Naraboryctes facts for kids

Naraboryctes philcreaseri is an ancient animal known only from its fossils. It was a type of marsupial, like kangaroos or koalas today. Scientists found its fossils in the Riversleigh area of northwestern Queensland, Australia. These fossils are from the early Miocene period, which was millions of years ago.

About Naraboryctes philcreaseri

How it Got its Name

Scientists Michael Archer and his team first named Naraboryctes philcreaseri in 2011. It is the main example, or type species, for a group of animals called Naraboryctes.

The first part of its name, Naraboryctes, has a special meaning. "Naraba" means "to drink" in the Garrawa and Waanyi languages from where the fossil was found. This part of the name hints that it lived in a wet rainforest. The second part, "oryctes," means "digger" in Greek. This shows that the animal was good at digging, much like modern marsupial moles.

The second part of its full name, philcreaseri, honors a person named Phil Creaser. So, the full name can be thought of as "Phil Creaser's Drinking Digger."

Family Tree

Naraboryctes is related to the modern 'marsupial moles', which belong to the family called Notoryctidae. Today, there are only two or three types of these moles left.

However, some newer studies suggest that Naraboryctes might not fit perfectly into the modern marsupial mole family. It might belong to a completely new group of ancient marsupials that scientists didn't know about before. Researchers are still working to figure out its exact place in the animal family tree. They have even suggested it could be in its own special group called Notoryctemorphia.

What it Looked Like

Scientists have found pieces of Naraboryctes philcreaseri's jawbones, teeth, and other parts of its skeleton. These fossils help them understand what the animal was like.

Naraboryctes philcreaseri is seen as a transitional fossil. This means it shows features that link older animals to newer ones. It had special body parts that helped it find food or live underground in the rainforest where it lived.

Scientists believe this animal weighed about 200 grams, which is about the same as a small hamster. They think it ate insects, just like modern marsupial moles do.

Where it Lived

Naraboryctes philcreaseri fossils were found in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Australia. Scientists found them at three different spots: Camel Sputum Site, Upper Site, and Wayne's Wok Site. The main place it was found is called Upper Site.

These fossils are from the early Miocene period, about 23 to 16 million years ago. Back then, the Riversleigh area was a very different place. It was a wet rainforest with a thick tree canopy. This is very different from the dry central deserts where its modern relatives, the marsupial moles, live today.

This species is important because it is the earliest known ancestor of the marsupial mole family.