Wakaleo oldfieldi
Appearance
Wakaleo oldfieldi Temporal range:
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | †Thylacoleonidae |
Genus: | †Wakaleo |
Species: | †W. oldfieldi
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Binomial name | |
†Wakaleo oldfieldi |
Wakaleo oldfieldi is an extinct species of marsupial lions of the genus Wakaleo, found in the Cenozoic deposits of South Australia. It had three unfused molar teeth instead of two fused molars as is the case with the Pleistocene Thylacoleo carnifex.
As with Thylacoleo carnifex, this species is presumed to have used its maxillary (upper) teeth to hold its food and sharpen the mandibular teeth, the latter were also used in slicing and stabbing during eating. The premolars also had a crescent-shaped circumference for slicing.[2]
Taxonomy
A description of the species was published in 1974.[1]
Description
A species of Wakaleo, marsupial carnivores that found at fossil sites in Australia.[1]