A comprehensive database of quality-rated fossil ages for Sahul\u27s Quaternary vertebrates

The study of palaeo-chronologies using fossil data provides evidence for past ecological and evolutionary processes, and is therefore useful for predicting patterns and impacts of future environmental change. However, the robustness of inferences made from fossil ages relies heavily on both the quantity and quality of available data. We compiled Quaternary non-human vertebrate fossil ages from Sahul published up to 2013. This, the FosSahul database, includes 9,302 fossil records from 363 deposits, for a total of 478 species within 215 genera, of which 27 are from extinct and extant megafaunal species (2,559 records). We also provide a rating of reliability of individual absolute age based on the dating protocols and association between the dated materials and the fossil remains. Our proposed rating system identified 2,422 records with high-quality ages (i.e., a reduction of 74%). There are many applications of the database, including disentangling the confounding influences of hypothetical extinction drivers, better spatial distribution estimates of species relative to palaeo-climates, and potentially identifying new areas for fossil discovery

Thorough assessment of DNA preservation from fossil bone and sediments excavated from a late Pleistocenee-Holocene cave deposit on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Fossils and sediments preserved in caves are an excellent source of information for investigating impacts of past environmental changes on biodiversity. Until recently studies have relied on morphology-based palaeontological approaches, but recent advances in molecular analytical methods offer excellent potential for extracting a greater array of biological information from these sites. This study presents a thorough assessment of DNA preservation from late Pleistocene-Holocene vertebrate fossils and sediments from Kelly Hill Cave Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Using a combination of extraction techniques and sequencing technologies, ancient DNA was characterised from over 70 bones and 20 sediment samples from 15 stratigraphic layers ranging in age from >20 ka to ~6.8 ka. A combination of primers targeting marsupial and placental mammals, reptiles and two universal plant primers were used to reveal genetic biodiversity for comparison with the mainland and with the morphological fossil record for Kelly Hill Cave. We demonstrate that Kelly Hill Cave has excellent long-term DNA preservation, back to at least 20 ka. This contrasts with the majority of Australian cave sites thus far explored for ancient DNA preservation, and highlights the great promise Kangaroo Island caves hold for yielding the hitherto-elusive DNA of extinct Australian Pleistocene species

FIGURE 21 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 21. Maxillary and upper dental specimens of Bohra bila. QM F43276, partial left adult maxilla (A–C). A: lateral view. B: mesio-occlusal view. C: stereo occlusal view (cast). QM F4740, partial left adult maxilla (D–E). D: lateral view. E: stereo occlusal view. QM F58667, left M2 (F–J). F: stereo occlusal view. G: lingual view. H: buccal view. I: anterior view. J: posterior view.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 39, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt

FIGURE 9 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 9. Calcaneus and talus (right, adult) of Dendrolagus bennettianus (QM JM19863). Calcaneus (A–E). A: dorsal view. B: plantar view. C: medial view. D: cranial view. E: lateral view. Talus (F–K). F. plantar view. G: medial view. H: dorsal view. I: caudal view. J: lateral view. K: cranial view. AHN, head of talus (articular facet for navicular); APT, anterior plantar tuberosity; ATF, anteromedial facet for head of talus; CFA, articular facet for cuboid; CPS, calcaneal plantar surface; DMF, dorsomedial facet of calcaneal-cuboid articulation; DLF, dorsolateral facet of calcaneal-cuboid articulation; FGS, flexor groove of sustentaculum tali; FIB, fibular articular surface; FIL, tubercles for fibular ligaments; LCS, lateral calcaneal facet; LTF, lateral facet for talus; LTC, lateral trochlear crest; MCF, medial calcaneal facet; MFO, malleolar fossa; MMA, medial malleolus; MTC, medial trochlear crest; MTF, medial facet for talus; PVP, posteroventral process; STA, sustentaculum tali; TCA, tuber calcanei; TCE, epiphysis of tuber calcanei; TPS, transverse plantar sulcus; TRO, trochlea (talo-crural joint); VMF, ventromedial facet of calcaneal-cuboid articulation.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 19, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt

FIGURE 7 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 7. Femur (right, adult) of Dendrolagus bennettianus (QM JM19863). A: cranial view. B: caudal view. C: medial view. D: lateral view. E: proximal view. F: distal view. AFO, fossa for m. adductors; FHE, femoral head; FTR, femoral trochlea; GTR, greater trochanter; ICF, intercondylar fossa; ITF, intertrochanteric fossa; LCO, lateral condyle; LEP, lateral epicondyle; LTC, lateral trochanteric crest; LTR, lesser trochanter; LSF, lateral supracondylar fossa (for m. flexor digitorum superficialis); MCO, medial condyle; MEP, medial epicondyle; MSF, medial supracondylar fossa (for m. gastrocnemius); TQF, tubercle for m. quadratus femoris.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 17, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt

FIGURE 14 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 14. Maxilla and upper cheek teeth of Bohra bandharr. FMNH PM1586, partial right adult maxilla (A–C). A: lateral view. B: mesial view. C: stereo occlusal view. AM F146754, left P3 (D–H). D: stereo occlusal view. E: buccal view. F: anterior view. G: lingual view. H: posterior view.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt

FIGURE 31 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 31. Femur (right, adult) of the holotype of Bohra planei sp. nov. (UCMP 70128). A: cranial view. B: caudal view. C: medial view. D: lateral view. E: proximal view. F: distal view.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 61, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt

FIGURE 12 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 12. Calcaneus and talus (right, adult) of the holotype of Bohra paulae (AM F62099–F62100). Calcaneus (A–E). A: dorsal view. B: plantar view. C: medial view. D: lateral view. E: cranial view. Calcaneus and talus in articulation (F–I). F: dorsal view. G: medial view. H: cranial view. I: lateral view. Talus (J–O). J: cranial view. K: dorsal view. L: medial view. M: caudal view. N: plantar view. O: lateral view.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 24, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt

FIGURE 1 in A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos

FIGURE 1. Map of Australia and New Guinea showing localities that have produced fossils attributable, or potentially attributable, to species of Bohra.Published as part of <i>Prideaux, Gavin J. & Warburton, Natalie M., 2023, A review of the late Cenozoic genus Bohra (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae) and the evolution of tree-kangaroos, pp. 1-95 in Zootaxa 5299 (1)</i> on page 6, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5299.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8012666">http://zenodo.org/record/8012666</a&gt