A small team of evolutionary biologists at Flinders University, in Australia, working with one colleague from the University of Salford in the U.K. and another from the University of California, Los Angeles, has found fossilized evidence of the oldest-known koala relative in a central part of Australia. In their paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes the fossil, where it was found and how it fits into the history of marsupial evolution in Australia.
Lumakoala blackae gen. et sp. nov. upper molars. Left M 2 or 3 : stereo occlusal view, with an annotated line drawing; posterolingually offset occlusal view; anterior view; and buccal view. Anterolingual half of LM1 in occlusal view. Left M 2 or 3 in occlusal and buccal views. Priscakoala lucyturnbullae left M1–M3 , adapted from Black et al. The orientation arrows relate only to the specimens in occlusion view.
The research team also notes that the discovery of L. blackae could also change our understanding of the evolutionary history of Chulpasia and Thylacotinga—prior evidence has suggested that they may have been related to marsupials from what is now South America. But L. blackae's existence suggests that the other two creatures may have been early relatives of modern marsupials living in Australia.
The team also notes that two other ancient species of koalas were found at the same dig site. They suggest the finds are likely to have a major impact on the study of marsupial evolution in Australia, because until now, no other fossilized remains of koala ancestors had ever been found in the Northern Territory.Arthur I.
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