Two new species of fossil Leggadina (Rodentia: Muridae) from Northwestern Queensland

Two new species of fossil Leggadina, a genus of short-tailed mice adapted to arid environments, have been discovered in northwestern Queensland, Australia. Leggadina gregoriensis sp. nov. was found at the Early Pleistocene Rackham's Roost Site in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, while Leggadina macrodonta sp. nov. came from the Plio-Pleistocene Site 5C at Floraville Station. These discoveries extend the known temporal range of the genus by over 2 million years and provide insights into its evolutionary history and response to palaeoecological factors. The study also examines the taphonomy of the fossil deposits, revealing significant differences in faunal composition and preservation between the two sites.

Klinkhamer, A. J., & Godthelp, H. (2015). Two new species of fossil Leggadina (Rodentia: Muridae) from Northwestern Queensland. PeerJ, 3, e1088. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1088