Muribacinus gadiyuli

Muribacinus gadiyuli
Temporal range: Middle Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Thylacinidae
Genus: Muribacinus
Species: M. gadiyuli
Binomial name
Muribacinus gadiyuli

Muribacinus gadiyuli lived during the middle Miocene in Riversleigh. The generic name comes from the Waanyi aboriginal word for “little” in reference to its considerably small size compared to the modern thylacine and was similar in size to a fox-terrier dog.

M. gadiyuli was a quadrupedal marsupial predator, that in appearance looked similar to a dog with a long snout. Its molar teeth were specialized for carnivory; the cups and crest were reduced or elongated to give the molars a cutting blade.

The holotype and only specimens are a well preserved right maxilla, right dentary, and the holotype, a section of the jugal bone.

External links


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