A5072297500- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Tracheal and airway disorders
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Software Testing and Debugging Techniques
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Distributed and Parallel Computing Systems
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Forest ecology and management
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Forest Management and Policy
UNSW Sydney
2011-2023
Environmental Earth Sciences
2006-2021
University of New England
2016
The University of Adelaide
2016
South Australian Museum
2016
University of Salford
2016
Cisco Systems (United States)
2012
Little is known about how the large brains of mammals are accommodated into dazzling diversity their skulls. It has been suggested that brain shape influenced by relative size, it evolves or develops according to extrinsic intrinsic mechanical constraints, and its can provide insights proportions function. Here, we characterize variation among 84 marsupial cranial endocasts 57 species including fossils, using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics virtual dissections. Statistical analysis...
Palaeodiversity and relationships of all groups Australian mammals are reviewed. The fossil record spanning this time is variable quality. 'Dark Ages' about which nothing known in terms mammal evolution include the late Triassic to Jurassic, Cretaceous Paleocene middle Eocene Oligocene. Very little early Miocene. Oligocene Miocene documents highest levels biodiversity for continent, comparable that characterises lowland rainforests Borneo Brazil. Order Monotremata spans at...
Current lists of species-level representation in faunas from 80 Cenozoic fossil localities at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area have been compiled by review recorded occurrences taxa obtained both published and unpublished sources. More than 290 are represented, comprising mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fishes, molluscs crustaceans. The data presented for purpose ongoing palaeoecological biochronological studies.
Lineage zones within nine contemporaneous mammalian lineages represented in the Cenozoic fossil vertebrate record from Riversleigh World Heritage Area northern Australia are used to resolve a series of faunal intervals Late Oligocene Miocene. The results agree with previous interpretations biostratigraphy, provide evidence for presence time horizons subdividing some four previously recognized biochrons A–D and also supporting allocation greater number faunas biochronology than other methods...
Fossils of a marsupial mole (Marsupialia, Notoryctemorphia, Notoryctidae) are described from early Miocene deposits in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland, Australia. These represent first unequivocal fossil record order two living species which among world's most specialized and bizarre mammals, but also convergent on certain fossorial placental mammals (most notably chrysochlorid golden moles). The remains genuinely 'transitional', documenting an intermediate stage...
Abstract We describe the partial cranium and skeleton of a new diprotodontian marsupial from late Oligocene (~26–25 Ma) Namba Formation South Australia. This is one oldest Australian fossils known an associated it reveals previously unsuspected morphological diversity within Vombatiformes, clade that includes wombats (Vombatidae), koalas (Phascolarctidae) several extinct families. Several aspects skull teeth taxon, which we refer to family, are intermediate between members fossil family...
The marsupial family Diprotodontidae (Diprotodontia, Vombatiformes) is a group of extinct large-bodied (60–2500 kg) wombat-like herbivores that were common and geographically widespread in Cenozoic fossil deposits Australia New Guinea. Typically they are regarded to be gregarious, terrestrial quadrupeds have been likened body form among placental groups sheep, rhinoceros hippopotami. Arguably, one the best represented species zygomaturine diprotodontid Nimbadon lavarackorum which known from...
ABSTRACT Recent molecular phylogenies of peramelemorphians suggest that thylacomyids (bilbies) and peramelids (modern bandicoots) diversified sometime in the late Oligocene or early Miocene. Until now, however, earliest fossil evidence was from Australian Pliocene. Here we describe oldest peramelid thylacomyid middle Miocene Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland. The peramelid, Crash bandicoot, gen. et sp. nov., is represented by a single maxilla containing M1–3 exhibits...
ABSTRACT Here we describe the most plesiomorphic koala yet known. Priscakoala lucyturnbullae, gen. et sp. nov., is fourth and largest species described from Miocene deposits in Riversleigh World Heritage area, northern Australia. It known a maxilla with M1–3 isolated M2, M3 or M4 m1. Relationships within diprotodontian suborder Vombatiformes are clarified using cranial dental characters based on data set compiled new more complete materials for each of respective vombatiform families....
We document morphological variation (both geographical and sexual) in the dentition of extant koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, order to facilitate discrimination species boundaries extinct phascolarctids. Considerable is evident dental structures previously used diagnose several phascolarctid fossil species. Consistent patterns are not between sexes or geographic regions, with as great samples within them. Metric upper molar dimensions Victorian (southern) males significantly larger than...
Abstract A new specimen of the bizarrely specialised Malleodectes mirabilis from middle Miocene deposits in Riversleigh World Heritage Area provides first and only information about molar dentition this strange group extinct marsupials. Apart striking autapomorphies such as enormous P3, other dental features stylar cusp D being larger than B suggest it belongs Order Dasyuromorphia. Phylogenetic analysis 62 craniodental characters places within Dasyuromorphia albeit with weak support without...
ABSTRACT We present the first detailed account of cranial ontogeny in a fossil marsupial. An exceptionally well-preserved ontogenetic sample representing 26 individuals Nimbadon lavarackorum (Diprotodontidae, Zygomaturinae) is described from 15 million-year-old cave deposit Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland. Based on comparison with one N. lavarackorum's closest living relatives, common wombat (Vombatus ursinus), represents developmental stages spanning suckling pouch young through...
Abundant, exceptionally well-preserved cranial material of the zygomaturine diprotodontid Nimbadon lavarackorum is described from AL90 site, a middle Miocene deposit in Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland, Australia. The has enabled comprehensive assessment expected level morphological variation within fossil marsupial species single locality, thus forming benchmark for determining boundaries extinct marsupials. Variation assessed by quantitative and qualitative means. Univariate...
Neohelos is a geographically and temporally widespread genus of Cenozoic diprotodontid marsupials commonly used to biocorrelate otherwise undated Australian fossil deposits.Here, we revise the describe two new species from Riversleigh World Heritage Area northwestern Queensland.Neohelos solus sp.nov. small, relatively abundant, plesiomorphic form, while rarer, larger davidridei most derived with an upper premolar morphology that structurally antecedant members Late Miocene...
Exceptionally well-preserved skulls and postcranial elements of a new species the plesiomorphic stem macropodiform Balbaroo have been recovered from middle Miocene freshwater limestone deposits in Riversleigh World Heritage Area northwestern Queensland, Australia. This constitutes richest intraspecific sample for any currently known basal "kangaroo", and, along with additional material referred to fangaroo, provides insights into structural variability within most prolific archaic clade –...
Louys, J., Black, K., Archer, M., Hand, S.J. & Godthelp, H., June, 2007. Descriptions of koala fossils from the Miocene Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland and implications for Litokoala (Marsupialia, Phascolarctidae). Alcheringa 31, 99‐110. ISSN 0311-5518. is revised on basis new material early to middle deposits Riversleigh. A species described System B Outasite Local Fauna. garyjohnstoni sp. nov. possesses a unique combination both plesiomorphic apomorphic dental features, making its...
Abstract Ngapakaldia bonythoni has been recognized in several Oligo-Miocene deposits at Riversleigh, thus extending the known temporal and geographic range of species. The excellent state preservation Riversleigh material enabled a description diagnostic features palate, dentary dentition previously not possible from badly fractured holotype. In light this new material, reanalysis single Bematherium angulum Riversleigh's Site C (Tedford 1967 Tedford, R. H. 1967. Fossil mammal remains...
Abstract Black, K., March 2007. Maradidae: a new family of vombatomorphian marsupial from the late Oligocene Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Alcheringa 31, 17-32. ISSN 0311-5518. Marada arcanum gen. et sp. nov. is described Hiatus Site, Riversleigh World Heritage Property, Although known only single dentary, it assigned to Maradidae, based on unique combination both plesiomorphic and apomorphic features. Of vombatomorphians, most similar primitive wynyardiids diprotodontoids...
Gillespie, A.K., Archer, M., Hand, S.J. & Black, K.H., 2014. New material referable to Wakaleo (Marsupialia: Thylacoleonidae) from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland: revising species boundaries and distributions in Oligo/Miocene marsupial lions. Alcheringa 38, 513–527. ISSN 0311–5518.