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309:. The fossil deposit consists of a series of bone-bearing lenses on a single horizon. The individual lenses are about 1 m across and extend for 170 m. Bones and teeth are so abundant and often tightly packed, excavating one fossil without breaking the one below it can be difficult. The fossils indicate the existence of a complex community of
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The
Alcoota deposit is a series of intermittently interconnected lakes within a large basin. Evidence suggests that the concentration of fossils is due to a phenomenon called ‘waterhole-tethering’: During dry periods, animals concentrated in the immediate area of the continually shrinking, spring-fed
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The
Alcoota Fossil Beds are one of only three known vertebrate fossil sites in the Northern Territory, along with Bullock Creek and the Kangaroo Well site. Although locals had known about the existence of fossils at Alcoota for a long time, the first serious studies were not conducted until 1962.
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The
Alcoota fauna is about 8 million years old and has a rich concentration of vertebrate fossils. This makes it especially interesting, as it lies between the older faunas of Kutjamarpu (Southern Australia) and
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vertebrate fossils, which provide evidence of the evolution of the
Northern Territory’s fauna and climate. The Alcoota Fossil Beds are also significant as a research and teaching site for palaeontology students.
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commenced an annual excavation program. In 1988, a permanent field station was erected on-site and the valuable
Alcoota Beds were fenced to provide them with some protection.
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In 1995, land described as "Northern
Territory Portion 4075" and covering an area of 48.88 hectares (120.8 acres) was added under the name "Alcoota Fossil Beds" to the
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fossil faunas provide evidence that aridification was in progress in northern
Australia during the mid-
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Continuity and
Contrast in middle and late Miocene Vertebrate Communities from the Northern Territory.
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The species found include one of the largest birds that ever lived, Stirton's thunderbird (
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Two sites are associated with the area, the species found at these are described as the
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The Beagle: Occasional Papers of the
Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences
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286:(Victoria). Because of its intermediate age, remote ancestors of the well-studied
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Further excavations were conducted sporadically until 1984 when the
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region. It is notable for the occurrence of well-preserved, rare,
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lake, resulting in the death of many animals. The
Alcoota and
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Megirian, Dirk; Murray, Peter; Wells, R. T. (December 1996).
488:"Heritage Conservation Act - Declaration of Heritage Place"
465:"The Late Miocene Ongeva Local Fauna of Central Australia"
540:– By Caddie Brain – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
352:), and the large leopard-sized Alcoota marsupial lion (
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as well as of some existing forms can be recognised.
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49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
232:about 115 kilometres (71 mi) north-east of
268:Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
321:, including the greatest variety of species of
16:Paleontological site in the Northern Territory
538:Giant fossil claw may be from ancient reptile
8:
569:Cenozoic paleontological sites of Australia
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
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534:– Government of the Northern Territory
526:– Late Miocene period – About Alcoota
444:. Northern Territory. 8 February 1995
346:, the wolf-sized powerful thylacine (
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574:Northern Territory Heritage Register
400:Northern Territory Heritage Register
47:adding citations to reliable sources
507:Murray, P. and Megirian, D. 1992.
137:Latz's pit, Alcoota fossil site, NT
486:Coulter, Barry (8 February 1995).
276:Bullock Creek (Northern Territory)
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564:Geology of the Northern Territory
216:are an important paleontological
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490:. Northern Territory Government
222:Northern Territory of Australia
34:needs additional citations for
325:that has ever been described.
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554:Miocene paleontological sites
278:and the younger deposits of
202:48.88 hectares (120.8 acres)
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523:Australia's Lost Kingdoms
228:in the locality of
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257:geological time period.
183:22.861000°S 134.418306°E
343:Ilbandornis woodburnei
188:-22.861000; 134.418306
511:The Beagle 9:195–218.
438:"Alcoota Fossil Beds"
415:(with link directory)
412:List of fossil sites
364:Plaisiodon centralis
355:Wakaleo alcootaensis
288:Australian megafauna
43:improve this article
531:Alcoota Fossil Beds
390:, and small birds.
375:Pyramios alcootense
369:Palorchestes painei
337:Ilbandornis lawsoni
334:), the giant birds
300:Alcoota Local Fauna
214:Alcoota Fossil Beds
179: /
126:Alcoota Fossil Beds
331:Dromornis stirtoni
307:Ongeva Local Fauna
152:Northern Territory
442:Heritage Register
349:Thylacinus potens
282:(Queensland) and
238:Central Australia
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492:. Retrieved
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304:late Miocene
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174:134°25′5.9″E
171:22°51′39.6″S
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99:October 2019
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41:Please help
36:verification
33:
280:Riversleigh
224:located on
218:Lagerstätte
186: /
162:Coordinates
548:Categories
494:27 October
448:27 October
421:References
384:bandicoots
378:and other
319:crocodiles
311:marsupials
69:newspapers
380:kangaroos
284:Beaumaris
230:Anmatjere
156:Australia
148:Anmatjere
58:"Alcoota"
559:Cenozoic
406:See also
143:Location
475:: 9–37.
388:possums
294:Fossils
261:History
255:Miocene
242:Miocene
236:in the
220:in the
83:scholar
317:, and
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315:birds
90:JSTOR
76:books
496:2019
450:2019
362:and
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302:and
212:The
199:Area
62:news
45:by
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