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The fossil remains of ”Invictokoala” were discovered during cave excavations at the [[Mount Etna Caves National Park]] in central-eastern [[Queensland]]. The type locality, described as Speaking Tube Cave, has a maximum age of 326 ± 22 ka. The [[holotype]] and only known specimen, [[Queensland Museum|QM]] F52796, is a fragment on the maxilla with two molars. The presence of an alveoli for the fourth molar, which is the last tooth to erupt in phascolarctids, and the lack of wear indicates the specimen belongs to a young adult. It was named and described by Gilbert J. Price and Scott A. Hocknull in [[2011 in paleontology|2011]].<ref name=”Price2011″>{{Cite journal |last1=Price |first1=Gilbert J. |last2=Hocknull |first2=Scott A. |year=2011 |title=””Invictokoala monticola” gen. et sp. nov. (Phascolarctidae, Marsupialia), a Pleistocene plesiomorphic koala holdover from Oligocene ancestors |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233174129 |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=327–335 |bibcode=2011JSPal…9..327P |doi=10.1080/14772019.2010.504079 |s2cid=84316375}}</ref> |
The fossil remains of ”Invictokoala” were discovered during cave excavations at the [[Mount Etna Caves National Park]] in central-eastern [[Queensland]]. The type locality, described as Speaking Tube Cave, has a maximum age of 326 ± 22 ka. The [[holotype]] and only known specimen, [[Queensland Museum|QM]] F52796, is a fragment on the maxilla with two molars. The presence of an alveoli for the fourth molar, which is the last tooth to erupt in phascolarctids, and the lack of wear indicates the specimen belongs to a young adult. It was named and described by Gilbert J. Price and Scott A. Hocknull in [[2011 in paleontology|2011]].<ref name=”Price2011″>{{Cite journal |last1=Price |first1=Gilbert J. |last2=Hocknull |first2=Scott A. |year=2011 |title=””Invictokoala monticola” gen. et sp. nov. (Phascolarctidae, Marsupialia), a Pleistocene plesiomorphic koala holdover from Oligocene ancestors |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233174129 |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=327–335 |bibcode=2011JSPal…9..327P |doi=10.1080/14772019.2010.504079 |s2cid=84316375}}</ref> |
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The generic name is derived from the [[Latin]] word “”invictus””, meaning unconquered, unsubdued, invincible, or indomitable. This name was chosen in reference to the longevity of this koala’s lineage. The specific name stems from the word “”monticola””, Latin for “dweller from the mountain”, in reference to the type locality.<ref name=”Price2011″/> |
The generic name is derived from the [[Latin]] word “”invictus””, meaning unconquered, unsubdued, invincible, or indomitable. This name was chosen in reference to the longevity of this koala’s lineage. The specific name stems from the word “”monticola””, Latin for “dweller from the mountain”, in reference to the type locality.<ref name=”Price2011″/> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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Latest revision as of 13:41, 10 December 2025
Extinct genus of marsupials
Invictokoala is an extinct genus of phascolarctid
Discovery and naming
[edit]
The fossil remains of Invictokoala were discovered during cave excavations at the Mount Etna Caves National Park in central-eastern Queensland. The type locality, described as Speaking Tube Cave, has a maximum age of 326 ± 22 ka. The holotype and only known specimen, QM F52796, is a fragment on the maxilla with two molars. The presence of an alveoli for the fourth molar, which is the last tooth to erupt in phascolarctids, and the lack of wear indicates the specimen belongs to a young adult. It was named and described by Gilbert J. Price and Scott A. Hocknull in 2011.[1]
The generic name is derived from the Latin word “invictus“, meaning unconquered, unsubdued, invincible, or indomitable. This name was chosen in reference to the longevity of this koala’s lineage, which survived through periods of significant environmental changes. The specific name stems from the word “monticola“, Latin for “dweller from the mountain”, in reference to the type locality.[1]
The teeth of Invictokoala are high-crowned and selenodont with W-shaped blades.
All molars:
- molars lack crenulations
- lacks lingual cingulae’
- lacks neometaconule’
- wide molar basins’
- lacks protostyles’
- possesses large stylar cusps’
- no posterolingual paracristae
- Paracone positioned on the anterobuccal corner of molar, with protocone positioned on the anterolingual corner
- Metacone behind paracone, with metaconule behind protocone
M2:
- paraconule made up of three cusps, unlike other koalas which are linear (autapomorphy)
- has a trapezoidal occlusal outline
- Paracone and metacone same height, followed by the protocone and metacone
M3:
- lacks paraconule
- all major cusps similar height
- stylar cusps B and C further apart
- faint ridge at the base of the crown between the metacone and metaconule is absent
- postprotocrista is weakly expressed, present only at the posterobuccal base of the protocone, and is not visible on the protocone apex.
‘ = shared characteristic with Madakoala
It shares a few similarities with Madakoala, such as
Invictokoala has an estimated body weight of 7.5–7.8 kg (16.5-17.4 lbs), falling within the range of the modern koala.
