# Nimbadon

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nimbadon
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nimbadon.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimbadon
> Source revision: 1327015633
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Extinct genus of marsupials

Nimbadon Temporal range: 25–12 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Composite N. lavarackorum skeleton from the Riversleigh site N. lavarackorum mother and juvenile (reconstruction) by Peter Schouten Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Superfamily: †Diprotodontoidea Genus: †Nimbadon Hand, Archer, Godthelp, Rich & Pledge, 1993.[1] Species †Nimbadon lavarackorum †Nimbadon scottorrorum †Nimbadon whitelawi

***Nimbadon*** is an [extinct](/source/Extinction) [genus](/source/Genus) of marsupial, that lived from the [Oligocene](/source/Oligocene) to the [Miocene](/source/Miocene).[1] Many [fossils](/source/Fossil) have been found in the [Riversleigh World Heritage property](/source/Australian_Fossil_Mammal_Sites_(Riversleigh)) in north-western [Queensland](/source/Queensland). It is thought to have an [arboreal](/source/Arboreal_locomotion) lifestyle.[2]

In 1990, skulls were unearthed in a previously unknown cave in the region. Researchers estimate that the first species of *Nimbadon* first appeared around 25 million years ago[1] and went extinct around 12 million years ago, perhaps from climate change-induced habitat loss.

## Description

*Nimbadon lavarackorum* is described as being [koala-like](/source/Koala). It is known from at least 24 well-articulated specimens. The species was a tree-dweller, mainly feeding on stems and leaves. The feet and claws were large, being superficially similar to those of the koala.[3]

## Phylogeny

While originally classified as a member of the family [Diprotodontidae](/source/Diprotodontidae), a primarily terrestrial group,[1][2] some later studies suggested a more basal position within the [Diprotodontoidea](/source/Diprotodontoidea).[4]

## Palaeoecology

*N. lavarackorum* was an arboreal [frugivore](/source/Frugivore) that primarily fed on [C3](/source/C3_photosynthesis) fruits.[5]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hand1993_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hand1993_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hand1993_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hand1993_1-3) Hand, S.J.; Archer, M.; Godthelp, H.; Rich, T.H.; Pledge, N.S. (1993). ["Nimbadon, a new genus and three new species of Tertiary zygomaturines (Marsupialia: Diprotodontidae) from northern Australia, with a reassessment of Neohelos"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/71096). *Memoirs of the Queensland Museum*. **33**: 193–210.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) Black, Karen H.; Camens, Aaron B.; Archer, Michael; Hand, Suzanne J. (21 November 2012). Evans, Alistair Robert (ed.). ["Herds Overhead: Nimbadon lavarackorum (Diprotodontidae), Heavyweight Marsupial Herbivores in the Miocene Forests of Australia"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3504027). *PLOS ONE*. **7** (11) e48213. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2012PLoSO...748213B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012PLoSO...748213B). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1371/journal.pone.0048213](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0048213). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1932-6203](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1932-6203). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3504027](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3504027). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23185250](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23185250).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Ancient tree-wombat behaved like a koala](http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/11/22/3637755.htm) - By Anna Salleh - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Retrieved 22 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Beck, Robin M. D.; Louys, Julien; Brewer, Philippa; Archer, Michael; Black, Karen H.; Tedford, Richard H. (25 June 2020). ["A new family of diprotodontian marsupials from the latest Oligocene of Australia and the evolution of wombats, koalas, and their relatives (Vombatiformes)"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7316786). *Scientific Reports*. **10** (1): 9741. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2020NatSR..10.9741B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020NatSR..10.9741B). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1038/s41598-020-66425-8](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41598-020-66425-8). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2045-2322](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2045-2322). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [7316786](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7316786). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [32587406](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32587406).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** DeSantis, Larisa R. G.; Archer, Michael; Black, Karen; Hand, Suzanne; Korasidis, Vera (2 October 2023). ["Tree-climbing in search of fruit: an ancient arboreal marsupial megafrugivore from the Miocene of Australia"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03115518.2023.2268680). *[Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology](/source/Alcheringa%3A_An_Australasian_Journal_of_Palaeontology)*. **47** (4): 534–542. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/03115518.2023.2268680](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F03115518.2023.2268680). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1959.4/unsworks_84887](https://hdl.handle.net/1959.4%2Funsworks_84887). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0311-5518](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0311-5518). Retrieved 8 November 2024 – via Taylor and Francis Online.

## External links

- [Australias lost kingdoms, Nimbodon.](https://web.archive.org/web/20090217125832/http://lostkingdoms.com/facts/factsheet24.htm)

- [Black K. H. and Hand. S 2010., Nimbadon crania and species boundaries, American Museum novitates, no. 3678](http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/handle/2246/6041)

- [KAREN H. BLACK,* MICHAEL ARCHER, SUZANNE J. HAND, and HENK GODTHELP FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF CRANIAL ONTOGENY IN A FOSSIL MARSUPIAL—FROM A 15-MILLION-YEAR-OLD CAVE DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA](http://pdfserve.informaworld.com/339420__924299680.pdf)

- ["Cave yields marsupial fossil haul"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10686515). BBC News. 2010-07-19.

- ["Giant tree wombat discovery wins science prize"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-03/giant-tree-wombat-wins-science-prize/3987314) ABC News 2012-05-03

v t e Vombatiformes Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Diprotodontia †Thylacoleonidae Enigmaleo Lekaneleo Microleo Thylacoleo Wakaleo Phascolarctidae †Invictokoala †Koobor †Litokoala †Madakoala †Nimiokoala †Perikoala Phascolarctos †Priscakoala Vombatomorphia †Thylacoleonidae? †Ilariidae Ilaria Kuterintja †Wynyardiidae Muramura Namilamadeta Wynyardia Vombatoidea †Marada? †Mukupirna Vombatidae Lasiorhinus †Nimbavombatus †Phascolonus †Ramsayia †Rhizophascolonus †Sedophascolomys Vombatus †Warendja †Diprotodontoidea Palorchestidae Palorchestes Propalorchestes Diprotodontidae Alkwertatherium Ambulator Diprotodon Euowenia Euryzygoma Hulitherium Kolopsis Kolopsoides Maokopia Meniscolophus Neohelos Ngapakaldia Nimbadon Nototherium Pitikantia Plaisiodon Pyramios Raemeotherium Silvabestius Sthenomerus Zygomaturus

Taxon identifiers Nimbadon Wikidata: Q581020 Wikispecies: Nimbadon EoL: 24199520 GBIF: 4825956 IRMNG: 1017126 Open Tree of Life: 4117026 Paleobiology Database: 247891

This article about a diprotodont is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Diprotodont-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3ADiprotodont-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Diprotodont-stub)

This Queensland article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Queensland-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3AQueensland-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Queensland-stub)

This article about a prehistoric marsupial is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Paleo-marsupial-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3APaleo-marsupial-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Paleo-marsupial-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nimbadon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimbadon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimbadon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.