- Nimbadon
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Nimbadon
Temporal range: MioceneScientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Genus: †Nimbadon
Hand[disambiguation needed
], Archer, Godthelp, Rich[disambiguation needed ] & Pledge, 1993Species †N. lavarackorum
†N. scvottorrorum
†N. whitelawiNimbadon is an extinct genus of Diprotodontia that lived in the Miocene Epoch. Many fossils have been found in the Riversleigh World Heritage propertyin north-western Queensland.
In 1990, skulls were unearthed in a previously unknown cave in the region. Researcher’s estimate that Nimbadon first appeared about 15 million years ago and died out about 12 million years ago, perhaps from climate change-induced habitat loss.[1]
Nimbadon lavarackorum
Nimbadon lavarackorum is described as being sheep-like. It is known from as many as 24 well-articulated specimens. The species was a browser, mainly feeding on stem and leaf litter on the forest floor. The feet and claws were large, being superficially similar to those of the Koala. They retracted their claws when walking.
References
- ^ Fossils reveal prehistoric life cycle, Australian Geographic, July 20, 2010
External links
- Australias lost kingdoms, Nimbodon.
- Black K. H. and Hand. S 2010., Nimbadon crania and species boundaries, American Museum novitates, no. 3678
- KAREN H. BLACK,* MICHAEL ARCHER, SUZANNE J. HAND, and HENK GODTHELP FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF CRANIAL ONTOGENY IN A FOSSIL MARSUPIAL—FROM A 15-MILLION-YEAR-OLD CAVE DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
- "Cave yields marsupial fossil haul". BBC News. 2010-07-19.
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