Occurrence of Euowenia grata (De Vis, 1887) (Diprotodontidae, Marsupialia) from the Pliocene Spring Park Local Fauna, northeastern Queensland

Abstract

Mackness, B.S., Black, K.H. & Price, G.J., 1.10.2014. Occurrence of Euowenia grata (De Vis, 1887) (Diprotodontidae, Marsupialia) from the Pliocene Spring Park Local Fauna, northeastern Queensland. Alcheringa 39, 000−000. ISSN 0311-5518

Ten specimens including several dentaries and maxillae, recovered from the Pliocene Spring Park Local Fauna, northern Australia, are referred to the diprotodontine Euowenia grata (De Vis). The fossils exhibit minimal dental wear and reveal new characters that are unrecognizable in the holotype. The remains represent at least three animals, effectively doubling the previous number of individuals known for this rare megaherbivore. The new records also provide a significant northern geographic range extension for the species and allow an assessment of intraspecific variation, sexual dimorphism and phylogenetic relationships for the species. Euowenia grata is most similar in morphology to the monotypic Pliocene diprotodontid Meniscolophus mawsoni.

Brian S. Mackness [deceased] and Karen H. Black [[email protected]], School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW, 2052, Australia; Gilbert J. Price [[email protected]], Department of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.

采自澳大利亚北部上新世Spring Park当地动物群的 十块样本包括一些下颌骨和上颌骨，被归类为双门齿有袋类 Euowenia grata（De Vis）。这些化石表现出少量牙齿磨损，显示模式标本辨认不到的新特征。化石代表至少三个动物，将这个少见的大型食草动物的已知个体数增加了一倍。新的记录还提供了该物种在北方地域扩大的范围，使我们能够检测种内变异、两性异形和物种亲缘关系。 Euowenia grata 在形态上与上新世双门齿有袋类 Meniscolophus mawsoni 最相似。

Key words:

• Chinchilla
• Diprotodontidae
• diprotodontines
• megafauna
• Marsupialia
• Neogene
• Vombatomorphia.

Acknowledgements

Sadly, Brian Mackness passed away after a long battle with illness prior to the resubmission of this paper following the peer-review process. Through coordination between the Alcheringa editors and Brian’s PhD supervisor, Prof. Michael Archer, Karen Black and Gilbert Price were asked to finalize the manuscript and to respond to the peer reviewer’s constructive criticisms. At the time of Brian’s original submission in 2013, he wished to acknowledge: Michael Archer and Sue Hand for their helpful comments on the manuscript; Anna Gillespie for photography; Ralph Molnar (retired; Queensland Museum), Bob Jones (Australian Museum), Tom Rich (Museum Victoria), Chris Tassel (Queen Victoria Museum, Neville Pledge (retired; South Australian Museum), and John Long (then of the Western Australian Museum and now at Flinders University), who provided access to specimens in their institutions; the late Bert and Nancy Core of Spring Park Station who provided tremendous support during the initial field excavations; Steve Coleman and Paul Micha, who were responsible for the ongoing exploration of the Spring Park Local Fauna; students and parents from the Earth Sciences Department of Townsville Grammar School including Tim Coleman, Jennifer Dixon, Jeremy Durward, Nathan Ellis, Paul Godier, Rachael Harcock, Gail Heylinger, Lisha Heylinger, Simon Holmes Evans, Angie Hunter, Mark Lindsay, Collin Lollo, Joseph Michna, Tony Moffat, Aidan Moore, Lori Neilsen, Joella Nestor, Brigita Richter, Lynette Richter, Carmen Smith, Cath Stephensen, Kristin Stephensen, Jamie Summerhayes, David Tucker, Hal Tucker, Fiona Viero and Chris Weigt, who provided transport and meals, and carried out the excavation of the site; Steve Paul (Principal of the Townsville Grammar School), who provided valuable encouragement to the project; the Parents and Friends of the Townsville Grammar School, who provided funds for equipment and other logistical support; and for research financial support, the Australian Research Council (grants AA00103792 and DP0453262 to M. Archer), National Estate Program (grant to M. Archer and A. Bartholomai), the Queensland and Australian Museums; the Australian Geographic Society, and the University of New South Wales. Finally, Karen Black and Gilbert Price wish to acknowledge: Kristen Spring, Gavin Prideaux and Grant Gully for additional assistance; the two anonymous peer reviewers of Brian’s original manuscript; and the support of the Australian Research Council (DECRA grants DE130100467and DE120101533, respectively).