Riversleigh

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte)


State Party = AUS
Type = Natural
Criteria = viii, ix
ID = 698
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 1994
Session = 18th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/698

Riversleigh, in North West Queensland, is one of Australia's most renowned fossil sites. The 100 km² area contains fossil remains of ancient mammals, birds and reptiles of Oligocene and Miocene age. The site was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1994 and is an extension of the Lawn Hill National Park.

Fossils at Riversleigh are encased in limestone deposited by lime-rich freshwater pools, and in caves, at a time when the ecosystem was evolving from a rich rainforest to semi-arid grassland community. Thirty-five fossil bat species have been identified at the site, which is the richest in the world. The skull and nearly complete dentition of a fifteen million-year-old monotreme, Obdurodon dicksoni, provide a window into the evolution of this characteristically Australian group. Fossil ancestors of the recently extinct "Thylacinus cynocephalus", the marsupial "Tasmanian Tiger", have also been identified among Riversleigh's fauna.

Creatures of Riversleigh

;Mammals
*"Yalkaparidon", a bizarre marsupial
*"Ekaltadeta", a carnivorous rat kangaroo
*"Wakaleo", a marsupial lion
*"Priscileo", a marsupial lion
*"Burramys", the mountain pygmy possum
*"Nimbacinus", a precursor of the Tasmanian wolf
*"Obdurodon", a giant platypus
*"Nimiokoala", an ancient koala
*"Yarala", a tube-nosed bandicoot

;Birds
*"Pengana", a flexible-footed bird of prey
*"Menura tyawanoides", a prehistoric lyrebird
*The first fossil record of the Orthonychidae (logrunner) family

;Reptiles
*"Trilophosuchus", a tree-dwelling crocodile
*"Baru", the cleaver-headed crocodile
*"Yurlunggur", and "Wonambi", extinct snakes (Madtsoiidae)

ee also

* List of fossil sites "(with link directory)"

External links

* [http://environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/fossil-riversleigh/index.html World heritage listing for Riversleigh]
* [http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=698 UNESCO site with information on Riversleigh, Australia]
* [http://www.riversleigh.qld.gov.au/frame.html Australian site about Riversleigh]
* [http://www.amonline.net.au/fossil_sites/riversleigh.htm Information about fossils from Riversleigh, Australian Museum]
* [http://www.rivsoc.org.au The Riversleigh Society supports scientific research at Riversleigh]

References

*Archer, M. et al 1991. "Riversleigh: the Story of Australia's Inland Rainforests", (Sydney: Reed Books).