1 BEER'N'BONES 4.2 BEER'N'BONES Volume 4, Number 2. October, 2009 FLINDERS UNIVERSITY PALAEONTOLOGY SOCIETY

MESSAGE FROM THE spent some time looking at Madura After rising just after dawn, the fire PRESIDENT cave furthur towards the coast. This was stoked and the first rounds of tea, was heightened by to the prescence of coffee and jaffles were begun. Once G'day all, Ernest Lundlow, 'the godfather of the flies began their inevitable torment Australian cave palaeontology' (G. the crew would split into three groups. I'm writing this watching the new Prideaux, pers. Comm, 4/2009). Ernie The first group were the excavators. 'Hey Hey it's Saturday'. Some fossils was the first to begin palaeontological Abseiling down 20-odd meters, then should stay buried. work in the region over 50 years ago scrambling over the mammoth rock As most would be aware the club has (see interview below). fall brings you to the site. It consists been breety busy recently, with of a huge sediment events during science week, as floor with surface well as a field trip to Alcoota. features indicating a The Alcoota wrap though will substantial water have to wait, as this issue is prescence at some focussed upon a slightly stage. Two different region of oz. In April, excavation pits of a few palaeo society members 1x2m each were dug tagged along with Gav to the approximately 5m Nullarbor, and this issue from one another. As features some outcomes of the excavation continued trip and previous work in the a number of finds Thylacoleo caves. came to light. Weve also got a ton of other Particularly abundant palaeo news, an interview, were the as-yet and... well you can read. undescribed 'Devil Wallaby', a small Cheers, kangaroo with large A sight to behold. Sam Arman brow protrusions over The trip began, with the Adelaide and the eyes. Also found was an almost OLD NEWS Perth contingents rendezvous in complete skelaton, of Protemnodon, Eucla, just over the WA side of the the largest ever long-faced kangaroo. NULLARBOR FIELD REPORT SA/WA border. From there, the As well as these, there were also a expedition set off down the highway, number of gems, including a wombat, For approximately three weeks a team before heading right for a half-day and the fourth ever specimen, and the of palaeontologists, dedicated four-wheel drive trek, leading us to first juvenile of Procoptodon volunteers, and Lindsay made a trip to the site. The sheer expanse of the williamsii, a sthenurine kangaroo. the Nullarbor to continue work on a place is amazing. There is simply no Once the sediment bags were filled number of mid-Plestocene cave greater feeling of freedom than to pee they were transpoted to the solution deposits. Most work was focussed with the wind at your back, looking pipe where our resident tank Mark upon 'Laeana's breath cave', the name across a sunset soaked horizon and would lead the hauling efforts. Here translating as 'Lioness' breath', eluding knowing that there is not a single the second team would begin with the to the large air flow at the cave other human being for hundreds of essential, dry sieve, removing all of entrance as well as the cave being one kilometers in the distance. With a the finer grained sediment. The final of the original 'Thylacoleo Caves'. suitable patch of dirt settled upon, group was the wet screen. The These caves have been the focus of camp was pitched, necessities dug, a material itself was composed almost recent research in the region (see fire started (which was to remain lit entirely of clay, so while it screened Prideaux et al., 2007), and represent for the entirity of the trip), and the well, the limits on our water did make the best assemblage of arid vertebrate first tins cracked. progress slow. This problem was fauna for the period. The trip also Each day began in the same way. somewhat alleviated about halfway 2 BEER'N'BONES 4.2 through the trip when the heavens opened, and our campsite was soon swamped, allowing collection of a considerable amount of water to help the screening process. This yielded some really significant finds, with a number of smaller marsupial, reptile and bird material showing up. As well as this, a 'probable frog' ilium was discovered, a huge find since frogs have never been reported living in the Nullarbor. Seperate to this, was the work of Paul, a seasoned caver, and discoverer of many of the Thylacoleo caves. He crawled and squirmed through the crevices, mapping the cave, and collecting a huge number of bird specimens in the process. As the sun set and Carey announced 'beer'o'clock' tools were set down and A few of Leaena's gems. the night proceedings begun (see The first thing you notice is the sheer your favourite ale. Fourth, space and quatermasters report). vastness of the plains; the curvature of weight are limited; buy no more than As the rain got heavier, the trip split, the earth is clearly visible and the is necessary. Harsh rules but fair with half clearing up at Laenna's horizon remains unobscured enough under the circumstances, you breath' while another group set off to whichever way you turn. It is were welcome to have no beer at all if revisit Madura Cave with Ernie. Not magnificent desolation. The second that’s what you wanted! (You can play content to sit out the rain in the tent, thing you notice is a dryness of the this game at home, how much would Troglodite Paul continued to scurry throat, a certain aridity of the tongue, you bring?) around the various crevices of the a rising thirst. It was time for a beer. 'swiss-cheese' rockfall, finding Third realisation...... the nearest pub is The final carton count looked like another Thylacoleo skull on the very a roadhouse a couple of hours’ four- this: last day to round off proceedings. wheel drive away, and you will be out  Dr Tims x 7 here for a fortnight. Be prepared.  Coopers lager x 2 Sam Arman The secret to surviving on the beerless  Coopers light x 1 plains is to bring your own beverages  Carlton Draught x 2 Prideaux G.J., Long, J.A., Ayliffe, along with you. This sounds simple  Southwark Bitter x 1 L.K., Hellstrom, J.C., Pillans, B., enough but has several clauses  Hammer & Tongs x 1 Boles, W.B., Hutchinson, M.N., attached to it. First, the expeditions’  Guinness (400ml)x 2 Roberts, R.G., Cupper, M.L., Arnold, purpose is to collect fossils, beer is  Amsterdam (400ml)x 2 L.J., Devine, P., Warburton, N.M., actually a secondary consideration  Kilkenny (400ml) x 1 (2007), An Arid-Adapted Middle (that’s devotion to Science for you!)  Amsterdam (Bottles) x 1 Pleistocene Vertebrate Fauna from so all beer must be purchased in  Little creatures (bottles) x 1 South-Central Australia, Nature, vol. tinned form to allow room for all of  Cider (bottles) x 1 445, pp422-425 those plentiful and valuable fossils on the return trip, bottles take up as much A reasonable amount and a good SURVIVING THE “NULLABEER” room full or empty whereas cans can variety to boot! You will note that PLAINS be crushed to reduce volume. some bottles were present; this was an Secondly, you must provide enough oversight from independent visitors Nullabeer: beer to sustain yourself for the who had no need to consider space Null= Void, None, Zero, Empty. duration, people with enough beer limitations. tend to laugh and say cruel things to Overall, the all round favourite fluid Abeer= A Beer, One Solitary Beer, the unprepared as they quietly sip at was Dr Tims, a beer that stands proud One Beer of any description. their nightly glass of water. Third, the in its mediocrity and was coveted by beer is sourced from your own budget, all. Other beers worthy of mention Also known as the Beerless Plains, be thrifty but not mean, a larger were the Tall tins of Guinness and The Boozeless Void, The Dry Horrors, quantity of lesser quality beer is Kilkenny, proof that you can get a The Beer Gone Flat, and known preferable to diminishing amounts of decent beer in a tin and the Tall tins of locally as Dijabringyabeeralong. 3 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

illuminata (see BEER'N'BONES, FOSSIL FISH LIKE TO _ _ _ _ volume 3, number 1). The newest PART II species has been given the silky moniker of Bohra nullarbora, in As reported in BEER'N'BONES reference to the region of its volume 3, number 2 it has been discovery, in Leaena's Breath Cave in demonstrated that within the extinct the Nullarbor plain. The discovery Placoderm fishes, internal fertilisation highlights the large change that has is thought to have occurred. This occurred to the Nullarbor flora and knowledge has now been extended, fauna, that the system previously was with the discovery of a specimen able to support two distinct tree where the member involved has kangaroo species. It also highlights survived fossilisation. This is in the how our understanding of tree form of a pelvic clasper in a specimen kangaroos is changing, with a number of Incisoscutum richiei, and show of new species of this group, now considerable sexual dimorphism in restricted to Queensland and New form. The claspers are used in Guinea, being found across the nation. internal fertilisation to assist in Researchers have also noted that the reproduction as seen in extant sharks Carey's Kitchen large amount of variation between today. It is thought that this feature is foot and ankle bones between species, likely to be present throughout the noting that this may indicate a large Ptyctodontia and Arthrodira; two Amsterdam, proof that not all beer in variety of climbing specialisations, orders of Placoderms including the tins is that great. akin to lemurs and monkeys internally fertilising Masterpices, and Keeping the precious stores cold was elsewhere. Austoptyctodus. another challenge, we had three Engel fridges and a deep freezer running Sam Arman Sam Arman from a generator during the day but early on they were packed full of Prideaux, G.P., Warburton, N., (2009), Ahlberg, P., Trinajstic, K., Johanson, perishable food. A lot of Bohra nullarbora sp. nov., a second Z., Long, J., (2009), Pelvic claspers organisational skills were used to pack tree-kangaroo (Marsupialia: confirm chondrichthyan-like internal enough beer into the nooks and Macropodidae) from the Pleistocene fertilisation in arthrodires, Nature, crannies between milk, cheese and of the Nullarbor Plain, Western doi:10.1038 yoghurt each day. After a few good Australia, (2009), Records of the West meals this problem diminished and we Australian Museum, vol. 25, pp165- ended up with a whole fridge devoted 179 to the chilling of the tins. As the sun began to set and the flies retired for the evening, dusty, parched palaeontologists sat around the fire and chatted to the sweet crack/hiss symphony of opening tins and the final, punctuated crunch of an empty can being crushed underfoot. It was poetic, if a little smelly and foul- mouthed. Total number of beers left over = 0 ...... The Nullabeer Plain had once again regained its title.

Carey Burke

TREELESS PLAIN DUPED AGAIN

Sticking with the Nullarbor, the evidence for a large woodland in the region during the mid-Pleistocene continues to grow. This is via the description of another tree kangaroo from the region, to add to Bohra Cranial featres used to distinguish B. illuminata from B. nullarbora 4 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

TASSIE WALLABIES WASTED prospect a series of fluvial and lacustrine sediments Although not essentially palaeo spanning the last four or five related this story is simply too funny million years and we were not to share. Tasmanian wallabies particularly eager to find have been reported by Attorney fossils from the laminated General Lara Gettings eating opium sediments of the Pliocene poppies, with the resultant high (2-5Ma) Tirari Formation, a leading them to hop in circles. An formation from which very additional outcome of this has been few fossils are known. that the hoppers have been creating While investigating an area large circular patterns in the fields known as Keekalanna reminiscent of the crop circles seen in Soakage we received a call bad documentaries, Led Zeppelin's over the radio from Rod 'Remasters' cover, and that crappy Mel asking us to have a look at Gibson movie. The crops themselves some footprints he’d are plantations used for medicinal stumbled across in the river drugs such as Morphine, with bed. Like many rivers in Tasmania producing 50% of the central Australia, the bed of world's supply of pharmaceutical the Warburton is dry for morphine. most of the year, flowing only occasionally when the Sam Arman monsoonal rains dump their The fossilised footprints in situ. loads over southwest http://www.themercury.com.au/article/ Queensland. This section of the river they’d left behind. The morphology 2009/06/25/80825_fun-weird- had not seen water in at least five and dimensions of the track ways news.html years and erosion of the land surface they’d left, in their mad dash for was due to wind, rather than water. safety, were completely different to Trevor Worthy (an authority on those Rod had found in the river bed, Australian and New Zealand fossil and we knew were on to something. birds who accompanied us on the Back at the footprint site further trip) and I decided to head over to excavation of the track ways revealed take a look and see what Rod had that they were, in fact, protruding found. from the sediments of the Tirari When we arrived we were blown Formation, palaeomagnetically dated away, what was preserved in front of to around 4.8 Ma! us was not one or two prints but six The mode of preservation of the separate track ways, over 100 footprints was quite unusual; the individual prints, of a very large original prints had been made animal. approximately 50 mm deep into soft In the interest of good scientific mud and had been in-filled with method we first had to rule out the harder, gypsum rich sediment. After prints simply being modern, and the nearly 5 million years the modern river cut down to its present level and It all makes sense now. only animals in the area with feet big enough to have made these tracks preferentially eroded the softer were camels. In our trusty Toyota sediments surrounding the footprints, FOSSIL FOOTPRINTS IN leaving casts of each print as CENTRAL AUSTRALIA Hilux we set out in search of a mob of these furry dromedaries and it wasn’t pedestals, marching out into the modern river channel. When we rolled In June 2006 a group of long before we found some likely culprits, finishing off what little was over one of these pedestals we were palaeontologists headed out to a delighted to find that an outline of the stretch of the Warburton River, NE of left of the native vegetation in the area. We put pedal to the metal and track-maker’s foot was preserved at Lake Eyre in search of old bones. The the base. expedition was led by Dick Tedford the alarmed beasts began walking and then running in the opposite direction, The only kind of marsupial large and Rod Wells, two giants of South enough to have made the tracks would Australian mammalian palaeontology, wondering why the big noisy white thing had it in for them. This was be a diprotodontid or palorchestid. and I was lucky enough to be invited Palorchestids are relatively rare in the along for the ride. The aim was to exactly what we were after and we hopped out to have a look at the prints fossil record and none are known 5 BEER'N'BONES 4.2 from the sediments in which we were single animal working. In fact, the only zig-zagging diprotodontid known from the back and forth. lacustrine sediments of the Tirari This was Formation was found on the same trip, confirmed after Trevor having discovered a partial we had collated skull of the diprotodontid Euowenia the footprint grata. A diprotodontid leg had been measurements found on a previous trip in 2001 but and found that, the identification of its owner had based on foot remained a mystery. After discovery size; at least of the partial skull the leg was four different assigned to E. grata, resulting in a individuals (and perfectly preserved, articulated foot probably six) for us to compare with our track ways. had made the We were extremely lucky to find that track ways. the shape of this foot matched almost Track ways set perfectly with that of the fossil out in this footprints, allowing us to link the fashion (side by track ways to E. grata. In many cases side, all moving the species responsible for a fossil in the same track way remains unknown, resulting direction) are in what are known as ichnospecies; often taxa described solely on the shape of considered to be the footprints they left behind. indicative of Fossil track ways can do far more than herd behaviour, just alert us to the presence of a this being the particular animal though. Through first indication careful measurement of the various that Euowenia track way parameters including: foot may have lived The mapped trackway. length and width, stride length, track in herds. The way width and pace angulation we width of the moving at about 3.5 km/h as they can start to build a picture of how the track ways also suggested that wandered across this ancient lake bed. track maker moved. There is thus Euowenia walked with its legs in What Rod Wells had discovered in much behavioural information under the body, similar to that seen in this footprint site was a moment in preserved in fossil track ways that can animals such as cows, rather than time nearly 5 million years ago, only be guessed at through study of having the legs spread wide apart, preserved in the sediments. The track skeletal remains. such as that seen in wombats (the ways indicated a group of six The six track ways discovered at closest living relatives of Euowenia grata slowly making their Keekalanna Soakage were all heading diprotodontids). Calculations based on way across a muddy claypan, perhaps in the same direction, suggesting to us track spacings, in relation to the size in search of water. Further research that we were looking at the tracks of of the individuals responsible, also has revealed just how rare fossil track multiple individuals, rather than a suggested the animals were probably ways such as this are: only one other account of Australian fossil megafaunal track ways has been published! These tracks record the movements of Diprotodon optatum, the biggest marsupial ever to have walked the earth, as it made its way across Lake Callabonna, near the SA/NSW border. The track ways were discovered in 1970 and a return trip in 1990 failed to find them, the tracks having either been re-buried or washed away.

Eowenia footprints and feet. Aaron Camens 6 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

THREE NEW AUSSIE DINOSAURS Australovenator wintonensis, with its attributable to species (such as the REVEALED generic name translated as 'southern Megaraptor material featured in hunter', with the species name again BEER'N'BONES 3.2) may now be The ears of twelve year olds referring to Winton. It is described as attributable to Australovenator. worldwide have perked up with the a medium sized allosauroid, and is announcement of the discovery and comprised of a number of elements, Sam Arman description of three new dinosaurs but mostly limb bones including some from Winton, central Queensland. The vicious raptor-like metacarpals (finger Hocknull, S.A., White, M.A., Tischler, age of these beasts has been estimated bones) , and a dentary with teeth. This T.A., Cook, A.G., Calleja, N.D., to be late Albian (~100 Ma) on the find is believed to be derived from Sloan, T., Elliot, D.A., (2009), New basis of spore-pollen. The locality similar forms found in Japan and Mid-Cretaceous (Latest Albian) itself has been determined to probably Europe. It is Dinosaurs from Winton, Queensland, represent an ancient billabong, with also considered that other Australian Australia, PloS one, vol.4, no.7., pp1- freshwater snail, mollusc and lungfush theropod material previously not 51 found accompanying the dinosaur material. The first specimen is Diamantinasaurous matildae, named after the Diamantina river that runs nearby, and Banjo Patterson's iconic 'Walzing matilda', which is believed to have been written in Winton in 1985. The type is composed of a number of elements, particularly its bulky limbs, including a complete right forelimb and hand. Phylogenetic analysis reveals it to be a derived lithostrotian titanosaur, which places it amongst some of the largest (up to 100 tonnes) animals to have ever walked on land. The second specimen is also a titanosaur, but a basal titanosauriform, and has been named Wintonotitan wattsi, after Winton, and it's discoverer Keith Watts. It is comprised of much of the axial skelaton, including tail with chevrons, and forelimbs. The discovery of these two sauropods is of much interest as until this find there has only been one species known from Australia. That D. matildae, and W. wattsi are derived and basal respectively will also help place the Australian finds within a worldwide biogeographic framework. The final species is 7 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

EXPLAINING AUSTRALIA'S Move forward a century and a quarter, (consumers of shrubs and leaves of PLEISTOCENE EXTINCTIONS and the debate superficially seems to trees). Grasslands spread favouring have shifted little. Surely we must grazers, including red and grey Australia’s biota has fared poorly have learned something given the past kangaroos, which have benefited since European settlement. Countless few decades of intensive research into further since European settlement due species have been driven or are en faunas, people and environments of to the provision of permanent route to extinction, and ecosystems the late Pleistocene (125–10 ka). Will watering points for stock. A number of have been irreversibly damaged. we ever know what caused these studies over the past decade have Deplorable as it is, this was not the extinctions? And what effects have independently supported landscape first wave of extinctions to sweep these had on vegetation patterns and burning as a likely extinction cause. across Australia in recent times ecosystem complexity? What about disease? Could a (geologically speaking). The first Until the late 1960s overhunting by particularly virulent pathogen, people to set foot on the continent people and increased aridity remained brought here by humans, have played around 50 thousand years ago (ka) the two dominant extinction a role? This general idea has been found a very different landscape hypotheses. A third idea, landscape proposed as a possible explanation for occupied by very different animals, burning by people, was tabled by Pleistocene extinctions on other land which bore little resemblance to those archaeologist Rhys Jones of the masses, which saw mammoths, sabre- they had seen before. These unique Australian National University and tooth cats, giant lemurs, moas and so creatures included the rhinoceros- Duncan Merrilees of the Western forth disappear, at different times in sized Diprotodon, marsupial ‘lions’, Australian Museum, entirely different places. In Australia, giant wombats, short-faced kangaroos, independently of each other in 1968. however, it is difficult to imagine how horned tortoises, and giant a disease could account for the flightless birds related to disappearance of such an array of geese. These were not the unrelated species – more than 60 ancestors of modern species, species including a giant goanna, but cohabited the continent crocodiles, snakes, turtles, several with them for at least the last kinds of birds, echidnas and many half-million years. By 40 ka marsupials – and then primarily the more than 90% of larger larger species. Humans would have species (and numerous to have been capable of spreading medium-sized species often the disease continent-wide, but overlooked in our fixation unaffected by it themselves. In his with “megafauna”) had excellent book on Australian become extinct. What could mammal extinctions, Chris possibly account for the Johnson (2006) also pointed out disappearance of such a that large species in southeast Asia diverse array of animals? (e.g., tapirs, rhinoceroses, This question has become one primates) would have been of the longest-debated in exposed to this disease, but were historical science. Anatomist evidently not susceptible. This Sir Richard Owen fired the leaves us with the relative first salvo, arguing that “no importance of climatic changes adequate cause suggests itself Meiolania platyceps, the 'horned turntle'. preceding and/or concurrent with to my mind save the hostile human arrival in Australia, and the Observations by Jones of modern agency of man” (Owen 1877:viii). A activities of humans themselves burning practices by Aborigines led to few years later, geologist Charles through unsustainable hunting or his coining the term ‘firestick Wilkinson, having seen the effects of habitat disturbance, as the most likely farming’, a technique involving severe drought on kangaroos and culprits (in isolation or combination). repeated burning of vegetation to emus, as well as the diversity of fossil Much of my research over the past promote grassy understorey remains, including crocodiles, in the decade has tried to address the development, facilitating easier Pleistocene Cuddie Springs deposit problem by tracking pre- and post- hunting, particularly of kangaroos. (north-central New South Wales), human changes in the makeup of Jones and Merrilees argued that, when emphasised the lack of “conclusive vertebrate communities through time, first implemented, this burning regime proof” for a human role. He suggested and by gaining a better understanding greatly altered the composition of that “the general cause of the of the ecologies of extinct species. plant communities, selecting against disappearance of these animals since This work mainly involves retrieving fire-sensitive food plants, and severely Pleistocene times [was the] want of large fossil samples from caves. impacting browsing herbivores water” (Wilkinson 1885:1238–1239). Animals fall into caves through roof 8 BEER'N'BONES 4.2 openings and are unable to escape. Bones become encased in sediments that enter the cave the same way. Some deposits also incorporate bones derived from regurgitated owl pellets or remains dragged in by mammal predators. Presence/absence data for species along with abundance data within one layer can then be treated as a ‘snapshot’ of a fauna from one interval in time, and compared with those above or below in the same section, or with other deposits elsewhere. Recent advances have allowed cave deposits to be dated using multiple techniques. The World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves in southeastern South Australia represent the only known locality on Earth with a record of vertebrate life Gav in the Thylacoleo Caves in 2002 covering the past half-million years. Its value is enhanced by the fact that it discovered that a diverse fauna We are currently in the process of is directly comparable with a rainfall consisting of 69 vertebrate species, compiling and analysing data record preserved in stalagmites and including around 30 different collected from 1996 to 2008 in the stalactites. Our work at Naracoorte herbivores, inhabited the centre of the aptly named Tight Entrance Cave in (Prideaux et al. 2007) was the first to now ‘Treeless Plain’ at around 500 ka. the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Region, show how an Australian mammal Unfortunately, we have no pollen to where we have a record of vertebrates, community responded to glacial- indicate vegetation directly, but to climate and bushfires (courtesy of interglacial climatic cycling support so many species it must have charcoal preserved alongside fossils) (warm/wet versus cool/dry times) been very different to the modern extending back to 150 ka. The results prior to human arrival. We showed shrub steppe, and was probably a are exciting in light of our other that populations waxed and waned in woodland / shrubland mosaic. Was it research, but until they are published response to climatic cycling, with wetter than today? Not according to in a scientific journal we won’t be forest-adapted species retreating away the evidence. Isotope ratios preserved letting any thylacoleos out of the bag. in drier times, while others became in herbivore tooth enamel and the more abundant in drier times. Despite modern distribution of smaller Gavin Prideaux these fluctuations, all larger species mammal, bird and reptile species there before 500 ka were still there at found alongside the larger mammals Johnson, C. N. (2006), Australia’s 300, 200 and 80 ka. The fauna was suggest the climate was similar. mammal extinctions: a 50,000 year resilient to climatic variations. Clearly, the large species were well history. Cambridge University Press, Extinction of all larger species bar the adapted to a dry climate for half-a- Melbourne. grey kangaroo by 40 ka cannot be million years before succumbing, ascribed primarily to increased aridity, which rules out aridity alone as the Owen, R. (1877), Researches on the especially given that all small to extinction cause. Interestingly, the fossil remains of the extinct mammals medium-sized mammals persisted more palatable plants scattered around of Australia; with a notice of the until Europeans arrived. Local climate the periphery of the Nullarbor Plain extinct marsupials of England. was relatively cool and moist, and today (e.g., myoporums, sandalwoods, Erxleben, London. judging from the earlier record, quandongs, native apricots) are united should have been favourable for most by their sensitivity to fire. Perhaps an Prideaux, G.J. et al. (2007), larger mammals until 30 ka. The increase in bushfire frequency and/or Mammalian responses to Pleistocene arrival of humans in the region just intensity changed the vegetation and climate change in southeastern prior to the extinctions arouses precipitated the extinction of animal Australia. Geology 35, 33–36. suspicion. species reliant on fire-sensitive plants. Some of our other work has been The mystery that needs solving is the Wilkinson, C. S. (1885), President’s concentrated in the Nullarbor cause of this changed burning regime; address, Annual General Meeting. Thylacoleo Caves, where pristine one possibility is that it was human Proceedings of the Linnean Society of Pleistocene marsupial skeletons were induced. NSW 9, 1207–1241. discovered by cavers in 2002. We 9 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

THYLACOLEO ROCKS palaeontologists that it does represent image which has now mostly be Thylacoleo rather than other eroded away. The find, and continued The question of human megafaunal suggested quadrupeds, such as study of it should help to not only overlap in Australia has long been an Thylacinus (tassie tiger). Particularly assess the human-megafaunal issue of interest to palaeontologists, informative in this regard were its coexistence, but help to consider the particularly those proposing some sort large forepaws, broad head and blunt exact role that megafaunal animals of human role in the megafaunal muzzle compared to the long thin had in indigenous Australian extinction. Human-megafauna muzzle used in depictions of mythology and culture. chronological overlap has long been Thylacinus. The genitals of the animal proposed, but with a lack of direct are also depicted, suggesting it to be Sam Arman evidence, such as human modified male, and in season. It also features bone, this has been difficult to other elements of the creature that are Akerman, K., Willing, T., (2009), An determine. A recent discovery of rock unlikely to be drawn from the fossil ancient rock painting of a marsupial art from the Kimberly offers a new record, such as a striped body pattern, lion, Thylacoleo carnifex, from the angle of evidence on the issue, with and an upward curving tail. Other Kimberley, Western Australia, the depiction of what appears to be a elements suggested by morphological Antiquity, vol. 83, issue 319, pp1-3 Thylacoleo painted on a rock shelter studies of the animal, such as its wall. While it is yet to be fully opposable toe and large eyes are also INTERVIEW: ERNEST documented, the three photos of the represented. It is thought that the LUNDELIUS JR. image have convinced a number of image was probably part of a larger Tell me about your initial tip to the Nullarbor in 1955. I came on the urging of Dr Bert Maine, who I met in 1950 from the University of Chicago, who suggested that when I finished my degree I should apply for a Fulbright [scholarship], to come out to Western Australia. He knew some localities that should be investigated for vertebrate fossils, and he had a good background in both zoology and geology and understood very well the interrelationships of these two fields. So as I finished my Phd I applied for a Fulbright and received one, and left for Australia in late 1954, and spent a year here. Firstly you went down to mammoth cave in the south west, is that right? Yes, Mammoth Cave had already The potential Thylacoleo rock art produced some fossils, which were reported by Ludwig Glauert, who was the director of the museum at that time. So I got acquainted with Mr Glauert, who was a bit of a prickly character, but he and I got on surprisingly well. We went down to mammoth cave, but didn't find much bone, but did find some charcoal fragments that I think came from where he collected his specimens, and they returned a radiocarbon date well beyond that of 37,000 years, it was basically dead carbon. What made you date it? Well radiocarbon dating in those days was only something like ten or twelve A sketch of the image 10 BEER'N'BONES 4.2 years old. Libby had initiated the technique at Chicago just before I went up there as a graduate student. So there was a chance to found out how old this stuff was. The Humble Research lab in Houston also processed the samples for free, and were apparently very happy to do it. So all that mammoth cave gave was that it was older than 37,000 years? Yes, but that was more than we knew before. What we could tell was that it was beyond the scope of radiocarbon dating at the time. And then you moved on to Devil's Lair? We went into the Devils Lair, which I called Mount Cave and almost decided that it was a Ernie, at the back on the right, takes a break in Leaena's Breath Cave. worthless cave as the bone was ends. That was the one that told us around that stage which is also just stomped on the cave floor. When that we had some extinct taxa, but still interesting as the koala disappears in we hit the floor with a hammer we had hit nowhere near the full the south-west with the megafauna, in though, it sounded like there was extent of it, we only excavated down the mid 40,000 year bracket. some sediment underneath, so we about a foot or so. The larger scale What megafauna did you find really went at it and broke through the excavation happened in 1964, where there? flowstone to the layers underneath. we dug the full extent of it and took There was some sthenurines; Our excavation only went down about the radiocarbon dates. Sthenurus newtonii, and a few more, two feet, and we got some Tasmanian It must be interesting to be back in but I'd have to go back and look at the devil and some kangaroo stuff, and Madura cave after 45 years, where list. the date on it was 8000 or something exactly did you excavate? Thylacoleo? like that. Right here, though it's not particularly Now that was an interesting one, as it And that Sarcophilus, the tassie obvious here due to infilling and was found in the upper unit, and when devil, that's where the cave got it's erosion that has happened I looked back over the publication name, is that right? subsequently. There were a number of later on I had to reject what we had Yes, that's right. radiocarbon dates which matched up, actually said. We noticed that it Did you find the human tooth then? down to the bottom, which was about looked quite young, but looked I don't recall exactly when or the three meters deep. The radiocarbon different to the other material from the circumstances, it may have been then, dates returned about 37,000 at the same unit, therefore there was a or it may have been in the subsequent bottom years if you want to believe possibly that it had been re-worked trip in 1964. I remember I was them. from an older deposit. It's a bit of an extremely surprised when I did. Are radiocarbon dates from that enigma; I don't really know what to During that year you also went to time are also likely to be faulty? think about it. Madura Cave, and made some That's right. The period of that I guess that's something we'll find stunning finds. sequence in Madura is right on the out about down the track. In 1955 we looked at a number of limit of radiocarbon dating when we Well that's something that new caves out on the nullarbor, but mostly took them, so one of the first things excavations may be able to shed some just the surface material, which is you'll have to do if an excavation is light on. I'd just like to add how interesting and important, but doesn't reopened here is to take some new pleased I am that the next generation tell us anything about the longer term dates. is interested in going back into this history. We got to Madura cave very So was it in that 37,000 year layer issue and add more to it and probably late in the trip and realised that it that you began to find the correct errors and just generally add to probably has some sedimentary megafauna? our knowledge. thickness to it, but we had no way of No, they showed up earlier on, knowing how much. We put in a small somewhere around the 18 to 20,000 Interview by Lindsay Hatcher excavation pit, from which we got a layer. We also found some koala sthenurus tooth and some odds and 11 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

FEATURE FOSSIL 4: Eohippus angustidens (Marsh 1876)

This section strives to inform our readers on the intriguing stories behind palaeontological discoveries. This issue however we will instead focus on a fictional tale of discovery, told through the 1969 film The Valley of Gwangi. The film tells the story of an estranged couple, T.J., and Tuck, working on opposing sides in the Wild West stunt show circuit. As the film continues Tuck teams up with a young boy named Lopé who introduces him to a Palaeontologist named Professor Bromley, who has fossilised trackways that make him think that humans and Eohippus may have coexisted. This begins an adventure that confirms Bromley's theory dramatically and leads on to further discoveries that I will leave undisclosed. Eohippus translates as 'dawn horse' and they were very abundant during the Eocene, living in woodlands and savannah. Eohippus as a taxa has had a mixed history. It was originally described by Marsh in 1876, however the taxon was removed when Marsh met with Huxley, 'Darwin's Bulldog' in 1879. Here, it was decided that specimens of Eohippus were likely to Horse evolution, as portrayed in preety much every biology textbook. actually represent Hyracotherium equids were described as documented sequence of intermediate such as those found in Europe, and Hyracotherium, with only current forms from Hyracotherium to Equus which due to its earlier description by revision, especially with the assistance (modern horses). This sequence, Owen in 1841, should have of new stratigrafically controlled particularly due to the popularity of precedence. Subsequently many fossil excavations recovering horses, allowed Huxley to and adding fossil species demonstrate the mechanisms of such as Eohippus. The evolution in easily understandable revision places ways to help push for acceptance of Hyracotherium as basal evolutionary ideas. The story to all of the Equidae, and proposed is quite a simple one; that of Eohippus once again a small, many toed, browser with low being applied and crowned teeth, to a large, single toed recognised to consist grazer with high crowned teeth. A exclusively to North transition not entirely unlike that seen American material. in the evolution of skippy in Australia. The meeting of Huxley The argument was solid, and and Marsh also had great cladograms such as those above are repurcussions for still featuring in biology text books evolutionary theory. This today. More detailed analysis has also was through the revealed the tempo of this change, increasingly well particularly in respect to the best T.J., Tuck and Eohippus. known structures, the teeth. This 12 BEER'N'BONES 4.2 shows evolutionary change to have Froehlich, D.J., (2002), Quo vadis The game works by dividing into 2 only been slight in the earliest forms, eohippus? The systematics and teams, Team Past and Team Present. and the largest change occuring in the taxonomy of the early Eocene equids Its also probably best to have a coin adaptive radiation of equids as they (Perissodactyla), Zoological Journal handy to stop fights over Team Past. moved into true grazing forms. of the Linnean Society, vol.134, Reconstructing other factors of pp141-256 Team Present drinks when... Hyracotherium from America, and -The palaeontologist enters a scene. therefore likely to be Eohippus has Gingerich, P.D., (1981), Variation, -Anyone says something in spanish. also been undertaken. This has Sexual Dimorphism, and Social -The posee rolls in. revealed that there appears to be Structure in the Early Eocene Horse -Guns are drawn. sexual dimorphism present in two Hyracotherium (Mammalia, species. This results in males of H. Perissodactyla), Palaeobiology, vol.7, Team Past drinks when... grangeri being on average 1.15 times no.4., pp443-455 -Anything prehistoric enters the scene. larger than females, and H. tapirinum -Anthing prehistoric dies. being 1.18 times larger. They also MacFadden, B.J., (1988), Fossil -Anyone says 'Lopi'. displayed canine dimorphism with the horses from “Eohippus” -Gwangi roars. males having canines 1.40 and 1.15 (Hyracotherium) to Equuus, 2: rates times larger respectively, although a of dental evolution revisited, For experienced campaigners try low sample size was recognised. This Biological Journal of the Linnean invoking the Gwangi rule, where all finding was particularly interesting as Society, vol. 35, pp37-48 drinks must be consumed by using modern horses show no real . only your middle and index fingers. dimorphism. Although exactly which To celebrate Eohippus, factors led to this dimorphism is hard BEER'N'BONES presents The Valley Geeks: to attribute, it was postulated that it of Gwangi drinking game. All it was probably due to intrasexual requires is some drinks (I suggest PRESIDENT: Sam Arman selection, and furthermore that these Coopers Stout; in a pint glass you can [email protected] species probably had a polygynous easily discern a sedimntary profile), a VICE PRESIDENT: Lesley Moore breeding system. copy of Gwangi and some fellow [email protected] geeks. In the spirit of Eohippus it SECRETARY: James Moore Sam Arman should also be played near dawn, or if [email protected] not at least near a horse.

A very rabbit-like Eohippus meets Equus. 13 BEER'N'BONES 4.2

A final word on the nullarbor expedition. Cheers to Gav for finding this beauty.