Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 28, 2026

Priscakoala

Priscakoala is an extinct genus of koala from the Early Miocene of Riversleigh, Australia. It has one species: Priscakoala lucyturnbullae.

Last revised
Jul 28, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
220 w
Citations
6
Source
Priscakoala
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Phascolarctidae
Genus: Priscakoala
Black et al, 2012
Species:
P. lucyturnbullae
Binomial name
Priscakoala lucyturnbullae
Black et al, 2012

Priscakoala is an extinct genus of koala from the Early Miocene of Riversleigh, Australia.12 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

References

References

  1. Black, K. & Archer, M. "Priscakoala lucyturnbullae: the most plesiomorphic definitive koala (Marsupialia, Phascolarctidae) from the early Miocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland". (not Published as of 2007). As cited in Louys, J.; Black, K.; Archer, M.; Hand, S. J. & Godthelp, H. (2007). "Descriptions of koala fossils from the Miocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland and implications for Litokoala (Marsupialia, Phascolarctidae)". Alcheringa. 31 (2): 99–110. Bibcode:2007Alch...31...99L. doi:10.1080/03115510701305082. S2CID 41702999.
  2. BLACK, KAREN H.; ARCHER, MICHAEL; HAND, SUZANNE J. (2012). "New Tertiary Koala (Marsupialia, Phascolarctidae) from Riversleigh, Australia, with a Revision of Phascolarctid Phylogenetics, Paleoecology, and Paleobiodiversity". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (1): 125–138. Bibcode:2012JVPal..32..125B. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.626825. ISSN 0272-4634. JSTOR 41407712. S2CID 86152273.