Primitive macropodids from riversleigh, northwestern queensland

Three new species of macropodids, Ganawamaya acris gen. et sp. nov., G. omala sp. nov., and G. aediculis sp. nov., are described from the Early to Mid Miocene limestone deposits of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Ii morphology is similar to that reported in undescribed species from the Kutjumarpu Local Fauna and may represent a synapomorphy for Balbarinae. Molar morphology of the species of Ganawamaya is intermediate between that of the kncwn species of Nambaroo and those of Balbaroo. Deep penetration of the masseteric canal within the mandible, as seen in G. acris and G. aediculis and now known to occur in other Riversleigh balbarine species, is suggested as a potential macropodoid synapomorphy

Genetic analysis of offspring of a female-female pair in the lesser snow goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens).

We used restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to establish the parentage of a clutch of eight eggs being incubated by two female Lesser Snow Geese to determine if both females had contributed to the clutch, and whether a single male had fertilized both females. Genotypes at 30 polymorphic restriction enzyme sites were surveyed with 14 cloned DNA probes. Sexing of all individuals was done both by dissection and by use of a DNA probe that detected the presence of the W chromosome in females. Paternal genotypes were reconstructed from haplotypes of the offspring. We determined that both females had contributed to the clutch, and that each was fertilized by a different male. Received 9 May 1988, accepted 30 September 198