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Thylacoleonidae is a family of extinct carnivorous diprotodontian marsupials from Australia, referred to as marsupial lions. [2] The best known is Thylacoleo carnifex , also called the marsupial lion. [ 3 ]
They were the largest and last members of the family Thylacoleonidae, occupying the position of apex predator within Australian ecosystems. The largest and last species, Thylacoleo carnifex, approached the weight of a lioness. The estimated average weight for the species ranges from 101 to 130 kg (223 to 287 lb). [1]
The type is currently the only known species of Microleo, a genus allied with the family Thylacoleonidae, and viewed as basal to the group. [1] The thylacoleonids are represented in the later fossil records of Australia, powerful predatory marsupial species that existed throughout the Miocene to the Pleistocene.
The Vombatiformes are one of the three suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia.Seven of the nine known families within this suborder are extinct; only the families Phascolarctidae, with the koala, and Vombatidae, with three extant species of wombat, survive.
Wakaleo is a genus of the thylacoleonid family of predatory mammals, which are known as marsupial lions. The size of Wakaleo species increases over the course of the evolution of the genus.
Subsequently Gillespie, Archer & Hand (2020) moved "Priscileo" roskellyae to a distinct genus Lekaneleo, arguing that it exhibits features supporting its generic distinction within Thylacoleonidae. [4] The specific epithet honours Ros Kelly, who provided support to research at Riversleigh when acting as a minister of the federal government. [2]
The group first appeared during the Late Oligocene, with representatives that were mostly sheep-sized, and substantially diversified beginning during the Late Miocene, reaching an apex of diversity during the Pliocene with seven genera, likely due to the increase of open forested landscapes.
This is a list of adaptive radiated marsupials by form; they are adaptively radiated marsupial species equivalent to the many niche-types of non-marsupial mammals.Many of the surviving species are from Australia.