Palorchestes selestiae
| Palorchestes selestiae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | †Palorchestidae |
| Genus: | †Palorchestes |
| Species: | †P. selestiae
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Palorchestes selestiae Mackness, 1995[1]
| |
Palorchestes selestiae is a fossil species of Diprotodontidae, ancient mammals that existed in Australia.
The description of the species by B. S. Mackness was published in 1995, emerging from a study of a left first molar found at the Allingham formation of the Bluff Downs fossil site. The specific epithet is derived from Selesti Smith, a resident of Bluff Downs Station.
The size of the holotype, a molar, was around three-quarters that of P. azael, the most recent taxon of the genus, and one-fifth larger than P. parvus. The morphology of the tooth resembles the later species, although the size is much closer to smaller congener P. parvus.
References
- ^ Mackness, B.S. (1995). "Palorchestes selestiae, a new species of palorchestid marsupial from the Early Pliocene Bluff Downs Local Fauna, northeastern Queensland". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 38: 603–609.