The sthenurine affinity of the Late Miocene kangaroo,Hadronomas puckridgi Woodburne (Marsupialia,Macropodidae) |
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Authors: | Peter Murray |
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Institution: | Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory , P.O. Box 2109, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia , 0871 |
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Abstract: | Previous studies of the dentition and cranial base of Hadronomas puckridgi Woodburne suggested that this large, Late Miocene kangaroo might be related to the Sthenurinae. A recently recovered specimen, in which the neurocranium, rostrum and some of the incisors are preserved, reveals a more definite affinity with the sthenurines in its possession of laterally expanded postorbital crests of the frontals, reduced I2 accompanied by enlarged I3, the presence of a well-developed posterior mental foramen, a deep, posteriorly situated digastric eminence and elevated pterygoid fossa of the dentary. |
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Keywords: | Late Miocene macropodid systematics cranial morphology sthenurine kangaroos |
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