The genus Galadi: three new bandicoots (Marsupialia, Peramelemorphia) from Riversleigh’s Miocene deposits, northwestern Queensland, Australia

ABSTRACT

We describe three new bandicoot species of the genus Galadi from the Miocene of Riversleigh World Heritage Area in northern Australia. The first species, which is represented by a complete dentary and several isolated upper molars, is restricted to Riversleigh's Faunal Zone B. It is the largest bandicoot as yet known from Riversleigh. The second species is represented by 19 specimens, including a partial skull and several maxillae and dentaries, from Riversleigh's Faunal Zone C. Several features distinguishing this species from the similarly sized type species G. speciosus are of interest, notably the presence of larger maxillopalatine fenestrae and additional maxillary fenestrae, incomplete centrocrista on all upper molars, a more complete posterior cingulum on upper molars, and higher degree of dental wear, which together suggest a more omnivorous diet. The third species is represented by a single maxillary, which exhibits a quite different combination of dental features compared with other Galadi species. All Galadi species appear to be restricted to Riversleigh's Faunal Zones B and C, which are interpreted to be early and middle Miocene in age, respectively, with rainforest habitats persisting throughout.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Support for research at Riversleigh has come from the Australian Research Council (grants DP0453262, LP0453664, and LP0989969 to M. Archer and S. J. Hand at the University of New South Wales); XSTRATA Community Partnership Program (North Queensland); the University of New South Wales; the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service; Environment Australia; the Queensland Museum; the Australian Museum; the Riversleigh Society Inc.; Outback at Isa; Mount Isa City Council; and private supporters including E. Clark, M. Beavis, M. Dickson, S. and J. Lavarack, and S. and D. Scott-Orr. Assistance in the field has come from many hundreds of volunteers as well as staff and postgraduate students of the University of New South Wales (UNSW). We thank the UNSW Palaeosciences Laboratory for their support.

Handling editor: Guillermo Rougier