An early occurrence of Sarcophilus laniarius harrisii (Marsupialia, Dasyuridae) from the early Pleistocene of Nelson Bay, Victoria

The isolated lower molar series of a dasyurid from early Pleistocene sediments at Nelson Bay, near Portland, is referred herein to Sarcophilus laniarius harrisii (Boitard, 1842). Dental measurements and morphological comparisons taken from this tooth series compare closely with those of the extant subspecies. The genus Sarcophilus is known from the early Pleistocene by the species S. moornaensis Crabb 1982. Fossil material assigned to S. laniarius harrisii is now also known from Early Pleistocene sediments. The new specimens from Nelson Bay extend the origin of S. laniarius harrisii to the early Pleistocene.<br /

Glaucodon Ballaratensis (Marsupialia, Dasyridae), a late Pliocene \u27Devil\u27 from Batesford, Victoria

The right mandible of a dasyurid from Pliocene sediments at Batesford, near Geelong, Victoria is described as a new specimen of Glaucodon ballaratensis Stirton, 1957. The new specimen is morphologically close to the holotype of Glaucodon ballaratensis. Several dental characteristics of the new specimen unknown from the holotype of Glaucodon ballaratensis are close to those of Sarcophilus moornaensis Crabb, 1982. Glaucodon ballaratensis also shares features with Dasyurus maculatus Kerr, 1792 and Sarcophilus laniarius harrisii Boitard, 1842, and hence the Batesford specimen offers additional information on the origins of these dasyurids.<br /