Mukupirna

{{Short description|Extinct genus of marsupials}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Late Oligocene}} | parent_authority = Beck ''et al.'', 2020 | display_parents = 3 | taxon = Mukupirna | authority = Beck ''et al.'', 2020 | type_species = '''''Mukupirna nambensis''''' | type_species_authority = Beck ''et al.'', 2020 | subdivision_ranks = Other species | subdivision = *{{extinct}}'''''M. fortidentata''''' <small>Crichton ''et al.'', 2023</small> }}

'''''Mukupirna''''' is an extinct genus of marsupials whose fossils have been recovered in Australia and dated to around 25 million years ago during the Oligocene Epoch. It was wombat-like with the main difference being that it was rather huge compared to modern wombats with estimates placing it between {{convert|141|and|173|kg|lb}} in body mass, comparable in size to a male Asiatic black bear. It was probably a great digger and had developed teeth that would have allowed it to feed on sedges, roots and tubers. ''Mukupirna nambensis'' had a mix of characteristics between wombats and an extinct group of marsupials called wynyardiids. ''M. nambensis'' was coined by Beck et al. (2020) and ''M. fortidentatus'' was coined by Crichton et al. (2023).<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=Robin M. D. Beck |author2=Julien Louys |author3=Philippa Brewer |author4=Michael Archer |author5=Karen H. Black |author6=Richard H. Tedford |year=2020 |title=A new family of diprotodontian marsupials from the latest Oligocene of Australia and the evolution of wombats, koalas, and their relatives (Vombatiformes) |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=10 |issue=1 |article-number=9741 |doi=10.1038/s41598-020-66425-8 |pmid=32587406 |pmc=7316786 |bibcode=2020NatSR..10.9741B }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Crichton |first1=Arthur I. |last2=Worthy |first2=Trevor H. |last3=Camens |first3=Aaron B. |last4=Yates |first4=Adam M. |last5=Couzens |first5=Aidan M. C. |last6=Prideaux |first6=Gavin J. |date=2023-03-19 |title=A new species of Mukupirna (Diprotodontia, Mukupirnidae) from the Oligocene of Central Australia sheds light on basal vombatoid interrelationships |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=446–474 |doi=10.1080/03115518.2023.2181397 |s2cid=257635631 |issn=0311-5518|doi-access=free |bibcode=2023Alch...47..446C }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Vombatiforms Category:Prehistoric marsupial genera