Weirdodectes
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| Weirdodectes Temporal range: Middle Miocene, | |
|---|---|
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| 3D scans of the holotype specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
| Family: | †Malleodectidae |
| Genus: | †Weirdodectes |
| Species: | †W. napoleoni |
| Binomial name | |
| †Weirdodectes napoleoni Churchill et. al., 2025 | |
Weirdodectes is an extinct genus of unusual marsupial from northeast Australia that lived during the Middle Miocene. Its fossils are known from a single site located at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. Its diet is unknown, but is thought to have differed from that of other malleodectids. Only a single species is currently assigned to Weirdodectes, the type species W. napoleoni.
The holotype and only known specimen of Weirdodectes, QM F61732, was recovered from the Alan's Ledge 1990 Site (AL90) at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, in the Boodjamulla National Park of north-western Queensland. It consists of an isolated first lower molar.[1]
In 2025, Timmothy Churchill, Michael Archer and Suzanne J. Hand named and described Weirdodectes napoleoni as a new genus and species of malleodectid-like marsupial based on these remains. The genus name derives from the unusual morphology of the first molar, which is unique among marsupials. The species name honours the lead author’s deceased dog, who provided emotional support for them during their studies.[1]
Description
The holotype molar of Weirdocetes is small (~2 mm long) and tribosphenic. The occlusal (biting) surface of the trigonid is mostly made up of a hypertrophied protoconid cusp. The talonid is taller than the paraconid and similar in height to the metaconid. The tooth lacks the anterior and posterior cingulid. Similarly, the paracristids and metacristid crests are also absent. Both the paraconid and metaconid are highly reduced and roughly conical in shape.[1]
Weirdodectes has an estimated body weight of 30.5-101.9 g (1.1-3.6 oz).[1]
