Priscakoala Temporal range:
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | Phascolarctidae |
Genus: | †Priscakoala Black et al, 2012 |
Species: | †P. lucyturnbullae
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Binomial name | |
†Priscakoala lucyturnbullae Black et al, 2012
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Priscakoala is an extinct genus of koala from the Early Miocene of Riversleigh, Australia.[1][2] It has one species: Priscakoala lucyturnbullae.[2]
The prefix "prisca" comes from the Latin meaning old, ancient, primeval or primitive.[2] It was used to indicate that this genus is one of the oldest and simplest form of the koala.[2] The species P. lucyturnbullae was named for Lucy Turnbull a businesswoman, wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and supporter of the research that discovered the genus.[2]