Kadimakara australiensis

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Kadimakara australiensis
Temporal range: Early Triassic, Induan
Holotype (A,B) and referred snout (C,D) of Kadimakara australiensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauromorpha
Clade: Crocopoda
Family: Prolacertidae
Genus: Kadimakara
Bartholomai, 1979
Species:
K. australiensis
Binomial name
Kadimakara australiensis
Bartholomai, 1979

Kadimakara is an extinct genus of early archosauromorph reptile from the Arcadia Formation of Queensland, Australia. It was seemingly a very close relative of Prolacerta, a carnivorous reptile which possessed a moderately long neck. The generic name Kadimakara references prehistoric creatures from Aboriginal myths which may have been inspired by ice-age megafauna. The specific name K. australiensis relates to the fact that it was found in Australia.[1] Prolacerta and Kadimakara were closely related to the Archosauriformes, a successful group which includes archosaurs such as crocodilians, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs.[2]

Kadimakara is only known from parts of the skull. The holotype specimen, QMF 6710, includes the rear part of the skull and a fragment of the right lower jaw. This specimen was recovered in the mid-1970s from L78, a fossil site 72 kilometers southwest of Rolleston, Queensland. The geology of this locale belongs to the Rewan Group of the Lower Arcadia Formation, which has also occasionally been elevated in status to its own formation, the Rewan Formation.[1] The Rewan Formation corresponds to the Induan age at the very beginning of the Triassic Period, about 251 million years ago, when life had only begun to recover from the Permian-Triassic extinction.[2]

An additional specimen was also recovered from the same site, although it was not closely associated with the holotype. This specimen, QMF 6676, consisted of a portion of the snout and lower jaws. None of the bones preserved in this specimen overlapped with those preserved in the holotype. As a result, it cannot be definitively proven that they both belonged to Kadimakara. However, they also lack any particular inconsistencies which would prohibit them from both belonging to the animal.[2] Like other animals preserved in the Rewan Formation, remains of Kadimakara were encrusted in hematite and had to be carefully prepared with thioglycollic acid.[1]

Description

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