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Wabanbara ringtailensis
Discussion
Species name refers to the type locality.
Taxonomy
Wabanbara ringtailensis was named by White et al. (2025). Its type specimen is QM F61893, a partial skull, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Ringtail Site, which is in a Langhian/Serravallian fluvial horizon in Australia. It is the type species of Wabanbara.
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wabanbara ringtailensis White et al. |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
†Wabanbara ringtailensis White et al. 2025
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Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| A. W. White et al. 2025 | Wabanbara ringtailensis differs from all other Australian short-necked chelids in the presence of an extended anterior projection of the basisphenoid that divides the pterygoids to a level anterior of the processus trochlearis pterygoidei; the basisphenoid projection is otherwise shorter and never extends anteriorly beyond the level of the pterygoid wings in all other Australian short-necked chelids. Wabanbara ringtailensis differs in having a processus trochlearis pterygoidei that is flatter, broader and longer ventrally; the pterygoid also lacks a ventrally projecting posterolateral margin, and palate is shallow, especially posteriorly. Wabanbara ringtailensis differs from all other short-necked chelids except Elusor macrurus Cann & Legler, 1994in having a large, well-defined, pterygoid fossa that is predominantly horizontally oriented. Wabanbara ringtailensis differs from the species of Chelodina in: having a skull that is anteriorly deep and much shorter relative to width; the parietals and frontals are broad; postorbitals dorsally and intra- orbitally broad; a large and laterally developed processus trochlearis pterygoidei; horizontally inclined cavum tympani; large orbits that are laterally directed rather than dorsally directed; a more steeply margined face; shallower and more gently rounded palatine–pterygoid suture; shallower arch across the posterior palate; shorter pterygoid with a lateral pterygoid fossa; basisphenoid does not contact the quadrate and possesses a rugose trough; basioccipital short such that the occipital condyles do not extend beyond the opisthotic; squamosal without posterodorsal lengthening; ventrally broad supraoccipital. Wabanbara ringtailensis differs from Birlimarr gaffneyi in: being nearly twice as long (premaxilla to condyle length); greater lateral and posterior skull emarginations; narrower parietals relative to maximum transverse skull width across the quadrates; the squamosal extends much further posteriorly; a straight frontal–parietal suture that lacks the medial posterior extension of the frontal present in B. gaffneyi; the basisphenoid projecting much further anteriorly; a wider quadrate and more dorsoventrally compressed cavum tympani. Wabanbara ringtailensis can be distinguished from other Ringtail Site chelids (sensu Gaffney et al. 1989): differs from Pseudemydura sp. in lacking the dorsally expanded supraoccipital; differs from Emydura indet. and Chelidae indet. in its wider basioccipital. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: f = family, c = class, subp = subphylum | |||||
| References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Ernst and Barbour 1989 | |||||
Age range: base of the Langhian to the top of the Serravallian or 15.98000 to 11.63000 Ma
Collections: one only
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langhian - Serravallian | Australia (Queensland) | Wabanbara ringtailensis (type locality: 92641) |