The macropodoids (Marsupialia) of the early Pliocene Bow local fauna, central eastern New South Wales.

Sixteen kinds of macropodoids, including macropodines, sthenurines, potoroines and hypsiprymnodontines, can be recognised in the early Pliocene Bow local fauna of the Hunter Valley in central eastern New South Wales. Of these, seven can be identified to species (Propleopus n. sp., Troposodon bowensis Flannery and Archer, 1983, Kurrabi mahoneyi n. sp., Kurrabi merriwaensis n. sp., Protemnodon chinchillaensis Bartholomal, 1973, Macropus dryas DeVis, 1895 and Macropus (Osphranter) pavana Bartholomal, 1978) a further two or three confidently to genus (Simosthenurus sp. and Troposodon sp., one or two species). The majority of Bow macropodids possess moderately hypsodont molars, often with elongate, trenchant premolars. This suggests a woodland and/or savanna environment. There are, however, a few Bow species with brachydont molars (i.e., cf. Dendrolagus spp.) that may have been derived from a rainforest habitat. The closest affinities of the Bow kangaroos seem to lie with kangaroos from the early Pliocene Hamilton and Bluff Downs local faunas and, more distantly, with those of the early to middle Pliocene Chinchilla local fauna. The preliminary assessment of the age of the Bow local fauna as early Pliocene (4-4.5 mybp) is supported. -Authors