Peroryctes aruensis Kear et al. 2016

Travouillon, Kenny J. & Phillips, Matthew J., 2018, Total evidence analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of bandicoots and bilbies (Marsupialia: Peramelemorphia): reassessment of two species and description of a new species, Zootaxa 4378 (2), pp. 224-256 : 241

Peroryctes aruensis Kear et al. 2016 new comb.

Lemdubuoryctes aruensis Kear et al. 2016

Holotype. WAM 14.9.6, left maxilla with P3, M1–2.

Referred material. WAM 14.9.1–14.9.5 and WAM 14.9.7– 14.9.20, WAM 14.9.51 – 14.9.53.

Type locality. Liang Lemdubu cave, Pulau Kobroor, Aru Islands group, Eastern Indonesia.

Remarks. Kear et al. (2016) described this taxon, and assigned it to a new genus based on the result of their phylogenetic analysis. This taxon is only represented by heavily worn specimens, and so Kear et al. (2016) scored worn teeth in a matrix that was designed to be scored only on unworn teeth. Their principal character for placing this taxon in a new genus is the presence of a centrocrista in M1–3. This is only seen in unworn Oligo-Miocene bandicoot teeth, but almost every single peroryctid ( Peroryctes , Echymipera, Rhnynchomeles and Microperoryctes ) do wear their teeth to the point that a centrocrista is formed on M1–3 as a result of wear. The holotype of Peroryctes broadbenti illustrates this morphology, being an adult with worn teeth, and centrocristae are present on M1–3. This does not happen in Peramelidae , Chaeropodidae or Thylacomyidae . As a result, the assessment of this taxon is dubious, and was rescored here, and re-analysed. All characters that can be scored for L. aruensis were identical to that of Peroryctes broadbenti . This does not necessarily suggest that they are the same species. Our analysis suggests that it belongs to the genus Peroryctes , and so we reassigned it here, and provide a new diagnosis, based on features that can be seen on those worn specimens and the results of the morphometric analysis.

New diagnosis. Peroryctes aruensis differs from Peroryctes raffrayana in having dimorphic upper and lower third premolars. This feature only occurs in Peroryctes broadbenti , and some Echymipera (most noticeable in E. clara ). The third premolars are as long and wide as in P. broadbenti , which are narrower but longer than E. clara . It differs from P. raffrayana in having much larger teeth. It differs from P. broadbenti in having a shorter and less wide M4, having a reduced protocone; longer P2 and longer p1.