Warendja is an
extinctgenus of
wombat. It is known from two species, W. encorensis from the Late Miocene
Riversleigh site in Queensland,[1] and W. wakefieldi known from the
Pleistocene of South Australia, New South Wales,[2] and Victoria.[3] The two species are primarily distinguished by features of their enamel.[1] It became extinct as part of the
Quaternary extinction event.[3][2][4][5][6]Warendja wakefieldi is estimated to have weighed about 10 kg, considerably smaller than living wombats.[7]Warendja thought to be relatively
basal amongst wombats,[8] being the most primitive member to possess hypselodont (high crowned) cheek teeth. The morphology of the humerus of W. wakefieldi suggests that it engaged in scratch-digging.[9]
References
^
abBrewer, P., M. Archer, S. Hand, and H. Godthelp. 2007. A new species of the wombat Warendja from late Miocene deposits at Riversleigh, northwest Queensland, Australia. Palaeontology 50:811–828.
^
abBrewer, Philippa (2007-06-01). "New record of Warendja wakefieldi (Vombatidae; Marsupialia) from Wombeyan Caves, New South Wales". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 31 (2): 153–171.
doi:
10.1080/03115510701305132.
ISSN0311-5518.
S2CID129848516.