Microleo fossil map
Where fossils of Microleo have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 15 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 20.45–15.98 million years ago (Burdigalian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Thylacoleonidae |
| Named by | Gillespie et al. 2016 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Australia |
| Rock formations | txn:40138 |
About Microleo
Microleo attenboroughi is a very small species of the Thylacoleonidae family of marsupials from the Early Miocene of Australia, living in the wet forest that dominated Riversleigh around 18 million years ago. The genus Microleo, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós), meaning "small", and λέων (léōn), meaning "lion", is currently known from a broken palate and two pieces of jaw, containing some teeth and roots that correspond to those found in other species of thylacoleonids. The shape and structure of the blade-like P3 tooth, a premolar, distinguished the species as a new genus. It was found in Early Miocene-aged deposits of the Riversleigh fossil site in Queensland, regarded as one of the most significant palaeontological sites yet discovered, and named for the naturalist David Attenborough in appreciation of his support for its heritage listing.
The anatomy of Microleo suggests the genus is basal to all the known thylacoleonids, known as the marsupial lions, although its relatively small size prompted one discoverer to describe it as the "feisty" kitten of the family.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Microleo (revision 1359911598), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q26722468.
