Riversleigh

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh)
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Location	Far North Queensland
Type	Natural
Criteria	viii, ix
Reference	698
UNESCO region	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	1994 (18th Session)

Riversleigh, in the north-west of Queensland, is Australia's most famous fossil site. The 100 km² area has fossil remains of ancient mammals, birds and reptiles of Oligocene and Miocene age.^[1]

The fossils at Riversleigh are rare because they are found in soft freshwater limestone which has not been compressed.^[2] This means the animal remains retain their three-dimensional structure. The area is located within the catchment of the Gregory River.^[3]

Fossils were first noted to exist in the area in 1901.^[4] An initial exploration survey was conducted in 1963. Since 1976 the area has been the subject of systemic exploration.^[4] The site was co-listed with the Naracoorte Caves National Park in South Australia as a World Heritage site in 1994 and by itself, it is an extension of the Boodjamulla National Park.^[5]

Fossils

Prehistoric mammal skeleton

Fossils at Riversleigh are found in limestone by lime-rich freshwater pools, and in caves, when the ecosystem was evolving from rich rainforest to semi-arid grassland community. Some of the fossils at Riversleigh are 25 million years old.^[6] High concentrations of calcium carbonate has meant the fossils are extremely well preserved.^[6] The fossil collection reveals mammalian evolution across a time span of more than 20 million years.^[3] There are more than 200 individual locations where fossils have been found.^[4] The fossil record here is significant because it provides evidence on evolution and the distribution of species across Gondwana.

Thirty-five fossil bat species have been identified at the site, which is the richest in the world.^[3] Cave deposits have been particularly rich in bat species.^[4]

The skull and nearly complete dentition of a fifteen million-year-old monotreme, Obdurodon dicksoni, provide a window into the evolution of this characteristically Australian group. Fossil ancestors of the recently extinct thylacine, Thylacinus cynocephalus, have also been identified among Riversleigh's fauna. In 1993, Nimbadon skulls were unearthed in a previously unknown cave in the region.^[7] Researchers estimate that the prehistoric marsupial first appeared about 15 million years ago and died out about 12 million years ago, perhaps from climate change induced losses in habitat.^[8] A well-preserved skull of the ancient Nimbacinus dicksoni marsupial found at Riversleigh has been used to determine the hunting behaviour of the species.^[9]

Other fossils have provided evidence of how the koala has evolved in response to Australia's change from predominant rainforest vegetation to drier eucalypt forests.^[10] Some fossil insects and plants have also been discovered.^[4] The fossil fauna of Riversleigh includes the following:^[11]

Mammals

Yingabalanara, a mysterious mammal Obdurodon, a giant platypus Malleodectes, a marsupial with snail eating dentition Yalkaparidon, a bizarre marsupial Naraboryctes, a marsupial mole Joculusium, a carnivorous dasyuromorphian Mayigriphus, a carnivorous dasyuromorphian Wabulacinus, a precursor of the thylacine Ngamalacinus, a precursor of the thylacine Maximucinus, a precursor of the thylacine Nimbacinus, a precursor of the thylacine Muribacinus, a precursor of the thylacine Badjcinus, a precursor of the thylacine Thylacinus, a precursor of the thylacine Mutpuracinus, a precursor of the thylacine Ganbulanyi, a carnivorous dasyuromorphian Barinya, a carnivorous dasyuromorphian Yarala, a tube-nosed bandicoot Galadi, a carnivorous bandicoot Bulungu, a mouse-sized insectivorous bandicoot Nimiokoala, an ancient koala[10] Priscakoala, an ancient koala[10]

Phascolarctos, an ancient koala[10] Kuterintja, an extinct marsupial of the family Ilariidae Namilamadeta, an extinct marsupial of the family Wynyardiidae Wakaleo, a marsupial lion Priscileo, a marsupial lion Nimbadon, a sheep-like browser[7] Neohelos, a sheep-like browser Silvabestius, a sheep-like browser Propalorchestes, a marsupial tapir Ngapakaldia, a marsupial tapir Palorchestes, a marsupial tapir Marada, a sheep-like browser Rhizophascolonus, an ancient wombat Warendja, an ancient wombat Burramys, the mountain pygmy possum Cercartetus, an ancient possum Ektopodon, an ancient possum Chunia, an ancient possum Djilgaringa, an ancient possum Durudawiri, an ancient possum Wyulda, an ancient brushtail possum Onirocuscus, an ancient brushtail possum

Trichosurus, an ancient brushtail possum Djaludjangi, an ancient gliding possum Pildra, an ancient ringtail possum Paljara, an ancient ringtail possum Marlu, an ancient ringtail possum Gawinga, an ancient ringtail possum Hypsiprymnodon, a frugivorous rat-kangaroo Ekaltadeta, a carnivorous rat-kangaroo Gumardee, a rat-kangaroo Wakiewakie, a rat-kangaroo Bettongia, a rat-kangaroo Nambaroo, an ancient kangaroo Galanarla, an ancient kangaroo Balbaroo, an ancient kangaroo Ganawamaya, an ancient kangaroo Wururoo, an ancient kangaroo Wabularoo, an ancient kangaroo Ganguroo, an ancient kangaroo Bulungamaya, an ancient kangaroo Wanburoo, an ancient kangaroo Rhizosthenurus, an ancient kangaroo

Birds

• Emuarius, an emuwary
• Barawertornis, a mihirung
• Eoanseranas, a magpie-goose
• Pinpanetta, a stiff-tailed duck
• Ciconia, a stork
• Pengana, a flexible-footed bird of prey
• Australlus, a flightless rail
• Cacatua, a cockatoo
• Melopsittacus, a budgerigar
• Collocalia, a swiftlet
• Corvitalusoides, an ancient passerine
• Menura, a lyrebird
• Longimornis, an Old World oriole
• Orthonyx, a logrunner
• Kurrartapu, a cracticid
• Primophaps, a bronzewing pigeon

Reptiles

Elseya, a side neck turtle Emydura, a side neck turtle Pseudemydura, a side neck turtle Warkalania, a horned turtle Meiolania, a horned turtle Pygopus, a legless lizard Sulcatidens, a dragon lizard Physignathus, a dragon lizard Egernia, a skink Tiliqua, a skink

Varanus, a monitor lizard Rhamphotyphlops, a blind snake Morelia, a python Wonambi, extinct snakes (Madtsoiidae) Nanowana, extinct snakes (Madtsoiidae) Incongruelaps, a venomous snake Trilophosuchus, a tree-dwelling crocodile Baru, the cleaver-headed crocodile Mekosuchus,a crocodile Quinkana, a crocodile

Amphibians

• Litoria, a tree-dwelling frog
• Crinia, a frog
• Kyarranus, a frog
• Lechriodus, a frog
• Limnodynastes, a frog

Fishes

• Neoceratodus, a lungfish
• Mioceratodus, a lungfish

Research

Scientific studies are mostly conducted by a group of palaeontologists from the University of New South Wales.^[6] Mike Archer is a paleontologist who has been working at Riversleigh since 1983. He and his co-workers discovered that diluted acetic acid was the most effective method of extracting fossils.^[4]

See also

• List of fossil sites

References

1. Archer M; Hand, Suzanne J. & Godthelp H. [1991] 2000. Australia's lost world: Riversleigh, World Heritage Site. Reed, Sydney.
2. Anna Salleh (16 February 2006). "Huge skulls clues to snake evolution". ABC Science (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 5 August 2010.
3. "Australian Fossil Mammal Site - Riversleigh more information". Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
4. The Australian Heritage Council (2012). Australia' Fossil Heritage: A Catalogue of Important Australian Fossil Sites. Csiro Publishing. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0643102302. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
5. "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
6. "Riversleigh World Heritage Site, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park: Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
7. "Cave yields marsupial fossil haul". BBC News. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
8. Fossils reveal prehistoric life cycle. Australian Geographic. 20 July 2010.
9. Jonathan Marker (10 April 2014). "This meat-eating marsupial may have hunted prey larger than itself". Science Recorder News. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
10. Dan Gaffney (19 December 2009). "Loud and lazy but didn't chew gum: Ancient koalas". PhysOrg (PhysOrg.com). Retrieved 5 August 2010.
11. http://www.wakaleo.net/

Further reading

• Archer, M. et al. 1991. Riversleigh: the Story of Australia's Inland Rainforests, (Sydney: Reed Books).

External links

• World heritage listing for Riversleigh
• UNESCO site with information on Riversleigh, Australia
• Information about fossils from Riversleigh, Australian Museum
• The Riversleigh Society supports scientific research at Riversleigh

Coordinates: 19°04′59″S 138°43′01″E / 19.083°S 138.717°E