ABSTRACT

The extinct macropodine kangaroo, Protemnodon nombe, was first described in 1983 on the basis of two partial dentaries from a late Pleistocene deposit in Nombe Rockshelter, Papua New Guinea. As part of a review of Protemnodon, we noted that P. nombe differed from other members of the genus in several ways that pointed to a position outside of that genus and indeed all other known macropodine genera. The taxon possesses a unique combination of attributes of the dentary and lower dentition, including lower molars with a slight postmetacristid, a small postprotocristid and a gently S-shaped protolophid crest. The proportions of masticatory muscle insertion areas, including a broad masseteric canal for the deep masseter, resemble those of sthenurines, suggesting adaptation to tougher browsed vegetation than other New Guinean macropodines. A parsimony analysis suggests a divergence near the base of the Macropodinae, potentially in the early late Miocene.

LSID of publication: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1458D336-3180-41FE-9DF5-DFAED7971807

摘要

1983 年，根据巴布亚新几内亚 Nombe Rockshelter 的晚更新世矿床中的两个部分牙齿，首次描述了已灭绝的大足袋鼠Protemnodon nombe 。作为Protemnodon评论的一部分，我们注意到P. nombe在几个方面与该属的其他成员不同，这表明该属以及所有其他已知的大脚蠹属之外的位置。该分类群具有牙齿和下牙列属性的独特组合，包括具有轻微的后中齿的下臼齿、小的后原齿和轻微的 S 形原齿冠。咀嚼肌插入区域的比例，包括深咬肌的宽咬肌管，类似于 sthenurines，表明比其他新几内亚大足动物更能适应更坚硬的植物。简约分析表明，在中新世晚期，可能在大足纲底部附近存在分歧。

发布的 LSID： urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1458D336-3180-41FE-9DF5-DFAED7971807