | New jaws and teeth referable to the rare thylacoleonid marsupial Wakaleo alcootaensis are figured and described. The species is the geologically youngest known member of the genus and is only known from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia. A revised diagnosis of the species is presented which is found to be morphologically distinct from its congeners. W. alcootaensis can be distinguished from other species of Wakaleo by its greater size, deeply recessed masseteric fossa, more steeply angled I1, loss of P2, greater P3 to M1 ratio and loss of M3. Several characters of W. alcootaensis, including the increase in size, steeply angled I1, increase of the relative size of P3, and reduction of the molar row are present in at least some species of Thylacoleo. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these character states are convergences and that there was parallel evolution in these two thylacoleonid lineages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:38:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4f3354981eb4d4c925ed7f1ad4c073b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:38:43Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4f3354981eb4d4c925ed7f1ad4c073b2023-12-03T10:54:18ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592015-11-013e140810.7717/peerj.1408New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, AustraliaAdam M. Yates0Museum of Central Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, AustraliaNew jaws and teeth referable to the rare thylacoleonid marsupial Wakaleo alcootaensis are figured and described. The species is the geologically youngest known member of the genus and is only known from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia. A revised diagnosis of the species is presented which is found to be morphologically distinct from its congeners. W. alcootaensis can be distinguished from other species of Wakaleo by its greater size, deeply recessed masseteric fossa, more steeply angled I1, loss of P2, greater P3 to M1 ratio and loss of M3. Several characters of W. alcootaensis, including the increase in size, steeply angled I1, increase of the relative size of P3, and reduction of the molar row are present in at least some species of Thylacoleo. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these character states are convergences and that there was parallel evolution in these two thylacoleonid lineages.https://peerj.com/articles/1408.pdfMioceneAustraliaThylacoleonidaeWakaleoAlcootaParallel evolution |
| spellingShingle | Adam M. Yates New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia PeerJ Miocene Australia Thylacoleonidae Wakaleo Alcoota Parallel evolution |
| title | New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia |
| title_full | New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia |
| title_fullStr | New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia |
| title_short | New craniodental remains of Wakaleo alcootaensis (Diprotodontia: Thylacoleonidae) a carnivorous marsupial from the late Miocene Alcoota Local Fauna of the Northern Territory, Australia |
| title_sort | new craniodental remains of wakaleo alcootaensis diprotodontia thylacoleonidae a carnivorous marsupial from the late miocene alcoota local fauna of the northern territory australia |
| topic | Miocene Australia Thylacoleonidae Wakaleo Alcoota Parallel evolution |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/1408.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adammyates newcraniodentalremainsofwakaleoalcootaensisdiprotodontiathylacoleonidaeacarnivorousmarsupialfromthelatemiocenealcootalocalfaunaofthenorthernterritoryaustralia |