Microleo
Name: Microleo
(small Leo).
Phonetic: My-kro-le-oh.
Named By: Anna K. Gillispie, Michael Archer
& Suzanne J. Hand - 2016.
Classification: Chordata, Mammalia,
Marsupialia, Diprotodontia, Thylacoleonidae.
Species: M. attenboroughi
(type).
Diet: Carnivore/Insectivore.
Size: Uncertain due to lack of remains.
Known locations: Australia, Queensland.
Time period: Burdigalian of the Miocene.
Fossil representation: Partial palate.
Microleo is a genus of thylacoleonid marsupial that lived in Australia during the early Miocene. Microleo has already become well known as a relative of the fearsome Thylacoleo, however it seems that Microleo was much smaller. Because of the lack of overall fossil remains for the holotype, an exact size for Microleo is near impossible to determine, however, Microleo has been considered to have been roughly possum sized. In terms of ecological niche, Microleo was probably an arboreal hunter that hunted for insects as well as birds and lizards that were in the trees.
Further reading
- A tiny new marsupial lion (Marsupialia, Thylacoleonidae) from
the early Miocene of Australia. - Palaeontologia Electronica.
Palaeontological Association 19. - Anna K. Gillispie,
Michael Archer & Suzanne J. Hand - 2016.
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