Nimbadon

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|25|12}}

| image = Composite Nimbadon lavarackorum skeleton from AL90, Riversleigh - journal.pone.0048213.g001.png

| image_caption = Composite N. lavarackorum skeleton from the Riversleigh site

| image2 = Reconstruction of Nimbadon lavarackorum mother and juvenile - journal.pone.0048213.g002.png

| image2_caption = N. lavarackorum mother and juvenile (reconstruction) by Peter Schouten

| taxon = Nimbadon

| authority = Hand, Archer, Godthelp, Rich & Pledge, 1993.{{cite journal |last1=Hand |first1=S.J. |last2=Archer |first2=M. |last3=Godthelp |first3=H. |last4=Rich |first4=T.H. |last5=Pledge |first5=N.S. |title=Nimbadon, a new genus and three new species of Tertiary zygomaturines (Marsupialia: Diprotodontidae) from northern Australia, with a reassessment of Neohelos |journal=Memoirs of the Queensland Museum |date=1993 |volume=33 |pages=193–210 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/71096}}

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = †Nimbadon lavarackorum

†Nimbadon scottorrorum

†Nimbadon whitelawi

}}

Nimbadon is an extinct genus of marsupial, that lived from the Oligocene to the Miocene. Many fossils have been found in the Riversleigh World Heritage property in north-western Queensland. It is thought to have an arboreal lifestyle.{{Cite journal |last1=Black |first1=Karen H. |last2=Camens |first2=Aaron B. |last3=Archer |first3=Michael |last4=Hand |first4=Suzanne J. |date=2012-11-21 |editor-last=Evans |editor-first=Alistair Robert |title=Herds Overhead: Nimbadon lavarackorum (Diprotodontidae), Heavyweight Marsupial Herbivores in the Miocene Forests of Australia |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=7 |issue=11 |pages=e48213 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0048213 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=3504027 |pmid=23185250 |bibcode=2012PLoSO...748213B |doi-access=free }}

In 1990, skulls were unearthed in a previously unknown cave in the region. Researchers estimate that the first species of Nimbadon first appeared around 25 million years ago and went extinct around 12 million years ago, perhaps from climate change-induced habitat loss.

Description

Nimbadon lavarackorum is described as being koala-like. It is known from as many as 24 well-articulated specimens. The species was a tree-dweller, mainly feeding on stems and leaves. The feet and claws were large, being superficially similar to those of the koala. They retracted their claws when walking.[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/11/22/3637755.htm Ancient tree-wombat behaved like a koala] - By Anna Salleh - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Retrieved 22 November 2012.

Phylogeny

While originally classified as a member of the family Diprotodontidae, a primarily terrestrial group, some later studies suggested a more basal position within the Diprotodontoidea.{{Cite journal |last1=Beck |first1=Robin M. D. |last2=Louys |first2=Julien |last3=Brewer |first3=Philippa |last4=Archer |first4=Michael |last5=Black |first5=Karen H. |last6=Tedford |first6=Richard H. |date=2020-06-25 |title=A new family of diprotodontian marsupials from the latest Oligocene of Australia and the evolution of wombats, koalas, and their relatives (Vombatiformes) |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=9741 |doi=10.1038/s41598-020-66425-8 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=7316786 |pmid=32587406|bibcode=2020NatSR..10.9741B }}

Palaeoecology

N. lavarackorum was an arboreal frugivore that primarily fed on C₃ fruits.{{Cite journal |last=DeSantis |first=Larisa R. G. |last2=Archer |first2=Michael |last3=Black |first3=Karen |last4=Hand |first4=Suzanne |last5=Korasidis |first5=Vera |date=2 October 2023 |title=Tree-climbing in search of fruit: an ancient arboreal marsupial megafrugivore from the Miocene of Australia |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03115518.2023.2268680 |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |language=en |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=534–542 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2023.2268680 |issn=0311-5518 |access-date=8 November 2024 |via=Taylor and Francis Online|url-access=subscription |hdl=1959.4/unsworks_84887 |hdl-access=free }}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090217125832/http://lostkingdoms.com/facts/factsheet24.htm Australias lost kingdoms, Nimbodon.]
[http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/handle/2246/6041 Black K. H. and Hand. S 2010., Nimbadon crania and species boundaries, American Museum novitates, no. 3678]
[http://pdfserve.informaworld.com/339420__924299680.pdf KAREN H. BLACK,* MICHAEL ARCHER, SUZANNE J. HAND, and HENK GODTHELP FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF CRANIAL ONTOGENY IN A FOSSIL MARSUPIAL—FROM A 15-MILLION-YEAR-OLD CAVE DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA]
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10686515 "Cave yields marsupial fossil haul"]. BBC News. 2010-07-19.
[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-03/giant-tree-wombat-wins-science-prize/3987314 "Giant tree wombat discovery wins science prize"] ABC News 2012-05-03

Category:Prehistoric mammals of Australia

Category:Prehistoric vombatiforms

Category:Oligocene marsupials

Category:Miocene marsupials

Category:Riversleigh fauna

Category:Fossil taxa described in 1993

Category:Prehistoric marsupial genera