A new species of Palorchestidae (Marsupialia) from the Pliocene and early Pleistocene of Victoria

Abstract

A new small species of palorchestid marsupial, Palorchestes pickeringi, is described from the early Pleistocene Nelson Bay Local Fauna, and from the early Pliocene Hamilton Local Fauna, Victoria. The structure of the P₃, and lower molar protolophid and links are particularly distinctive in this species. Palorchestes pickeringi is intermediate in size and morphology between P. painei and P. parvus. This is the third species of marsupial shared between the Hamilton and Nelson Bay Local Faunas and is further evidence for the persistence of wetter, more forested environments along the southwest coast of Victoria throughout the Pliocene and into the Pleistocene.

Key words:

• Palorchestidae
• Palorchestes pickeringi
• Nelson Bay
• Hamilton
• Victoria
• Australia
• Pliocene
• Pleistocene