DOCSLIB.ORG

Riversleigh World Heritage Area Brochure

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

ecological and biological processes. processes. biological and ecological processes. biological and ecological examples representing significant ongoing ongoing significant representing examples ongoing significant representing examples in Queensland. in Queensland. in stages of earth’s history, and Outstanding Outstanding and history, earth’s of stages Outstanding and history, earth’s of stages , including Riversleigh, are are Riversleigh, including , 5 — List Heritage World are Riversleigh, including , 5 — List Heritage World Outstanding examples representing major major representing examples Outstanding major representing examples Outstanding There are 19 Australian properties on the the on properties Australian 19 are There the on properties Australian 19 are There experiencemountisa.com.au experiencemountisa.com.au two of the ten World Heritage criteria: criteria: Heritage World ten the of two criteria: Heritage World ten the of two Amazon Rainforest. Rainforest. Amazon Rainforest. Amazon of years ago. For more information visit visit information more For ago. years of visit information more For ago. years of the World Heritage List in 1994. Both areas meet meet areas Both 1994. in List Heritage World the meet areas Both 1994. in List Heritage World the Canyon, the Egyptian Pyramids and the the and Pyramids Egyptian the Canyon, the and Pyramids Egyptian the Canyon, within the Riversleigh landscape as it was millions millions was it as landscape Riversleigh the within millions was it as landscape Riversleigh the within Riversleigh and Naracoorte were inscribed on on inscribed were Naracoorte and Riversleigh on inscribed were Naracoorte and Riversleigh Other World Heritage Sites include the Grand Grand the include Sites Heritage World Other Grand the include Sites Heritage World Other fascinating reconstructions of prehistoric animals animals prehistoric of reconstructions fascinating animals prehistoric of reconstructions fascinating significance’ to all humanity. humanity. all to significance’ humanity. all to significance’ ‘Outback at Isa’ in Mount Isa, Queensland, has has Queensland, Isa, Mount in Isa’ at ‘Outback has Queensland, Isa, Mount in Isa’ at ‘Outback ancient and mysterious world. mysterious and ancient world. mysterious and ancient make them universally unique and ‘of ‘of and unique universally them make ‘of and unique universally them make The Riversleigh Fossil Centre located within within located Centre Fossil Riversleigh The within located Centre Fossil Riversleigh The have revealed a deeper understanding of an an of understanding deeper a revealed have an of understanding deeper a revealed have outstanding significance that their qualities qualities their that significance outstanding qualities their that significance outstanding animals and plant species, and such discoveries discoveries such and species, plant and animals discoveries such and species, plant and animals preserving them almost flawlessly. almost them preserving flawlessly. almost them preserving World Heritage areas are places of such such of places are areas Heritage World such of places are areas Heritage World during a period of Australia’s greatest diversity of of diversity greatest Australia’s of period a during of diversity greatest Australia’s of period a during were rapidly covered by the lime-rich mud, mud, lime-rich the by covered rapidly were mud, lime-rich the by covered rapidly were WORLD HERITAGE HERITAGE WORLD HERITAGE WORLD evolutionary stages of Australia’s wildlife. This was was This wildlife. Australia’s of stages evolutionary was This wildlife. Australia’s of stages evolutionary Riversleigh’s case ancient plants and animals animals and plants ancient case Riversleigh’s animals and plants ancient case Riversleigh’s uncovered exceptional examples of the key key the of examples exceptional uncovered key the of examples exceptional uncovered mineral components needs to occur—in occur—in to needs components mineral occur—in to needs components mineral of the evolution of Australia’s wildlife. Australia’s of evolution the of wildlife. Australia’s of evolution the of Palaeontological surveys at Riversleigh have have Riversleigh at surveys Palaeontological have Riversleigh at surveys Palaeontological deposits containing particular chemical and and chemical particular containing deposits and chemical particular containing deposits diverse mammal fossils, and tells a unique story story unique a tells and fossils, mammal diverse story unique a tells and fossils, mammal diverse animal or plant has died, burial by sedimentary sedimentary by burial died, has plant or animal sedimentary by burial died, has plant or animal A VIEW INTO AN ANCIENT WORLD ANCIENT AN INTO VIEW A WORLD ANCIENT AN INTO VIEW A Riversleigh represents some of the best and most most and best the of some represents Riversleigh most and best the of some represents Riversleigh fossilisation to occur at a given site. After an an After site. given a at occur to fossilisation an After site. given a at occur to fossilisation Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value. Value. Universal Outstanding their for List Heritage Value. Universal Outstanding their for List Heritage Very specific conditions are required for for required are conditions specific Very for required are conditions specific Very tree-climbing crocodiles and horned turtles. horned and crocodiles tree-climbing turtles. horned and crocodiles tree-climbing that they have been inscribed on the World World the on inscribed been have they that World the on inscribed been have they that other fossilised animals like giant flightless birds, birds, flightless giant like animals fossilised other history. globally-unique Australia’s of knowledge birds, flightless giant like animals fossilised other history. globally-unique Australia’s of knowledge world’s greatest fossil sites—there is little wonder wonder little is sites—there fossil greatest world’s wonder little is sites—there fossil greatest world’s carnivorous kangaroos, vast numbers of bats and and bats of numbers vast kangaroos, carnivorous our to vastly contribute and years) million 25 last and bats of numbers vast kangaroos, carnivorous our to vastly contribute and years) million 25 last Naracoorte in South Australia are among the the among are Australia South in Naracoorte the among are Australia South in Naracoorte mammals including wombat-like marsupials, marsupials, wombat-like including mammals (the times Quaternary to Oligocene Late the span marsupials, wombat-like including mammals (the times Quaternary to Oligocene Late the span Riversleigh in North West Queensland, and and Queensland, West North in Riversleigh and Queensland, West North in Riversleigh and have revealed a plethora of fossilised fossilised of plethora a revealed have and that fossils contains Riversleigh here. formed have fossilised of plethora a revealed have and that fossils contains Riversleigh here. formed have fossil sites in the world the in sites fossil world the in sites fossil Since this time scientific surveys have continued, continued, have surveys scientific time this Since fossils why reason the are Riversleigh at occur continued, have surveys scientific time this Since fossils why reason the are Riversleigh at occur the 1960s that the first exploration took place. place. took exploration first the that 1960s the still that processes geological limestone-forming place. took exploration first the that 1960s the still that processes geological limestone-forming of the most important important most the of important most the of discovered in the early 1900s but it wasn’t until until wasn’t it but 1900s early the in discovered pools—the freshwater mineral-rich lime with until wasn’t it but 1900s early the in discovered pools—the freshwater mineral-rich lime with Mammal fossils at Riversleigh were first first were Riversleigh at fossils Mammal scattered rainforest lush a once was Riversleigh first were Riversleigh at fossils Mammal scattered rainforest lush a once was Riversleigh Riversleigh is one one is Riversleigh one is Riversleigh EXPLORATION UNIQUE ARE FOSSILS RIVERSLEIGH’S EXPLORATION UNIQUE ARE FOSSILS RIVERSLEIGH’S leaf stem on extremely hot days, turning rock-hard when set. when rock-hard turning days, hot extremely on stem leaf set. when rock-hard turning days, hot extremely on stem leaf mounds and has a strong smelling resin that drips down its its down drips that resin smelling strong a has and mounds its down drips that resin smelling strong a has and mounds now dominates Riversleigh’s dry landscape. This grass forms forms grass This landscape. dry Riversleigh’s dominates now forms grass This landscape. dry Riversleigh’s dominates now , , pungens Triodia grass spear Black rainforest, lush a Once , pungens Triodia grass spear Black rainforest, lush a Once © Colin Totterdell, Queensland Government Queensland Totterdell, Colin © Government Queensland Totterdell, Colin © Riversleigh lies Protection and AUSTRALIAN FOSSIL MAMMAL SITES Riversleigh lies Protection and AUSTRALIAN FOSSIL MAMMAL SITES within the traditional management within the traditional management country of the Waanyi By road, the Riversleigh World Heritage area is RIVERSLEIGH country of the Waanyi By road, the Riversleigh World Heritage area is RIVERSLEIGH 260km north-west of Mount Isa and 60km south 260km north-west of Mount Isa and 60km south Aboriginal people of Lawn Hill Gorge in North West Queensland. WORLD HERITAGE AREA Aboriginal people of Lawn Hill Gorge in North West Queensland.
Recommended publications
  • The Nature of Northern Australia

    The Nature of Northern Australia

    THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects 1 (Inside cover) Lotus Flowers, Blue Lagoon, Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 2 Northern Quoll. Photo by Lochman Transparencies 3 Sammy Walker, elder of Tirralintji, Kimberley. Photo by Sarah Legge 2 3 4 Recreational fisherman with 4 barramundi, Gulf Country. Photo by Larissa Cordner 5 Tourists in Zebidee Springs, Kimberley. Photo by Barry Traill 5 6 Dr Tommy George, Laura, 6 7 Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 7 Cattle mustering, Mornington Station, Kimberley. Photo by Alex Dudley ii THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects AUTHORS John Woinarski, Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Barry Traill PROJECT COORDINATED BY Larelle McMillan & Barry Traill iii Published by ANU E Press Design by Oblong + Sons Pty Ltd The Australian National University 07 3254 2586 Canberra ACT 0200, Australia www.oblong.net.au Email: [email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au Printed by Printpoint using an environmentally Online version available at: http://epress. friendly waterless printing process, anu.edu.au/nature_na_citation.html eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and saving precious water supplies. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry This book has been printed on ecoStar 300gsm and 9Lives 80 Silk 115gsm The nature of Northern Australia: paper using soy-based inks. it’s natural values, ecological processes and future prospects. EcoStar is an environmentally responsible 100% recycled paper made from 100% ISBN 9781921313301 (pbk.) post-consumer waste that is FSC (Forest ISBN 9781921313318 (online) Stewardship Council) CoC (Chain of Custody) certified and bleached chlorine free (PCF).
  • A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes

    A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes

    J Mammal Evol DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9062-6 ORIGINAL PAPER A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes Robert W. Meredith & Michael Westerman & Judd A. Case & Mark S. Springer # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract Even though marsupials are taxonomically less diverse than placentals, they exhibit comparable morphological and ecological diversity. However, much of their fossil record is thought to be missing, particularly for the Australasian groups. The more than 330 living species of marsupials are grouped into three American (Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata) and four Australasian (Dasyuromorphia, Diprotodontia, Notoryctemorphia, and Peramelemorphia) orders. Interordinal relationships have been investigated using a wide range of methods that have often yielded contradictory results. Much of the controversy has focused on the placement of Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria). Studies either support a sister-taxon relationship to a monophyletic Australasian clade or a nested position within the Australasian radiation. Familial relationships within the Diprotodontia have also proved difficult to resolve. Here, we examine higher-level marsupial relationships using a nuclear multigene molecular data set representing all living orders. Protein-coding portions of ApoB, BRCA1, IRBP, Rag1, and vWF were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Two different Bayesian relaxed molecular clock methods were employed to construct a timescale for marsupial evolution and estimate the unrepresented basal branch length (UBBL). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian results suggest that the root of the marsupial tree is between Didelphimorphia and all other marsupials. All methods provide strong support for the monophyly of Australidelphia. Within Australidelphia, Dromiciops is the sister-taxon to a monophyletic Australasian clade.
  • January 2005] Reviews Trivers's Theory Of

    January 2005] Reviews Trivers's Theory Of

    January 2005] Reviews 367 Trivers's theory of parent-offspring conflict associated fauna and flora, biotic history of has shed relatively little empirical light on sib- Australia, possible feeding habits, and the like. licide in birds will undoubtedly provoke some The book's concept, organization, and visual raised eyebrows. But Mock's perspectives are so presentation are brilliant, but the execution has clearly articulated and thoughtfully explained some serious flaws. that even readers with dissenting views will be The first known species, Dromornis australis, unlikely to object strenuously. was described in 1874 by Richard Owen, and I highly recommend this book to anyone inter- for almost a century and a quarter the drom- ested in the evolutionary biology of family con- ornithids were associated with paleognathous flict. It will be especially useful to ornithologists ratites such as emus and cassowaries. The name working on such topics as hatching asynchrony "mihirung" was originally adopted for these siblicide, brood reduction, and parental care. birds by Rich (1979) from Aboriginal traditions And for anyone wanting to know how to write of giant emus (mihirung paringmal) believed pos- a scholarly biological book that will appeal to a sibly to apply to Genyornis. It was not until the general audience. More Than Kin and Less Than seminal paper of Murray and Megirian (1998), Kind should be essential reading.•RONALD L. based on newly collected Miocene skull mate- MUMME, Department of Biology, Allegheny College, rial, that the anseriform relationships of the 520 North Main Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania Dromornithidae were revealed. Six years later, 16335, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Murray and Vickers-Rich glibly and rather mis- leadingly refer to these birds as gigantic geese and imply that their nonratite nature should have been apparent earlier.
  • The Nature of Northern Australia

    The Nature of Northern Australia

    THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects 1 (Inside cover) Lotus Flowers, Blue Lagoon, Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 2 Northern Quoll. Photo by Lochman Transparencies 3 Sammy Walker, elder of Tirralintji, Kimberley. Photo by Sarah Legge 2 3 4 Recreational fisherman with 4 barramundi, Gulf Country. Photo by Larissa Cordner 5 Tourists in Zebidee Springs, Kimberley. Photo by Barry Traill 5 6 Dr Tommy George, Laura, 6 7 Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 7 Cattle mustering, Mornington Station, Kimberley. Photo by Alex Dudley ii THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects AUTHORS John Woinarski, Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Barry Traill PROJECT COORDINATED BY Larelle McMillan & Barry Traill iii Published by ANU E Press Design by Oblong + Sons Pty Ltd The Australian National University 07 3254 2586 Canberra ACT 0200, Australia www.oblong.net.au Email: [email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au Printed by Printpoint using an environmentally Online version available at: http://epress. friendly waterless printing process, anu.edu.au/nature_na_citation.html eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and saving precious water supplies. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry This book has been printed on ecoStar 300gsm and 9Lives 80 Silk 115gsm The nature of Northern Australia: paper using soy-based inks. it’s natural values, ecological processes and future prospects. EcoStar is an environmentally responsible 100% recycled paper made from 100% ISBN 9781921313301 (pbk.) post-consumer waste that is FSC (Forest ISBN 9781921313318 (online) Stewardship Council) CoC (Chain of Custody) certified and bleached chlorine free (PCF).
  • Marsupial Fossils from Wellington Caves, New South Wales; the Historic and Scientific Significance of the Collections in the Australian Museum, Sydney

    Marsupial Fossils from Wellington Caves, New South Wales; the Historic and Scientific Significance of the Collections in the Australian Museum, Sydney

    AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS Dawson, Lyndall, 1985. Marsupial fossils from Wellington Caves, New South Wales; the historic and scientific significance of the collections in the Australian Museum, Sydney. Records of the Australian Museum 37(2): 55–69. [1 August 1985]. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.37.1985.335 ISSN 0067-1975 Published by the Australian Museum, Sydney naturenature cultureculture discover discover AustralianAustralian Museum Museum science science is is freely freely accessible accessible online online at at www.australianmuseum.net.au/publications/www.australianmuseum.net.au/publications/ 66 CollegeCollege Street,Street, SydneySydney NSWNSW 2010,2010, AustraliaAustralia Records of the Australian Museum (1985) Vo!. 37(2): 55-69. ISSN·1975·0067. 55 Marsupial Fossils from Wellington Caves, New South Wales; the Historic and Scientific Significance of the Collections in the Australian Museum, Sydney LYNDALL DAWSON School of Zoology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, N.S.W., 2033 ABSTRACT. Since 1830, fossil vertebrates, particularly marsupials, have been collected from Wellington Caves, New South Wales. The history of these collections, and particularly of the collection housed in the Australian Museum, Sydney, is reviewed in this paper. A revised faunal list of marsupials from Wellington Caves is included, based on specimens in mUSeum collections. The provenance of these specimens is discussed. The list comprises 58 species, of which 30 are extinct throughout Australia, and a further 12 no longer inhabit the Wellington region. The deposit also contains bones of reptiles, birds, bats, rodents and monotremeS. On the basis of faunal correlation and some consideration of taphonomy in the deposits, the age range of the fossils represented in the mUSeum collections is suggested to be from the late Pliocene to late Pleistocene (with a possible minimum age of 40,000 years BP).
  • Universidade Federal Do Ceará Centro De Ciências

    Universidade Federal Do Ceará Centro De Ciências

    UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ CENTRO DE CIÊNCIAS DEPARTAMENTO DE BIOLOGIA CURSO DE CIÊNCIAS BIOLÓGICAS NÁDIA MARIA FREITAS EDUARDO ANÁLISE FUNCIONAL DO ESQUELETO APENDICULAR DE UM MARSUPIAL AUSTRALIANO DO MIOCENO FORTALEZA 2017 NÁDIA MARIA FREITAS EDUARDO ANÁLISE FUNCIONAL DO ESQUELETO APENDICULAR DE UM MARSUPIAL AUSTRALIANO DO MIOCENO Monografia apresentada ao Curso de Ciências Biológicas do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará, como requisito parcial para obtenção do Título de Bacharel em Ciências Biológicas. Orientador: Prof. Dr. Vicente Vieira Faria. Co-orientador: Dr. Michael Archer. FORTALEZA 2017 Aos meus pais, Eduardo e Kátia. Ao Grupo de Discussão sobre Mamíferos e Aves (GDMA) AGRADECIMENTOS À minha mãe, Kátia Freitas, por ter sido meu porto seguro, meu suporte e minha conselheira durante toda a graduação, desde a época do vestibular, passando pelo intercâmbio, até minha formatura. Ao meu pai, que mesmo falecido, sempre foi minha inspiração. À minha irmã, por sempre me apoiar e me provocar questionamentos. A os meus professores, colegas de graduação, colegas de trabalho e funcionários da UFC. Enfim, a todos aqueles que cruzaram meu caminho durante esses anos de graduação e, de alguma forma, colaboraram para minha formação profissional, pessoal e critica. À Pró Reitoria de Assuntos Estudantis, por ter me provido com uma vaga no programa de Residência Universitária, permitindo com que eu concluísse meus estudos em Fortaleza. Ao Grupo de Discussão sobre Mamíferos e Aves, que foi meu refúgio e principal fonte de conhecimento e discussão durante a graduação. A todos os laboratórios dos quais eu fiz parte. Em especial, durante minha Iniciação Científica no Laboratório de Histologia Animal, onde dei meus primeiros passos na pesquisa científica.
  • NT Learning Adventures Guide

    NT Learning Adventures Guide

    NT Learning Adventures NT Learning Adventures | 1 Save & Learn in the NT Tourism NT recognises that costs and timing are major factors when planning an excursion for your students. The NTLA Save & Learn program provides funding to interstate schools to help with excursion costs - making it easier to choose an NT Learning Adventure for your next school trip. The NT welcomes school groups year round! Go to ntlearningadventures.com to see the current terms and conditions of the NTLA Save & Learn program. Kakadu Darwin Arnhem Land Katherine Tennant Creek For more information and to download Alice Springs a registration form visit: W ntlearningadventures.com Uluru E [email protected] T 08 8951 6415 Uluru Icon made by Freepik. www.flaticon.com is licensed under Creative Commons BY 3.0 2 | NT Learning Adventures Contents Disclaimer This booklet has been produced by Tourism NT NT Learning Adventures 2 to promote the Northern Territory (NT) as an educational tourism destination, in the service of the community and on behalf of the educational Suggested Itineraries 4 tourism sector, to encourage school group visitation to the region. Tour & Travel Operators 12 The material contained in this booklet provides general information, for use as a guide only. It is not Alice Springs Region 27 intended to provide advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should make further enquires and seek independent advice about the appropriateness Learning Adventures 28 of each experience for your particular needs and to inform your travel decisions. Accommodation 36 Climatic conditions and other environmental factors in the NT may impact on travel plans and a person’s ability to engage in activities.
  • The Chinchilla Local Fauna: an Exceptionally Rich and Well-Preserved Pliocene Vertebrate Assemblage from Fluviatile Deposits of South-Eastern Queensland, Australia

    The Chinchilla Local Fauna: an Exceptionally Rich and Well-Preserved Pliocene Vertebrate Assemblage from Fluviatile Deposits of South-Eastern Queensland, Australia

    The Chinchilla Local Fauna: An exceptionally rich and well-preserved Pliocene vertebrate assemblage from fluviatile deposits of south-eastern Queensland, Australia JULIEN LOUYS and GILBERT J. PRICE Louys, J. and Price, G.J. 2015. The Chinchilla Local Fauna: An exceptionally rich and well-preserved Pliocene verte- brate assemblage from fluviatile deposits of south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 60 (3): 551–572. The Chinchilla Sand is a formally defined stratigraphic sequence of Pliocene fluviatile deposits that comprise interbed- ded clay, sand, and conglomerate located in the western Darling Downs, south-east Queensland, Australia. Vertebrate fossils from the deposits are referred to as the Chinchilla Local Fauna. Despite over a century and a half of collection and study, uncertainties concerning the taxa in the Chinchilla Local Fauna continue, largely from the absence of stratigraph- ically controlled excavations, lost or destroyed specimens, and poorly documented provenance data. Here we present a detailed and updated study of the vertebrate fauna from this site. The Pliocene vertebrate assemblage is represented by at least 63 taxa in 31 families. The Chinchilla Local Fauna is Australia’s largest, richest and best preserved Pliocene ver- tebrate locality, and is eminently suited for palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental investigations of the late Pliocene. Key words: Mammalia, Marsupialia, Pliocene, Australia, Queensland, Darling Downs. Julien Louys [[email protected]], Department of Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History, and Languages, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Canberra, 0200, Australia. Gilbert J. Price [[email protected]], School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
  • A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia

    A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia

    A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia THE OLIGOCENE Paul F. Huddleston DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION GEORGIA GEOLOGIC SURVEY I BULLETIN 105 Cover photo: Seventy feet of Bridgeboro Limestone exposed at the the type locality in the southern-most pit of the Bridgeboro Lime and Stone Company, 6.5 miles west-southwest of the community of Bridgeboro, south of Georgia 112, Mitchell County. A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia THE OLIGOCENE Paul F. Huddlestun ·Georgia Department of Natural Resources Joe D. Tanner, Commissioner Environmental Protection Division Harold F. Reheis, Director Georgia Geologic Survey William H. McLemore, State Geologist Atlanta 1993 BULLETIN 105 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ............................................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 ACKN"OWLEIJGMENTS ................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. :.............................. 2 Methods ........................................... ,...................................................................................................................
  • This Is a PDF File of the Manuscript That Has Been Accepted for Publication

    This Is a PDF File of the Manuscript That Has Been Accepted for Publication

    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Salford Institutional Repository This is a PDF file of the manuscript that has been accepted for publication. These proofs will be reviewed by the authors and editors before the paper is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content. All legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. A peculiar faunivorous metatherian from the early Eocene of Australia ROBIN M.D. BECK Beck, R.M.D. 201X. A peculiar faunivorous metatherian from the early Eocene of Australia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 5X (X): xxx-xxx. I describe Archaeonothos henkgodthelpi gen. et. sp. nov., a small (estimated body mass ~40-80g) tribosphenic metathe- rian from the early Eocene Tingamarra Fauna of southeastern Queensland, Australia. This taxon, known only from a sin- gle isolated upper molar (M2 or M3) is characterised by a very distinctive combination of dental features that, collective- ly, probably represent faunivorous adaptations. These include: a straight, elevated centrocrista; a metacone considerably taller than the paracone; a wide stylar shelf (~50% of the total labiolingual width of the tooth); reduced stylar cusps; a long postmetacrista; a small and anteroposteriorly narrow protocone; an unbasined trigon; and the absence of conules. Some of these features are seen in dasyuromorphians, but detailed comparisons reveal key differences between A. henk- godthelpi and all known members of this clade. A. henkgodthelpi also predates recent molecular estimates for the diver- gence of crown-group Dasyuromorphia.
  • Marsupial Carnivore Feeding Ecology and Extinction Risk

    Marsupial Carnivore Feeding Ecology and Extinction Risk

    WHO'S ON THE MENU: MARSUPIAL CARNIVORE FEEDING ECOLOGY AND EXTINCTION RISK Thesis submitted by ARIE TTARD M A For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science March 2013 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Attard First name: Marie Other name/s: Rosanna Gabrielle Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty: Faculty of Science Title: Who's on the menu: marsupial carnivore feeding ecology and extinction risk Abstract The aim of this thesis is to assess the role of diet in the extinction of Australia's iconic marsupial carnivore, the thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) in Tasmania. Herein, we present two novel techniques to address fundamental questions regarding their maximum prey size and potential competition with sympatric predators. Three-dimensional computer models of the thylacine skull were used to assess their biomechanical limitations in prey size within a comparative context. This included living relatives from the family Dasyuiridae as well as a recently recovered fossil, Nimbacinus dickoni, from the family Thylacindae. Stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) of tissues from thylacine and potential prey species were used to assess the thylacine’s dietary composition. Furthermore, we integrate historical and recent marsupial carnivore stable isotope data to assess long-term changes in the ecosystem in response to multiple human impacts following European settlement. Our biomechanical findings support the notion that solitary thylacines were limited to hunting prey weighing less than their body mass.
  • (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae) and the Evolutionary Context of the Modern Thylacine

    (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae) and the Evolutionary Context of the Modern Thylacine

    The pre-Pleistocene fossil thylacinids (Dasyuromorphia: Thylacinidae) and the evolutionary context of the modern thylacine Douglass S. Rovinsky1, Alistair R. Evans2,3 and Justin W. Adams1 1 Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia 2 School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia 3 Geosciences, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ABSTRACT The thylacine is popularly used as a classic example of convergent evolution between placental and marsupial mammals. Despite having a fossil history spanning over 20 million years and known since the 1960s, the thylacine is often presented in both scientific literature and popular culture as an evolutionary singleton unique in its morphological and ecological adaptations within the Australian ecosystem. Here, we synthesise and critically evaluate the current state of published knowledge regarding the known fossil record of Thylacinidae prior to the appearance of the modern species. We also present phylogenetic analyses and body mass estimates of the thylacinids to reveal trends in the evolution of hypercarnivory and ecological shifts within the family. We find support that Mutpuracinus archibaldi occupies an uncertain position outside of Thylacinidae, and consider Nimbacinus richi to likely be synonymous with N. dicksoni. The Thylacinidae were small-bodied (< ~8 kg) unspecialised faunivores until after the ~15–14 Ma middle Miocene climatic transition (MMCT). After the MMCT they dramatically increase in size and develop adaptations to a hypercarnivorous diet, potentially in response to the aridification of Submitted 27 March 2019 the Australian environment and the concomitant radiation of dasyurids. This fossil Accepted 10 July 2019 history of the thylacinids provides a foundation for understanding the ecology of the Published 2 September 2019 modern thylacine.