Revision of Wabularoo, an early macropodid kangaroo from mid-Cenozoic deposits of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Travouillon, K.J., Archer, M. & Hand, S.J., 21.01.2015. Revision of Wabularoo, an early macropodid kangaroo from mid-Cenozoic deposits of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland, Australia. Alcheringa 39, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518Since its original description, the phylogenetic relationships of the macropodoid Wabularoo naughtoni Archer, 1979, from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area have remained a mystery. We have recovered new material representing the upper dentition previously unknown for this late Oligocene taxon, and new early Miocene specimens representing the upper and lower dentition of a second species, W. prideauxi sp. nov. We assessed their phylogenetic relationships using matrices from two previous studies, and recovered both species of Wabularoo as basal macropodids. Wabularoo is characterized by having bilophodont molars, large sectorial P3/p3 with coarse ridges, presence of a forelink, neometaconule and postlink on M1–3, well-developed anterior cingulum, precingulum, postparacrista and premetacrista on all upper molars, and retention of StC on M1–2. Although the subfamilial affinities of Wabularoo are unresolved, we propose that several morphological features of the dentary and the upper and lower third premolar suggest affinity with Sthenurinae. These features include short diastema, posteriorly positioned digastric eminence, presence of posterior mental foramen, and similar molar and premolar morphology. If our interpretations are correct, sthenurines arose from basal macropodids between the early and middle Miocene.Kenny J. Travouillon [kennytravouillon@hotmail.com] School of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; Michael Archer [m.archer@unsw.edu.au] and Suzanne J. Hand [s.hand@unsw.edu.au] School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales 2052, Australia.