Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology最新文献

{"title":"Australian time traveller: papers in honour of Mike Archer","authors":"Robin M. D. Beck, Julien Louys, Jacqueline M. T. Nguyen, K. Travouillon, Laura A. B. Wilson","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2195912","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2195912","url":null,"abstract":"Robin M. D. Beck [r.m.d.beck@salford.ac.uk], School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK. Julien Louys [j.louys@griffith.edu.au], Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. Jacqueline M. T. Nguyen [jacqueline.nguyen@flinders.edu.au], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010 Australia; College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 Australia; and South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 Australia. Kenny J. Travouillon [Kenny.Travouillon@museum.wa.gov.au], Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia. Laura A. B. Wilson [laura.wilson@anu.edu.au], School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"48 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124875934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Australian Fossil National Species List","authors":"K. Travouillon, B. Kear","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2209246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2209246","url":null,"abstract":"𠀃 Kenny J. Travouillon [kenny.travouillon@museum.wa.gov.au], Collections and Research Centre, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia. Benjamin P. Kear [benjamin.kear@em.uu.se], The Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, Uppsala SE-752 36, Sweden","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122156950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new mosasaurine specimen (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica with comments on the Weddellian diversity of Mosasaurinae","authors":"J. P. O’Gorman, Paula Bona, J. Canale, D. Tineo, M. Fernández, Magalí Cárdenas, M. Reguero","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2203739","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2203739","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Mosasaurs were globally distributed throughout the Cretaceous oceans, including those surrounding Antarctica. A mosasaur humerus (IAA-Pv 819) from upper Maastrichtian beds of the López de Bertodano Formation of Antarctica is phylogenetically recovered in a mosasaurine polytomy as a close relative of Plotosaurus beninsoni and Mosasaurus spp. Comparisons between IAA-Pv 819 and other Weddellian mosasaurs reveal differences indicating that morphological disparity and taxonomic diversity of Antarctic mosasaurines may be higher than previously recognized. José Patricio O'Gorman [joseogorman@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar], Bona Paula [paulabona26@gmail.com], División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n., B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Juan Ignacio Canale [jicanale@unrn.edu.ar], Área Laboratorio e Investigación, Museo Municipal “Ernesto Bachmann”, Dr. Natali s/n, Q8311AZA Villa El Chocón, Neuquén, Argentina; CONICET: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Río Negro (UNRN), Isidro Lobo 516, General Roca (8332), Río Negro, Argentina. David E. Tineo [tineo.d.e@gmail.com], Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calles 60 y 122 s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Marta Susana Fernández [martafer@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar], División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n., B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Magali Cárdenas [magalicardenas2706@gmail.com], Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, CABA, Argentina. CONICET: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina, Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Marcelo Reguero [regui@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar], División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n., B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto Antártico Argentino, 25 de Mayo 1143, B1650HMK, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134234426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An annotated checklist of Australian Mesozoic tetrapods","authors":"Stephen F. Poropat, Phil R. Bell, Lachlan J. Hart, Steven W. Salisbury, Benjamin P. Kear","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2228367","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2228367","url":null,"abstract":"In 2020, the Australasian palaeontological association Australasian Palaeontologists (AAP) joined the Australian government-supported Australian National Species List (auNSL) initiative to compile the first Australian Fossil National Species List (auFNSL) for the region. The goal is to assemble comprehensive systematic data on all vertebrate, invertebrate and plant fossil taxa described to date, and to present the information both within a continuously updated open-access online framework, and as a series of primary reference articles in AAP’s flagship journal Alcheringa. This paper spearheads these auFNSL Alcheringa publications with an annotated checklist of Australian Mesozoic tetrapods. Complete synonymy, type material, source locality, geological age and bibliographical information are provided for 111 species formally named as of 2022. In addition, chronostratigraphically arranged inventories of all documented Australian Mesozoic tetrapod fossil occurrences are presented with illustrations of significant, exceptionally preserved and/or diagnostic specimens. The most diverse order-level clades include temnospondyl amphibians (34 species), saurischian (13 species) and ornithischian (12 species) dinosaurs (excluding ichnotaxa), and plesiosaurian marine reptiles (11 species). However, numerous other groups collectively span the earliest Triassic (earliest Induan) to Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) and incorporate antecedents of modern Australian lineages, such as chelonioid and chelid turtles and monotreme mammals. Although scarce in comparison to records from other continents, Australia’s Mesozoic tetrapod assemblages are globally important because they constitute higher-palaeolatitude faunas that evince terrestrial and marine ecosystem evolution near the ancient South Pole. The pace of research on these assemblages has also accelerated substantially over the last 20 years, and serves to promote fossil geoheritage as an asset for scientific, cultural and economic development. The auFNSL augments the accessibility and utility of these palaeontological resources and provides a foundation for ongoing exploration into Australia’s unique natural history.Stephen F. Poropat [stephenfporopat@gmail.com], Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia, and Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Lot 1 Dinosaur Drive, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia; Phil R. Bell [pbell23@une.edu.au], Palaeoscience Research Centre, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Lachlan J. Hart [l.hart@unsw.edu.au], Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia, and Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New ","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135717867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating gut contents of the leptocleidian plesiosaur Umoonasaurus demoscyllus using micro-CT imaging","authors":"J. M. White, Aleese Barron, M. McCurry, T. Denham","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2194944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2194944","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The holotype of Umoonasaurus demoscyllus (AM F.99374) is one of the most complete plesiosaur skeletons ever discovered in Australia. It preserves a gastric mass in the pectoral girdle region that has not yet been documented in detail. Here, we use high resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to image the gut contents of this specimen. These comprise 17 vertebrae from an unidentified teleost, together with at least 60 rounded gastroliths averaging about 5 mm in maximum length. Our study demonstrates the potential for 3D tomographic imaging to investigate Mesozoic marine reptile diets and ecology. Joshua M. White [Joshua.white@anu.edu.au], Research School of Physics, Department of Materials Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia. Aleese Barron [aleese.barron@anu.edu.au], Research School of Physics, Department of Materials Physics, Australian National University, Canberra ACT, 2601, Australia; School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Banks Building, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Matthew R. McCurry [matthew.mccurry@austmus.gov.au], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales 2052, Australia; Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA. Tim Denham [tim.denham@anu.edu.au], School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Banks Building, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129068253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new Early–Middle Miocene phalangerid (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, northwestern Queensland","authors":"Troy J Myers, Kirsten Crosby","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2185677","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2185677","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Archerus johntoniae represents a new genus and species of phalangerid possum from the Early to Middle Miocene of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland. The new taxon is the tenth extinct phalangerid species to be described and is the seventh species recognized from the diverse Riversleigh fossil assemblages. A. johntoniae has its closest morphometric affinities (such as relatively short molars, narrow premolars, an anteriorly narrow upper first molar, and posteriorly narrow fourth molars) with trichosurine and stem phalangerids. Morphologically, A. johntoniae has similarities to phalangerines and trichosurines, but is most dissimilar to other fossil phalangerids. The new species is one of the smallest (ca 1.3 kg) phalangerids known and may have occupied Early and Middle Miocene frugivorous/insectivorous niches demarcated from other phalangerids by body size and diet. A. johntoniae is one of a minority of Riversleigh species to have survived a significant decline in marsupial diversity associated with a rapid spike in global temperature at the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum. Troy Myers [t.myers@unsw.edu.au], Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Kirsten Crosby [Kirsten.crosby@gmail.com], GHD Group Pty Ltd, Level 15, 133 Castlereagh St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 (currently), School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124368241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new Eocene species of presbyornithid (Aves, Anseriformes) from Murgon, Australia","authors":"T. Worthy, V. D. De Pietri, R. Scofield, S. Hand","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2184491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2184491","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The taxa found in an Eocene deposit, near Murgon, Queensland, the only pre-Oligocene Paleogene site recording a terrestrial vertebrate fauna from Australia, are very significant for the insight they provide concerning the evolution of the Australian biota. Here we resolve the identity of fossils previously referred to the Graculavidae, waterbirds of then unresolved affinities. We taxonomically describe the first bird to be named from this fauna, Murgonornis archeri gen. et sp. nov., Presbyornithidae. Our findings reveal that presbyornithids were widespread globally in the earliest Eocene, and that this family had a history on Australia from at least 55 Ma until ca. 24 Ma, when they disappear from the fossil record. Trevor H. Worthy [ trevor.worthy@flinders.edu.au ], College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, SA, Australia; Vanesa L. De Pietri [ vanesa.depietri@canterbury.ac.nz ], University of Canterbury, School of Earth and Environment, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; R. Paul Scofield [ pscofield@canterburymuseum.com ], Canterbury Museum, 11 Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand; Suzanne J. Hand [ s.hand@unsw.edu.au ], Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131867617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new species of Mukupirna (Diprotodontia, Mukupirnidae) from the Oligocene of Central Australia sheds light on basal vombatoid interrelationships","authors":"Arthur I. Crichton, T. Worthy, A. Camens, A. Yates, Aidan M. C. Couzens, G. Prideaux","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2181397","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2181397","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The late Oligocene taxa Marada arcanum and Mukupirna nambensis (Diprotodontia, Vombatiformes) are the only known representatives of the families Maradidae and Mukupirnidae, respectively. Mukupirna nambensis was described from a partial skeleton, including a cranium but no dentary, and reconstructed as the sister taxon to Vombatidae (wombats). By contrast, Ma. arcanum is known only from a single dentary, preventing direct comparison between the two. Here, we describe a new species, Mu. fortidentata sp. nov., based on craniodental and postcranial specimens from the Oligocene Pwerte Marnte Marnte Local Fauna, Northern Territory, Australia. Phylogenetic analysis of Vombatiformes, using 124 craniodental and 20 postcranial characters, places these three species within Vombatoidea, wherein Marada arcanum is sister to species of Mukupirna + Vombatidae. Mukupirna fortidentata sp. nov. does not share any robust synapomorphies of the dentary with Ma. arcanum that would support placing them together in a clade to the exclusion of Vombatidae. We therefore maintain separation of the families Mukupirnidae and Maradidae. From a functional perspective, the craniodental specimens of Mu. fortidentata sp. nov. reveal a suite of morphological traits that are unusual among vombatiforms, which we interpret as adaptations for acquiring and processing hard plant material. These include: a short, broad rostrum; large, robust, steeply upturned incisors; and a steep, anteroposteriorly decreasing gradient in cheek tooth size. The dental specimens of Mu. fortidentata sp. nov. also assist in the identification of two further allied taxa: an early vombatid from the younger late Oligocene Tarkarooloo Local Fauna, South Australia; and a possible vombatoid from the earliest Miocene Geilston Bay Local Fauna, Tasmania. The Tarkarooloo Local Fauna taxon indicates that vombatids diverged from other vombatoids prior to 24 million years ago. Arthur I. Crichton [arthur.crichton@flinders.edu.au], College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, 5042, South Australia; Trevor H. Worthy [trevor.worthy@flinders.edu.au], Aaron B. Camens [aaron.camens@flinders.edu.au], Adam Yates [Adamm.Yates@magnt.net.au] Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Alice Springs 0870, Northern Territory, Alice Springs, 0870 Australia; Aidan M. C. Couzens [acouzens@ucla.edu], Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Gavin J. Prideaux [gavin.prideaux@flinders.edu.au], Flinders University School of Biological Sciences, Palaeontology, Adelaide, 5001 Australia.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115254707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The evolutionary relationships of Diprotodontia and improving the accuracy of phylogenetic inference from morphological data","authors":"M. Phillips, Mélina A. Celik, R. Beck","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2184492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2184492","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Large-scale molecular datasets have generally outperformed morphological data for inferring phylogeny, and sources of error in the latter are poorly understood. The morphologically and ecologically diverse marsupial order Diprotodontia (kangaroos and their relatives, the koala, wombats and possums) is well suited to considering these issues. Recent molecular results provide a phylogenetic benchmark for comparing previous molecular and morphological studies, encompassing all of the major phylogenetic data sources and methods that have been employed over the past 50 years. We show here that most molecular methodologies and ‘informal-comparative’ morphological studies have inferred diprotodontian relationships that closely resemble the recent molecular consensus. However, and perhaps surprisingly, algorithmic morphology, such as maximum parsimony analysis of morphological matrices, has inferred markedly inaccurate phylogenies, and is not improved by re-analysis with more recently developed, model-based (e.g., likelihood and Bayesian) methods. This is particularly concerning because algorithmic morphology is the primary approach for integrating fossils into the tree of life, and hence, for both calibrating molecular timescales and extending phylogenetic inferences of evolutionary processes beyond the snapshot provided by modern species. A novel simulation study presented here suggests that the inaccuracies in the marsupial algorithmic morphology studies partly stem from functional and body-size correlations among taxa that over-ride phylogenetic signals. We use the results to trial a reverse engineered phylogeny approach to correcting for such functional and developmental correlations among morphological data. In addition, we interrogated a newly published, densely taxon-sampled morphological matrix. Deeper level phylogeny reconstruction was improved by including fossils alongside extant taxa and counterintuitively, by increased effort to resolve relationships among shallow taxa. Matthew J. Phillips [m9.phillips@qut.edu.au]; Mélina A. Celik [melina.celik@gmail.com] School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia; Robin M.D Beck [r.m.d.beck@salford.ac.uk] Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121880611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The earliest record of bowerbirds (Passeriformes, Ptilonorhynchidae) from the Oligo-Miocene of northern Australia","authors":"Jacqueline M. T. Nguyen","doi":"10.1080/03115518.2023.2180537","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2023.2180537","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The bowerbirds (Passeriformes, Ptilonorhynchidae) are a family of Australo-Papuan songbirds that are renowned for their unique bower-building behaviour. Prior to this study, the fossil record of Ptilonorhynchidae was limited to late Quaternary remains from Victoria, Australia. A new genus and species of bowerbird is described here from the late Oligocene (ca 26–23 Ma) deposits of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, in Waanyi Country, Queensland, Australia. This fossil bowerbird is smaller than most extant species of bowerbirds, and represents the earliest known evidence of Ptilonorhynchidae, although its intrafamilial affinities remain uncertain pending additional material. A second, larger ptilonorhynchid is identified from the early Miocene (ca 16 Ma) of Riversleigh. These fossils considerably extend the temporal range of Ptilonorhynchidae, and indicate the presence of two species of bowerbirds in the Oligo-Miocene of northern Australia. The ages of these fossils are consistent with molecular estimates of the divergence time between Ptilonorhynchidae and its sister group, Climacteridae (Australo-Papuan treecreepers). The new bowerbird is the ninth species of passerine to be described from the pre-Pleistocene of Australia, and highlights the importance of the Riversleigh fossil deposits in our understanding of the early evolutionary history of passerines. Jacqueline M.T. Nguyen [jacqueline.nguyen@flinders.edu.au], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010 Australia; College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 Australia; and South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 Australia.","PeriodicalId":272731,"journal":{"name":"Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133533429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}