Wynyardiidae

Wynyardiidae is an extinct family of possum-like marsupials from the early Miocene of Wynyard in Tasmania, long been considered to display skeletal features that are intermediate between the primitive polyprotodont and the advanced diprotodont marsupials.

Wynyardiidae
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Infraorder: Vombatomorphia
Family: †Wynyardiidae
Osgood, 1921[1]
Genera

Wynyardia
Muramura
Namilamadeta

Wynyardia's brain is clearly phalangeroid in external morphology, resembling closely that of the extant phalangerid Trichosurus vulpecula. This indicates that by 21 million years ago, an unambiguously phalangerid brain had evolved within the Diprotodonta family, indicating that both groups had a common ancestor prior to this date. Research on Wynyardia bassiana's relationship with fossil phalangerid species of the Miocene is an ongoing process.

Species

Notes
  1. Osgood, W.H.; Herrick, C.J. (1921). "A monographic study of the American marsupial, Caenolestes". Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series. Field Museum of Natural History. 14 (1): 138.

References
  • Wildlife of Gondwana, By Patricia Vickers-Rich and Thomas Hewett Rich 1993 ISBN 0-7301-0315-3 Reed.


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