Abstract
Since European arrival in Australia the murid genus Conilurus Ogilby has suffered severe decline, the causes of which are still uncertain. Knowledge of the distribution of the genus during the Quaternary may be useful in understanding why Conilurus has declined and thus inform efforts to conserve remaining populations. The late Quaternary distribution of species of Conilurus is here revised with the extension of the known ranges of two species, C. albipes and C. penicilattus, to the north and east of their previously known ranges, respectively. An additional species, C. capricornensis sp. nov., is described on the basis of Pleistocene and Holocene dental remains. Conilurus capricornensis is large for the genus and can be distinguished from C. penicillatus and C. albipes by molar dimensions, a posteriorly narrow anterior palatal foramina, the presence of a T3 and anterior cingulum on M 1 , and small or absent posterior cingula on M 1-2 . The southern-most occurrence of C. capricornensis overlaps the northern-most record of C. albipes. The temporal ranges of C. capricornensis and C. penicillatus overlap, but they have not been found in sympatry. Recently recovered fossil and subfossil specimens from the Broken River area, near Townsville, Queensland and Mount Etna (eastern Queensland) indicate that C. capricornensis had a temporal range from the late Pleistocene to very recent time. Preservation of some specimens from the Broken River area indicates that C. capricornensis may still be extant in that area.References
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