Ngamalacinus timmulvaneyi facts for kids

Ngamalacinus timmulvaneyi was an ancient marsupial that lived in Australia a very long time ago, during the early Miocene epoch. Its fossils have been discovered at a famous place called Riversleigh.

This animal was a meat-eater, much like a dog, and walked on four legs. It had a long snout, similar to a dog's nose. Its teeth were specially shaped for eating meat, with sharp edges perfect for cutting.

Discovering Ngamalacinus

Scientists officially described Ngamalacinus timmulvaneyi as a new species and genus in 1997. This happened after Jeanette Muirhead carefully studied fossils found at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area.

The name Ngamalacinus comes from two parts. Ngamala is a word from the Waanyi people, meaning "died out." Kynos is an ancient Greek word for "dog." So, the name means "died out dog," because it looked a bit like a dog.

The second part of its name, timmulvaneyi, honors Tim Mulvaney. His aunt, Margaret Beavis, gave him this honor to thank him for his long-time support of research into the ancient animals of Riversleigh.

What Ngamalacinus Looked Like

Ngamalacinus timmulvaneyi belonged to a group of animals called Thylacinidae. It was most similar to another ancient marsupial called Wabulacinus. Scientists believe it was a close relative, but still a separate branch of the thylacinid family tree.

This animal was about the size of a small dog. It lived in the Riversleigh area alongside other thylacinids of similar sizes. Finding many different types of these ancient marsupials in the early Miocene period suggests they each had their own special way of living and finding food. This idea changed how scientists thought about how the thylacinid family evolved.

Fossils of Ngamalacinus timmulvaneyi have been found at two specific sites in Riversleigh: Inabeyence and Camel Sputum.