Abstract
The origins, evolution and palaeodiversity of Australia’s unique marsupial fauna are reviewed. Australia’s marsupial fauna is both taxonomically and ecologically diverse comprising four extant orders (Dasyuromorphia, Peramelemorphia, Notoryctemorphia and Diprotodontia) and one extinct order (Yalkaparidontia). Molecular divergence dates estimate a Palaeocene origin for the Australian marsupial orders yet ordinal differentiation is obscured by significant gaps in the fossil record with a single terrestrial mammal-bearing deposit known between the late Cretaceous and the late Oligocene. This deposit, the 55 million-year-old early Eocene Tingamarra Local Fauna of southeastern Queensland, contains Australia’s oldest marsupial (Superorder Australidelphia) as well as taxa tentatively interpreted to represent South American groups (Order Polydolopimorphia). Palaeobiogeographic hypotheses regarding the distribution and interordinal relationships of Australian and South American marsupials are discussed. Dasyuromorphia and Peramelemorphia were possibly also present in the early Eocene, Diprotodontia in at least the late Oligocene and Notoryctemorphia and Yalkaparidontia in the early Miocene. Palaeobiodiversity was highest during the early to middle Miocene as evidenced by a spectacular array of marsupial groups in the rainforest assemblages of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. The onset of icehouse conditions during the middle Miocene saw significant faunal turnover with loss of many archaic groups and the emergence of a range of modern lineages. Few deposits of late Miocene age are known. Development of Australia’s first grasslands and arid habitats occurred in the Pliocene, accompanied by an explosive radiation of grazing kangaroos. The Pleistocene was characterised by severe and unpredictable climatic conditions and the extinction of the Australian megafauna. Lowered sea levels allowed faunal interchange between mainland Australia and neighbouring New Guinea as well as the arrival of the first humans. Resolution of the role of humans and/or climate change in megafaunal extinction requires more precise dating of late Pleistocene deposits. We reflect on the predictive power of the fossil record to enhance understanding of the effects of climate change and humans on the future of the Australian marsupial fauna.
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Acknowledgements
We first thank John Talent for inviting us to compile this overview for the volume. We thank the ARC and other funding bodies that have contributed over the years to enable us and our colleagues to explore Australia’s unique fossil record to develop an understanding of palaeobiodiversity, trends through time and how these have led to the situation all of us are trying to conserve for the future. Phil Creaser has helped immeasurably by establishing the CREATE Funds to assist palaeoscience research projects conducted at UNSW. We also thank Queensland National Parks, the World Heritage Unit in Canberra, Xstrata Community Partnership Program North Queensland, Mount Isa City Council, Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company, Riversleigh Interpretive Centre, Adele’s Grove and the Waanyi People for permission to investigate the rocks at Riversleigh. Colleagues who have assisted with information, ideas, access to work in progress and helped us obtain the materials that resulted in our current understanding include Ken Aplin, Rick Arena, Mina Bassarova, Alan Bartholomai, Hayley Bates, Bob Beale, Robin Beck, Jan Bimrose, Steve Bourne, Jenni Brammall, Pip Brewer, Linda Broome, Lizard Cannell, Bill Clemens, Bernie Cooke, Phil Creaser, Kirsten Crosby, Judith Field, Gillian Garvey, Anna Gillespie, Francisco Goin, Glen Graham, Ian Graham, Yamila Gurovich, Bob Jones, Scott Hocknull, Christine Janis, Jenny Jones, John Kirsch, Chris Larkin, Julien Louys, Rod and Michelle Low Mow, Dirk Megirian, Alexis Meyer, Jeanette Muirhead, Peter Murray, Frank Nissen, Rosendo Pascual, Neville Pledge, Elizabeth Price, Gilbert Price, Gavin Prideaux, Alan Rackham, Liz Reed, Tom Rich, David Ride, Karen Roberts, John Scanlon, Bernard Sigé, Dick Tedford, Kenny Travouillon, Steve Van Dyck, Rod Wells, Arthur White, Karen White, Steph Williams, Paul Willis, Vera Weisbecker, Mike Woodburne, Jon Woodhead, Trevor Worthy, Steve Wroe and Jian-xin Zhao.
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Black, K.H., Archer, M., Hand, S.J., Godthelp, H. (2012). The Rise of Australian Marsupials: A Synopsis of Biostratigraphic, Phylogenetic, Palaeoecologic and Palaeobiogeographic Understanding. In: Talent, J.A. (eds) Earth and Life. International Year of Planet Earth. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3428-1_35
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