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1.
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2.
The Quaternary System is under threat of extinction as a chronostratigraphic unit in the international Geological Time Scale. In its place, the Neogene System (previously comprising Miocene and Pliocene Series), is to be extended to include the Pleistocene and Holocene Series. It may be possible to “save” the Quaternary by defining it as a Subsystem of the Neogene. In doing so, it would be an opportune time to extend the base of the Quaternary to 2.6 Ma to encompass the time during which (1) Earth's climate has been strongly influenced by bi-polar glaciation, and (2) the genus Homo first appeared and evolved.  相似文献   

3.
The Agenian is the earliest Neogene European Land Mammal Age. It encompasses the mammalian zones MN1 (23.03–22.7 Ma) and MN2 (22.7–20.0 Ma) and roughly coincides with the Aquitanian standard age. Agenian mammalian assemblages from Western Europe encompass a mixture of rhinocerotid taxa of Oligocene affinities and of Miocene newcomers, mostly recorded in France, Germany, Switzerland, and to a lesser extent, Spain. Rhinocerotidae are documented by seven species referred to five genera (Pleuroceros pleuroceros, Protaceratherium minutum, Plesiaceratherium aquitanicum, Mesaceratherium paulhiacense, Diaceratherium lemanense, D. asphaltense, and D. aginense), further attesting to a low suprageneric diversity. Their systematics, morphology, ecology, stratigraphical and geographical ranges are detailed in the present article. Occurrences and geographical ranges of all seven rhinocerotid species are illustrated on palaeogeographical maps of the circum-Mediterranean region at 23 Ma (MN1) and 21 Ma (MN2). The richest Agenian localities (Paulhiac, MN1; Laugnac, MN2) record a specific diversity similar to that of Orleanian rhinocerotid assemblages, with up to five/six associated species. All Agenian rhinocerotid species from Western Europe are endemic to the concerned region, which is consistent with the complete geographic isolation of Western Europe by earliest Miocene times. However, all five genera are documented by twin species in coeval localities of South and Central Asia, which implies (1) vicariant speciation events by latest Oligocene times and (2) the existence of intermittent pathways for terrestrial megamammals such as rhinocerotids during the concerned interval.  相似文献   

4.
This paper presents new paleomagnetic results on Cenozoic rocks from northern central Asia. Eighteen sites were sampled in Pliocene to Miocene clays and sandy clays of the Zaisan basin (southeastern Kazakhstan) and 12 sites in the upper Oligocene to Pleistocene clays and sandstones of the Chuya depression (Siberian Altai).Thermal demagnetization of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) showed that hematite and magnetite are the main ferromagnetic minerals in the deposits of the Zaisan basin. Stepwise thermal demagnetization up to 640–660 °C isolated a characteristic (ChRM) component of either normal or reverse polarity at nine sites. At two other sites, the great circles convergence method yielded a definite direction. Measurements of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility showed that the hematite-bearing sediments preserved their depositional fabric. These results suggest a primary origin of the ChRM and were substantiated by positive fold and reversal tests. The mean paleomagnetic direction for the Zaisan basin (D=9°, I=59°, k=19, α95=11°) is close to the expected direction derived from the APW path of Eurasia [J. Geophys. Res. 96 (1991) 4029] and shows that the basin did not rotated relative to stable Asia during the Tertiary.In the upper Pliocene–Pleistocene sandstones of the Chuya depression, a very stable ChRM carried by hematite was found. Its mean direction (D=9°, I=46°, k=25, α95=7°) is characterized by declination close to the one excepted for early Quaternary, whereas inclination is lower. In the middle Miocene to lower Pliocene clays and sandstones, a stable ChRM of both normal and reverse polarities carried by magnetite was isolated. Its mean direction (D=332°, I=63°, k=31, α95=4°) is deviated with respect to the reference direction and implies a Neogene, 39±8° counterclockwise rotation of the Chuya depression relative to stable Asia. These results and those from the literature suggest that the different amount of rotation found in the two basins is related to a sharp variation in their tectonic style, predominantly compressive in the Zaisan basin and transpressive in the Siberian Altai. At a larger scale, the pattern of vertical axis rotations deduced from paleomagnetic data in northern central Asia is consistent with the hypothesis of a large left-lateral shear zone running from the Pamirs to the Baikal. Heterogeneous rotations, however, indicate changes in style of faulting along the shear zone and local effect for the domains with the largest rotations.  相似文献   

5.
The Fichtelgebirge and Steinwald areas are situated at the western end of the Cenozoic Eger graben. Repeated Neogene fault activity and polyphase morphogenesis created a complex morphotectonic structure. Based on morphotectonic criteria three stages of tectonic activity can be determined: (a) late Oligocene to early Miocene; (b) middle-late Miocene; and (c) late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Due to the Neogene tectonic movements, the pre-basaltic (preOligocene to Miocene) landscape has been differentially uplifted/downthrown and intensely modified by post-basaltic surface planation (HF). Broad paleovalleys (AT) of late Miocene to early Pliocene age and a system of Pliocene and Quaternary fluvial terraces and pediments (BT and ET) have been incised into the widespread HF relief elements. Due to repeated faulting and erosion, the stratigraphic record of Neogene sediments within the studied area is fragmentary.  相似文献   

6.
The geology of the central portion of Kos island (Greece) is described. A geological map shows the distribution of the Neogene Konstantinos, Gurniati, Stefanena und Tafi formations and of the Pleistocene Plateau-tuff in the vicinity of the Dikeos mountain chain. The Neogene and Pleistocene sedimentary formations of Kos are reviewed, and a detailed sketch of the history of the island from the Miocene till now is given. The deposition of marine sediments of lower to middle Miocene age was followed by tectonic movements and accumulation of lacustrine sedimentary rocks in the upper Miocene. During that time, Kos was part of a land mass including Anatolia, the Aegean Sea and the Greek mainland. Sediments, which can be assigned to the lower Pliocene with certainty, are not known from Kos until now. From the middle Pliocene to lower Pleistocene a continuous sequence of sediments was deposited. In the lowermost lithologic units (Gurniati and Stefanena formations in central Kos, Phoka and Sefto formations in east Kos) continental sediments predominate. In central Kos, about eight marine intercalations can be traced, but the sea did not reach the eastern area. The Tafi formation (central Kos, uppermost Pliocene to lower Pleistocene) was mainly accumulated in marine environments. During the same time, in east Kos in a lake of varying size the Kos up to the Elia formations were deposited. Its endemic gastropods include some of the best examples of evolutionary lineages. When by the beginning of the Pleistocene the sea invaded this basin, the endemic fauna was destroyed. After tectonic displacement of the Plio-Pleistocene sediments, what began during accumulation of the lower Tafi formation, and after their elevation above sea-level, the area of Kos and surrounding islands was covered by the Pleistocene Plateau tuff. At about the same time, Kos became separated from the Anatolian Datça peninsula and was transformed into an island. During periods of glacial sea-level fall, however, it was more than once united with the Anatolian mainland via a northern connection. The gradual phyletic change of the freshwater snail,Melanopsis sporadum into M.gorceixi is described. The evolutionary rate was influenced by marine transgressions causing a reduction of the population size.  相似文献   

7.
对南京—仪征地区新近纪砂砾层层序、时代进行了讨论。该地区新近纪砂砾层地层层序为中新世中期的洞玄观组(Nld)、中新世晚期的六合组(N1l)、黄岗组(N1h)及上新世的雨花台组(N2y)，认为雨花台组沉积是位于六合组之上的另一套砂砾层，其沉积时代为上新世晚期。还分析了新近纪砂砾层在中新世中期、中新世晚期、上新世的沉积环境，探讨了区内古长江的形成与演化，认为古长江是在古近纪断陷盆地的基础上，经历了中新世多个汇水盆地的发育阶段至上新世形成古长江雏形，并于更新世早期基本定型，其形成及演化过程均与新构造活动息息相关。  相似文献   

8.
The first unequivocal remains of medium to large-sized mustelids from the middle Miocene Halamagai and Kekemaideng formations have been found in the Ulungur River area, Xinjiang, northwestern China. These new fossils are referred to the hypercarnivorous mustelid Hoplictis Ginsburg, 1961 and denote the first record of the genus in East Asia.We define Hoplictis baihu n. sp., for the mustelid from Tieersihabahe(Halamagai Fm.), which represents the smallest species of the genus. This primitive form is closer to H. florancei and H. noueli than to H. anatolicus and later, larger and more derived Hoplictis spp., from Europe and North America. A large toothless mandible from Duolebulejin(Kekemaiden Fm.) is assigned to Hoplictis cf. helbingi, and it presumably might represent the first record of H. helbingi outside Western Europe. The systematic position of Hoplicitis in relation to Ischyrictis with which it is similar is clarified. The occurrence in East Asia of two species of Hoplictis greatly expands the known distribution and diversity of the genus, and supports a Palaearctic Neogene dispersal event of carnivorans between Europe and Asia during the late Shanwangian–early Tunggurian equivalent to MN5–6 in Europe, and indication of another dispersal event from Europe to North America,through Northwest China during the late Tunggurian, equivalent to MN7–8 in Europe.  相似文献   

9.
Character, Age and Ecology of the Hezheng Biota from Northwestern China   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  
1 Introduction In recent years, field works in the Hezheng area resulted in an explosive growth of new knowledge of Chinese mammalian faunas of the Late Cenozoic. A continuous sedimentary sequence from the Oligocene to the Pleistocene is developed and exposed in the Linxia Basin, Gansu Province, which contains a large number of mammal fossils. The Hezheng area comprises almost the whole Hezheng County, the western half of Guanghe County, the southern half of Dongxiang County, Linxia C…  相似文献   

10.
We present new data and interpretations on the Neogene tectonics of the Shan scarp area (central Myanmar) and its relationship with the India–Indochina oblique convergence. We describe ductile and brittle fabrics associated with the major features in this area, the Mogok Metamorphic Belt (MMB), the Shan scarp and the Sagaing fault. From these data we identify a succession of two tectonic regimes. First, a dominant NNW–SSE-trending extension, marked by ductile stretching that characterizes the MMB, and associated N70E brittle normal faults. Later, from Middle or Upper Miocene to the Present, these structures were cross-cut by brittle right-lateral faults, among which the most important are the N20W transpressive Shan scarp fault zone and the N–S Sagaing fault. To explain this transition from a dominant transtensive to a transpressive stress regime, that occurred during Miocene, we place our data within a larger geodynamic context. We suggest that, like the intraplate deformation in the Indian Ocean, the end of spreading in the South China sea, the opening of the Andaman basin or the end of subduction within the Indo-Burma range, the change in the tectonic regime in central Myanmar could be in response to a major Miocene regional plate kinematic reorganization.  相似文献   

11.
Systematic analysis of a grid of 3450 km of multichannel seismic reflection lines from the Solomon Islands constrains the late Tertiary sedimentary and tectonic history of the Solomon Island arc and its convergent interaction with the Cretaceous Ontong Java oceanic plateau (OJP). The OJP, the largest oceanic plateau on Earth, subducted beneath the northern edge of the Solomon arc in the late Neogene, but the timing and consequences of this obliquely convergent event and its role in the subduction polarity reversal process remain poorly constrained. The Central Solomon intra-arc basin (CSB), which developed in Oligocene to Recent time above the Solomon arc, provides a valuable record of the tectonic environment prior to and accompanying the OJP convergent event and the subsequent arc polarity reversal. Recognition of regionally extensive stratigraphic sequences—whose ages can be inferred from marine sedimentary sections exposed onland in the Solomon Islands—indicate four distinct tectonic phases affecting the Solomon Island arc. Phase 1: Late Oligocene–Late Miocene rifting of the northeast-facing Solomon Island arc produced basal, normal-fault-controlled, asymmetrical sequences of the CSB; the proto-North Solomon trench was probably much closer to the CSB and is inferred to coincide with the trace of the present-day Kia-Kaipito-Korigole (KKK) fault zone; this protracted period of intra-arc extension shows no evidence for interruption by an early Miocene period of convergent “soft docking” of the Ontong Java Plateau as proposed by previous workers. Phase 2: Late Miocene–Pliocene oblique convergence of the Ontong Java Plateau at the proto-North Solomon trench (KKK fault zone) and folding of the CSB and formation of the Malaita accretionary prism (MAP); the highly oblique and diachronous convergence between the Ontong Java plateau and the Solomon arc terminates intra-arc extension first in the southeast (Russell subbasin of the CSB) during the Late Miocene and later during the Pliocene in the northwest (Shortland subbasin of the CSB); folds in the CSB form by inversion of normal faults formed during Phase 1; Phinney et al. [Sequence stratigraphy, structural style, and age of deformation of the Malaita accretionary prism (Solomon arc-Ontong Java Plateau convergent zone)] show a coeval pattern of southeast to northwest younging in folding and faulting of the MAP. Phase 3: Late Pliocene–early Pleistocene arc polarity reversal and subduction initiation at the San Cristobal trench. Effects of this event in the CSB include the formation of a chain of volcanoes above the subducting Australia plate at the San Cristobal trench, the formation of the broad synclinal structure of the CSB with evidence for truncation at the uplifted flanks, and widespread occurrence of slides and “seismites” (deposits formed by seismic shaking). Phase 4: Pleistocene to Recent continued shortening and synclinal subsidence of the CSB. Continued Australia-Pacific oblique plate convergence has led to deepening of the submarine, elongate basin axis of the synclinal CSB and uplift of the dual chain of the islands on its flanks.  相似文献   

12.
【研究目的】晋中盆地位于汾渭断陷盆地带的中部,新生代最大沉积厚度超过3800 m,建立晋中盆地精确地层年代框架和高分辨率沉积层序对于理解汾渭断陷盆地带的演化、华北地区气候变化具有重要意义。【研究方法】本文对晋中盆地东北部晚新生代标准孔ZK01（钻孔深度870.5 m）岩心开展了年代学和沉积学研究。【研究结果】将ZK01孔揭示的松散沉积物分为6个岩性组。首次通过磁性地层学研究,划分出13个正极性时段和12个负极性时段,建立了ZK01孔地层年代框架。晋中盆地新生代沉积物底部最老年龄约8.1 Ma,将晋中盆地活动的起始时间从前人一般认为的上新世初期,确定为中新世晚期,提前了约3 Ma。区内晚新生代地层划分为新近系中新统灞河阶（N14）和保德阶（N15）,上新统高庄阶（N21）和麻则沟阶（N222）,第四系下更新统泥河湾阶（Qp1）,中、上更新统和全新统。【结论】构造活动与气候变化是盆地沉积环境的主要控制因素,共同导致了上新世早期和早更新世中晚期的两次湖泊大规模发育。全新世时期,早中期即先秦（约2.5 ka以前）,盆地中仍是河湖共存阶段;晚期（2.5 ka以来）,出现湖消河长的局面,直至明、清时期湖泊全部消失,气候变化和人类活动影响是盆地中湖泊最终消失的主要原因。创新点：首次通过磁性地层学将晋中盆地发育时间确定为中新世晚期约8.1 Ma;盆地的湖泊发育早期主要受构造和气候控制,全新世以来气候变化和人类活动造成湖泊最终消亡。  相似文献   

13.
阿尔金断裂晚新生代左旋走滑位错的地质新证据   总被引：20，自引：5，他引：20  
通过对沿阿尔金断裂中段 (位于东经 88°至 92°)发育的晚第三纪走滑盆地沉积历史和走滑变形过程的野外观测以及对第四纪索尔库里盆地形成和演化过程的沉积环境复原的分析 ,提出了阿尔金断裂中段晚新生代左旋走滑位错的地质新证据。研究表明 ,晚第三纪走滑盆地经历了中新世晚期至上新世早期斜张走滑拉分和上新世晚期以来左旋错动的演化过程 ,沉积体沿断裂的错位分布特征指示至少发生了 80 km的左旋走滑位错。发育于阿尔金山链内部的索尔库里盆地起源于晚第三纪早期强烈的侵蚀作用 ,成为柴达木盆地快速沉积的主要物源区。该侵蚀盆地于中晚更新世闭合并演化成一个独立的沉积盆地。通过侵蚀盆地外流通道的复原指示阿尔金断裂自晚第三纪以来累积了 80～ 1 0 0 km的左旋位错。在此基础上 ,结合穿越断裂构造的 级区域水系形成的洪积裙宽度和主干河道沿断裂迹线的拐折长度 ,探讨了阿尔金断裂晚新生代左旋走滑位错量沿走向分布的特征 ,估算了左旋走滑速率  相似文献   

14.
We have developed a significant body of new field-based evidence relating to the history of crustal extension in western Turkey. We establish that two of the NE–SW-trending basins in this region, the Gördes and Selendi Basins, whose sedimentary successions begin in the early Miocene, are unlikely to relate to late-stage Alpine compressional orogeny or to E–W extension of Tibetan-type grabens as previously suggested. We argue instead that these basins are the result of earlier (?) late Oligocene, low-angle normal faulting that created approximately N–S “scoop-shaped” depressions in which clastic to lacustine and later tuffaceous sediments accumulated during early–mid-Miocene time, separated by elongate structural highs. These basins were later cut by E–W-trending (?) Plio–Quaternary normal faults that post-date accumulation of the Neogene deposits. In addition, we interpret the Alaşehir (Gediz) Graben in terms of two phases of extension, an early phase lasting from the early Miocene to the (?) late Miocene and a young Plio–Quaternary phase that is still active. Taking into account our inferred earlier phase of regional extension, we thus propose a new three-phase “pulsed extension” model for western Turkey. We relate the first two phases to “roll-back” of the south Aegean subduction zone and the third phase to the westward “tectonic escape” of Anatolia.  相似文献   

15.
Pleistocene faunas from south China are difficult to subdivide based on the long temporal ranges of many taxa and a reduced number of genera in comparison to faunas from temperate north China. In south China, the Ailuropoda–Stegodon fauna is a very general one and includes a relatively stable suite of genera that apparently persisted for long periods of time. These attributes have made constraining its time range difficult. Application of electron spin resonance (ESR) dating of tooth enamel constrains the ages well where uranium uptake was minor. Where uranium uptake into teeth was significant, an approach combining ESR and 230Th/234U isotopic analysis also yields excellent ages. Previous estimates of early, middle and late Pleistocene time ranges previously determined by biostratigraphic seriation for the Ailuropoda–Stegodon fauna are confirmed in all cases but are made more precise with our approach, including specific time ranges for certain archaic taxa. Absolute dating also yields an extended time range for Gigantopithecus blacki of 1200 to 310 ka.  相似文献   

16.
Four legume fruits (Fabaceae) from the Siwalik sediments (middle Miocene to lower Pleistocene) of Darjeeling and Arunachal Pradesh of Eastern Himalaya are described here. One fossil fruit, Dalbergia prelatifolia sp. nov., is recovered from the lower part of the Siwalik succession (Gish Clay Formation of Sevok Group; middle to upper Miocene) of Darjeeling foothills. Mastertia neoassamica sp. nov. and Acacia miocatechuoides sp. nov. are collected from the lower part of the Siwalik succession (Dafla Formation; middle Miocene to upper Miocene), while Pongamia kathgodamensis Prasad is recovered from the upper part of the Siwalik succession (Kimin Formation; upper Pliocenelower Pleistocene) of Arunachal sub Himalaya. Their presence indicates a warm and humid tropical environment in the region during the Siwalik sedimentation.  相似文献   

17.
阿尔金山脉新生代剥露历史——前陆盆地沉积记录   总被引：8，自引：1，他引：7  
新疆且末县江尕勒萨依盆地位于阿尔金山脉的北西山前,其内连续沉积了中生代一新生代地层。盆地内古新统一始新统为河流相沉积;渐新统至中新统为山麓河流相灰色砾岩和棕色砂岩;上新统为山麓洪积相砾岩夹泥岩;下更新统全为砾岩层。岩性组合特征及其砂岩碎屑、砾石组分变化规律,反映出阿尔金山脉的新生代剥蚀历史：古近纪早、中期,阿尔金山脉的地形高差小,古生界双峰式火山岩首先被剥蚀;至渐新世末一中新世早期,山脉高差加大,基底元古宇开始出露地表被剥蚀;中新世末期,山脉高差进一步加大,剥蚀速率加快;至第四纪早期西域砾岩开始沉积时,地形高差加剧,中、古元古界开始暴露被剥蚀。区域资料分析表明,阿尔金山脉在新生代具有多期次阶段性隆升的特征,存在3期次快速隆升事件：渐新世末一中新世早期、中新世晚期(大约8Ma)和第四纪早期。  相似文献   

18.
In this study, we address the late Miocene to Recent tectonic evolution of the North Caribbean (Oriente) Transform Wrench Corridor in the southern Sierra Maestra mountain range, SE Cuba. The region has been affected by historical earthquakes and shows many features of brittle deformation in late Miocene to Pleistocene reef and other shallow water deposits as well as in pre-Neogene, late Cretaceous to Eocene basement rocks. These late Miocene to Quaternary rocks are faulted, fractured, and contain calcite- and karst-filled extension gashes. Type and orientation of the principal normal palaeostress vary along strike in accordance with observations of large-scale submarine structures at the south-eastern Cuban margin. Initial N–S extension is correlated with a transtensional regime associated with the fault, later reactivated by sinistral and/or dextral shear, mainly along E–W-oriented strike-slip faults. Sinistral shear predominated and recorded similar kinematics as historical earthquakes in the Santiago region. We correlate palaeostress changes with the kinematic evolution along the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates. Three different tectonic regimes were distinguished for the Oriente transform wrench corridor (OTWC): compression from late Eocene–Oligocene, transtension from late Oligocene to Miocene (?) (D1), and transpression from Pliocene to Present (D2–D4), when this fault became a transform system. Furthermore, present-day structures vary along strike of the Oriente transform wrench corridor (OTWC) on the south-eastern Cuban coast, with dominantly transpressional/compressional and strike-slip structures in the east and transtension in the west. The focal mechanisms of historical earthquakes are in agreement with the dominant ENE–WSW transpressional structures found on land.  相似文献   

19.
The Sylhet Basin of Bangladesh is a sub-basin of the Bengal Basin. It contains a very thick (up to 22 km) Tertiary stratigraphic succession consisting mainly of sandstones and mudstones. The Sylhet succession is divided into the Jaintia (Paleocene–late Eocene), Barail (late Eocene–early Miocene), Surma (middle–late Miocene), Tipam (late Miocene–Pliocene) and Dupitila Groups (Pliocene–Pleistocene), in ascending order. The origin of the organic matter (OM) and paleoenvironment of deposition have been evaluated on the basis of C, N, S elemental analysis, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of 60 mudstone samples collected from drill core and surface outcrops. Total organic carbon (TOC) content ranges from 0.11% to 1.56%. Sulfur content is low in most samples. TOC content in the Sylhet succession varies systematically with sedimentation rate, with low TOC caused by clastic dilution produced by high sedimentation rates arising from rapid uplift and erosion of the Himalaya.The OM in the succession is characterized by systematic variations in pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph), oleanane/C30 hopane, n-C29/n-C19 alkane, Tm/Ts [17α(H)-22,29,30-trisnorhopane/18α(H)-22,29,30-trisnorhopane] and sterane C29/(C27 + C28 + C29) ratios during the middle Eocene to Pleistocene. Based on biomarker proxies, the depositional environment of the Sylhet succession can be divided into three phases. In the first (middle Eocene to early Miocene), deposition occurred completely in seawater-dominated oxic conditions, with abundant input of terrestrial higher plants, including angiosperms. The second phase (middle to late Miocene) consisted of mainly freshwater anoxic conditions along with a small seawater influence according to eustasic sea level change, with diluted OM derived from phytoplankton and a lesser influence from terrestrial higher plants. Oxygen-poor freshwater conditions prevailed in the third phase (post-late Miocene). Planktonic OM was relatively abundant in this stage, while a high angiosperm influx prevailed at times. Tmax values of ca. 450 °C, vitrinite reflectance (Ro) of ca. 0.66% and methylphenanthrene index (MPI 3) of ca. 1 indicate the OM to be mature. The lower part (middle Eocene to early Miocene) of the succession with moderate TOC content and predominantly terrestrial OM could have generated some condensates and oils in and around the study area.  相似文献   

20.
《Gondwana Research》2014,25(3):1186-1201
The modern Koala Phascolarctos cinereus is the last surviving member of a once diverse family Phascolarctidae (Marsupialia, Phascolarctomorphia). Nine genera and at least 16 species of koala are known. Late Oligocene sediments of central Australia record the oldest fossils and highest species diversity. Five species are known from the early to middle Miocene rainforest assemblages of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland. With the onset of dryer conditions after the middle Miocene climatic optimum (~ 16 Ma), rainforest habitats contracted resulting in the apparent extinction of three koala lineages (Litokoala, Nimiokoala, Priscakoala). Phascolarctos first appears in the fossil record during the Pliocene and the modern species around 350 ka. Despite a dramatic decline in taxonomic diversity to a single extant species, the fossil record indicates that at most only three koala species coexisted in any given faunal assemblage throughout their 24 million year history. Within these assemblages, the vast majority of extinct koalas are extremely rare (some known from only a single specimen) which may reflect a general rarity within their palaeohabitats compared with the modern species which is represented by an estimated 400,000 individuals spread over most of eastern mainland Australia. Be that as it may, P. cinereus, although once geographically more widespread, occurring for example in Western Australia in the Pleistocene, underwent significant range contractions and localized population extinctions during the stressful climatic conditions of the late Pleistocene and more recently through human-induced habitat destruction. Combined with threats of disease, reduced genetic diversity and climate change, the survival of this iconic Australian marsupial is arguably a cause for concern.  相似文献   

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