Publications
Wabanbara ringtailensis —a new chelid turtle (Pleurodira: Chelidae) from mid-Miocene deposits of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Australia
Researchers have identified a new genus and species of chelid turtle, Wabanbara ringtailensis, from mid-Miocene deposits at the Ringtail Site within Australia's Riversleigh World Heritage Area. This discovery is notable for its unique skull morphology, which combines features not seen in modern Australian short-necked or long-necked chelids, suggesting an aquatic omnivore with potential gape-suction feeding behavior. The fossilized skull exhibits distinctive traits such as a long, broad trochlear process and posteriorly extended squamosal, among others. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Wabanbara ringtailensis represents an early diverging member of the chelid radiation in Australia, possibly closely related to another extinct Miocene taxon, Birlimarr gaffneyi. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history and ecological adaptations of fossil turtles in Australia.
A giant raptor (Aves: Accipitridae) from the Pleistocene of southern Australia
Researchers have identified the largest known bird of prey from Australia, a giant raptor named Dynatoaetus gaffae, which roamed southern Australia during the Pleistocene. This discovery, based on both existing and newly collected fossil material, reveals a predator with robust hindlimbs, functionally similar to large circaetines like the Philippine Eagle. Phylogenetic analyses place Dynatoaetus as the immediate sister-group to the Aegypiinae within the Circaetinae + Aegypiinae clade. The species likely filled the role of Australia’s top terrestrial avian predator and may have gone extinct around 50,000 years ago during the megafaunal mass extinction. This finding highlights a significant decline in raptor diversity and function in Australasia.
Quaternary plant macrofossils from Robertson Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia: reproductive structures
Research at Robertson Cave, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, has uncovered 29 angiosperm taxa from reproductive structures dating back 820–24,230 years. This study represents the first comprehensive palaeobotanical analysis of Quaternary plant macrofossils in the region, providing critical insights into past vegetation dynamics. The findings contribute to a growing database for future palaeovegetation reconstructions and highlight the ecological significance of these caves beyond their renowned vertebrate fossils.
Using historical research to constrain the provenance and age of the first recorded collection of extinct Pleistocene large mammal fossils from the Naracoorte Caves, South Australia
Historical research has successfully linked the first recorded collection of extinct Pleistocene large mammal fossils from Specimen Cave, Naracoorte Caves (South Australia), to modern excavations, significantly enhancing its scientific value. By analyzing newspaper articles, reports, correspondence, and cave inscriptions, researchers confirmed that the 1908 collection originated from the same stratigraphic context as current digs, providing critical provenance and age constraints. Notably, a previously undiscovered cave inscription identified William Reddan as the first person to document these fossils, placing them within the established geochronological framework of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.
Cranial anatomy of the mekosuchine crocodylian Trilophosuchus rackhami Willis, 1993
A groundbreaking analysis of the fossilized skull of Trilophosuchus rackhami, a small-bodied mekosuchine crocodylian from Australia's middle Miocene, reveals unique cranial traits that distinguish it as one of the most morphologically distinct members of its group. Micro-CT scanning enabled unprecedented digital dissection of the cranium, providing insights into both T. rackhami and broader mekosuchine anatomy. The study also extends the genus' temporal range by over 10 million years, with evidence from a late Oligocene parietal bone. Phylogenetic reassessment challenges the traditional classification of Mekosuchinae, suggesting its status as a subfamily may require reevaluation.
Further evidence in support of the recognition of the Freshwater Turtle Elseya oneiros (Testudines: Chelidae) from the Nicholson and Gregory Rivers of Northern Queensland
A recent study reaffirms the distinct status of Elseya oneiros, a freshwater turtle species from the Nicholson and Gregory Rivers in northern Queensland, challenging its synonymization with E. lavarackorum. By analyzing 16 scute characters (carapace and plastron) and nine additional thoracic skeletal traits, researchers found no support for Thomson et al.'s (1997) claim that these species were conspecific. Instead, the study supports Joseph-Ouni et al.'s (2020) proposal that E. oneiros represents a separate lineage within the subgenus Elseya, addressing criticisms raised by the Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG 2021). This work strengthens the taxonomic distinction of this Pleistocene-era turtle, contributing to our understanding of its evolutionary history in the UNESCO-listed Australian Fossil Mammal Sites.
Sheath-tailed bats (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) from the early Pleistocene Rackham’s Roost Site, Riversleigh World Heritage Area, and the distribution of northern Australian emballonurid species
A groundbreaking discovery at Australia's Riversleigh World Heritage Site reveals the oldest recorded presence of sheath-tailed bats (Emballonuridae) from the early Pleistocene, dating back over 2 million years. This study identifies at least three distinct bat taxa within fossil remains, including two modern species—Taphozous georgianus and T. troughtoni—and a large, undetermined Saccolaimus species. By analyzing craniodental features, researchers distinguish between these species, suggesting that the distributions of T. georgianus and T. troughtoni may have overlapped in north-western Queensland since the early Pleistocene. This finding sheds light on the evolutionary history and biogeography of Australian emballonurids.
Australia’s prehistoric ‘swamp king’: revision of the Plio-Pleistocene crocodylian genusPallimnarchusde Vis, 1886
A new genus and species of extinct Australian crocodylian, Paludirex vincenti, has been formally described based on a partial skull previously assigned to Pallimnarchus pollens. This discovery resolves taxonomic ambiguity surrounding the fragmentary syntype series of P. pollens, which is now considered nomen dubium due to lack of autapomorphic features and mixed taxonomic origins. Paludirex vincenti is characterized by distinctive premaxillary features, including an arched anterior alveolar process and unique alveolar arrangement, distinguishing it from other mekosuchine crocodylians. Phylogenetic analysis confirms its placement within the Mekosuchinae clade, though further research is needed to clarify intra-clade relationships. Additionally, a second species, Paludirex gracilis, is recognized, combining previously described material from Riversleigh, Queensland.
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