| Dorcopsoides | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Macropodidae |
| Genus: | † Dorcopsoides Woodburne, 1967 |
| Species: | †D. fossilis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Dorcopsoides fossilis Woodburne, 1967 | |
Dorcopsoides is a genus of extinct species of kangaroo from the Pliocene of Australia. [1]
Dorcopsoides was described in 1967 from the well-preserved lower jaw, skull fragments and occipital found in the Upper Miocene Alcoota Fossil Beds north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. It was part of the Alcoota local fauna, which also included zygomaturine diprotodonts, a type of mihirung ( Ilbandornis ), a crocodile ( Baru ) and the giant thylacine, Thylacinus potens . [2]
It was about the size of a gray and black four-eyed opossum. The generic name (Dorcopsoides) indicates a resemblance to forest wallabies ( Dorcopsis ) now living in New Guinea and neighboring islands. [3]
Baru is an extinct genus of Australian mekosuchine crocodilian. It was semi-aquatic, around 4 m (13 ft) in length. Being semi-aquatic its habitat was around fresh pools of water in wet forests, ambushing their prey, much like modern species. The word Baru is Aboriginal and means "crocodile's ancestor".
Dromornis planei, formerly placed in a separate genus Bullockornis, is an extinct flightless bird that lived in the Middle Miocene, approximately 15 million years ago. It is known from specimens of the Bullock Creek fauna, fossils found in the Northern Territory of Australia. As large as an ostrich or emu, the species possessed a stocky build. A proposed common name, referring to its discoverer and locality, is Plane's bull bird. The site of its discovery was once semi-arid site containing low vegetation around seasonal wetlands and rivers.
Dromornis stirtoni was a species of the genus Dromornis, a part of the Dromornithidae family, and was colloquially known as Stirton's thunderbird. It was a large feathered bird that grew up to heights of 2.5m and weights in excess of 450 kg and is widely thought to have been the largest avian species to have ever existed. Patricia Vickers-Rich first discovered the remains of the bird in 1979 in the Alcoota Fossil Beds in the Northern Territory of Australia. The bird was characterised by a deep lower jaw and quadrate bone, large, muscular hind legs with hoof-like toes, and small wings that deemed it flightless. The bird is largely thought to have been mostly herbivorous, although they may have occasionally scavenged or eaten small prey. Dromornis stirtoni is thought to have lived in a semi-arid climate, characterised by seasonal rainfall and open woodlands.
Ilbandornis was a genus of ostrich-sized dromornithid. It was far more lightly-built than other members of the family, indicating a more cursorial lifestyle. The majority of researchers consider Dromornithids to be herbivorous; this is borne out by molecular analysis of the gastroliths and eggshells of both Ilbandornis and the related Genyornis. While Ilbandornis and Genyornis have skulls of similar size to emus, other Dromornithids such as Bullockornis and Dromornis have far more robust skulls with large beaks; these were previously considered an adaptation for carnivory, but their blunt edges and lack of hooked tip indicate that the species were herbivorous. It is therefore likely that the differences in skull shape are due to differences in diet.
The Alcoota Fossil Beds are an important paleontological site in the Northern Territory of Australia located on Alcoota Station in the locality of Anmatjere about 115 kilometres (71 mi) north-east of Alice Springs in the Central Australia region. It is notable for the occurrence of well-preserved, rare, Miocene vertebrate fossils, which provide evidence of the evolution of the Northern Territory’s fauna and climate. The Alcoota Fossil Beds are also significant as a research and teaching site for palaeontology students.
The Bullock Creek Fossil site is one of three known vertebrate fossil sites in the Northern Territory of Australia, along with the Alcoota Fossil Beds and the Kangaroo Well site on Deep Well Station. It is located about 550 kilometres (340 mi) south-southeast of Darwin, on Camfield Station in the locality of Victoria River.
Thylacinus potens was the largest species of the family Thylacinidae, originally known from a single poorly preserved fossil discovered by Michael O. Woodburne in 1967 in a Late Miocene locality near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. It preceded the most recent species of thylacine by 4–6 million years, and was 5% bigger, was more robust and had a shorter, broader skull. Its size is estimated to be similar to that of a grey wolf; the head and body together were around 5 feet long, and its teeth were less adapted for shearing compared to those of the now-extinct thylacine.
Elseya is a genus of large side-necked turtles, commonly known as Australian snapping turtles, in the family Chelidae. Species in the genus Elseya are found in river systems in northern and northeastern Australia and throughout the river systems of New Guinea. They are identified by the presence of alveolar ridges on the triturating surfaces of the mouth and the presence of a complex bridge strut.
Kolopsis is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupials from Australia and Papua New Guinea. It contains three species, although K. rotundus may be more closely related to other zygomaturines than to Kolopsis.
Plaisiodon is an extinct genus of Zygomaturinae from the late Miocene Alcoota Fossil Beds in the Northern Territory, Australia. Because of its robust skull it has been suggested that it consumed relatively hard or coarse vegetation.
Alkwertatherium is an extinct genus of marsupial of the family Diprotodontidae. Only one species has been described, Alkwertatherium webbi, from the Late Miocene of Northern Territory, Australia.
Thylacinus megiriani lived during the late Miocene, 8 million years ago; the area T. megiriani inhabited in the Northern Territory was covered in forest with a permanent supply of water.
Mutpuracinus archibaldi is an extinct carnivorous, quadrupedal marsupial that lived during the middle Miocene and is the smallest known thylacinid at approximately 1.1 kilograms, the size of a quoll, though, more closely related to the recently extinct thylacine.
Tyarrpecinus rothi is an extinct thylacinid marsupial that lived during the late Miocene and has been found at the Alcoota scientific reserve in the Northern Territory. The specific name honors Karl Roth for his contributions to the natural history of central Australia.
Wakaleo alcootaensis was a species of marsupial lion of the genus Wakaleo, that lived during the late Miocene, about 10 million years ago.
The Macropodidae are an extant family of marsupial with the distinction of the ability to move bipedally on the hind legs, sometimes by jumping, as well as quadrupedally. They are herbivores, but some fossil genera like Ekaltadeta are hypothesised to have been carnivores. The taxonomic affiliations within the family and with other groups of marsupials is still in flux.
Chelodina murrayi is an extinct species of snake-necked turtle from the Waite Formation on the Alcoota Scientific Reserve, north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. The species would appear to belong to the Chelodina novaeguineae group of species within the subgenus Chelodina.
Peter Kenneth Latz is an agrostologist, botanist and author from Central Australia. He has published articles and books on Australian plants, particularly on arid grasses and vegetation.
Propalorchestes is a fossil genus of Diprotodontidae, mammals that existed in Australia.
Anmatjere is a locality in the Northern Territory of Australia located about 1,088 kilometres (676 mi) south of the territory capital of Darwin.
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