Murrumbidgee Group

The Murrumbidgee Group is an Early Devonian (Pragian–Emsian) geologic group located around the Burrinjuck Dam in Yass Valley LGA, New South Wales, Australia, near the border with the Australian Capital Territory.Young, G. C. (2011). Wee Jasper-Lake Burrinjuck fossil fish sites: Scientific background to national heritage nomination. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 132, 83–107. In the Taemas-Wee Jasper area, it consists of three formations: The oldest Cavan Limestone Formation, the middle Majurgong Formation, and the youngest Taemas Limestone Formation. In addition, the Taemas section is split into six constituent members. The Cavan Limestone Formation is also known as the Cavan Bluff Limestone.Lindley, I. D. (2000). Acanthodian fish remains from the Lower Devonian Cavan Bluff Limestone (Murrumbidgee Group), Taemas district, New South Wales. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 24(1), 11–35. Below is a table of the full stratigraphical layout of the Murrumbidgee Group in the eastern outcrop: +FormationMember (Mbr)OtherTaemasCrinoidal Limestone Mbr'Upper Reef Formation'Warroo Limestone MbrReceptaculites Limestone MbrBloomfield Limestone MbrCurrajong Limestone MbrSpinella yassensis Limestone MbrMajurgongCavan The Burrinjuck area has been said to possess immense national and international significance and preserve a diverse fauna comparable to those of World Heritage listed sites. This fauna is indeed quite speciose even if fossils tend to be mainly isolated yet finely preserved bones, and not only includes the dominant placoderms and other fishes, but also corals, bryozoans, stromatoporoids, brachiopods, gastropods, nautiloids and trilobites. However, reliable stratigraphic ranges for individual taxa are not possible due to most species being described on said isolated bones.Zapalski, M. K.; Berkowski, B.; Skompski, S.; Pickett, J. W.; Young, G. C. (2025). Ancient depths: Unprecedented completeness of mesophotic coral-fish ecosystem from the Devonian of Eastern Gondwana. Gondwana Research, 142: 252–261. ISSN: 1342-937X.

Fossil content

Agnatha GenusSpeciesHorizonCladeImagesTuriniasp. cf. T. australiensisBasden, A. (1999). Emsian (Early Devonian) microvertebrates from the Buchan and Taemas areas of southeastern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 57, 15–21.Uppermost Cavan and basal Majurgong FormationsThelodontiformes,Turiniidae

Chondrichthyes GenusSpeciesHorizonCladeImagesCheiracanthoidesC. comptusGiffin, E. B. (1980). Devonian Vertebrates from Australia. Postilla (Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History), 180 (1–15)Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasClimatiiformes,ClimatiidaeOhiolepisO. sp.Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasElasmobranchii incertae sedis"Skamolepis"S. fragilisReceptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasChondrichthyes incertae sedisTaemasacanthusT. cooradigbeensisLindley, I. D. (2001). Lower Devonian ischnacanthid fish (Gnathostomata: Acanthodii) from the Taemas Limestone, Lake Burrinjuck, New South Wales. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 25(3), 269–291.Currajong Limestone Mbr, TaemasIschnacanthiformes,IschnacanthidaeT. erroliLong, J. A. (1986). New ischnacanthid acanthodians from the Early Devonian of Australia, with comments on acanthodian interrelationships. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 87(4), 321–339.Voichyshyn, V.; Szaniawski, H. (2012). Acanthodian jaw bones from Lower Devonian marine deposits of Podolia, Ukraine. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 57(4), 879–896.Cavan & S. yassensis Mbr, TaemasT. narrengullenensisCurrajong & Bloomfield Limestone Mbrs, TaemasT. porcaCavanTaemasacanthus cf. erroliCurrajong Limestone Mbr, Taemas

Placodermi GenusSpeciesHorizonCladeImagesArenipiscisA. westolliYoung, G. C. (1981). New Early Devonian brachythoracids (placoderm fishes) from the Taemas - Wee Jasper region of New South Wales. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 5(4): 245–271. ISSN: 0311-5518.Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeBimbiangaB. burrinjuckensisYoung, G. C. (2005). Early Devonian arthrodire remains (Placodermi, ?Holonematidae) from the Burrinjuck area, New South Wales, Australia. Geodiversitas 27 (2) : 201-219.Cavan & S. yassensis Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira,Holonematidae?BrindabellaspisB. stensioiYoung, G. C. (1980). A new Early Devonian placoderm from New South Wales, Australia, with a discussion of placoderm phylogeny. Palaeontographica. 167. 10–76.King, B., Young, G. & Long, J. (2018). New information on Brindabellaspis stensioi Young, 1980, highlights morphological disparity in Early Devonian placoderms. Royal Society Open Science. 5. 180094.Bloomfield–Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasBrindabellaspidaBrindabellaspidaeBuchanosteus B. confertituberculatusWhite, E. I. (1952). Australian arthrodires. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology, 1, 249–304.Young, G. C. (1979). New information on the structure and relationships of Buchanosteus (Placodermi: Euarthrodira) from the Early Devonian of New South Wales. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 66(4): 309–352.Long, J. & Mark-Kurik, E. & Young, G. C. (2014). Taxonomic revision of buchanosteoid placoderms (Arthrodira) from the Early Devonian of south-eastern Australia and Arctic Russia. Australian Journal of Zoology, 62. 26–43.White, E. I. (1978). The larger arthrodiran fishes from the area of the Burrinjuck Dam, N.S.W. The Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 34, 149–262.S. yassensis & Receptaculites Limestone Mbrs, TaemasArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeBurrinjucosteusB. asymmetricusS. yassensis to Warroo Limestone Mbrs, TaemasArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeCathlesichthysC. weejasperensisYoung, G. C. (2004). Large brachythoracid arthrodires (placoderm fishes) from the Early Devonian of Wee Jasper, New South Wales, Australia, with a discussion of basal brachythoracid characters. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24. 1–17.Upper Bloomfield/Lower Receptaculites Limestone Mbrs, TaemasArthrodira,HomostiidaeCavanosteusC. australisYoung, G. C. (2004). A homostiid arthrodire (placoderm fish) from the Early Devonian of the Burrinjuck area, New South Wales. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 28(1), 129–146.Probably Cavan; S. yassensis Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira,HomostiidaeDhanguuraD. johnstoniLower part of Unit 6, matching up with Crinoidal Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira (Brachythoraciincertae sedis)ElvaspisYoung, G. C. (2009). New arthrodires (Family Williamsaspididae) from Wee Jasper, New South Wales (Early Devonian), with comments on placoderm morphology and palaeoecology. Acta Zoologica. 90. 69 - 82.E. tuberculataBloomfield–Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira,WilliamsaspididaeE. whiteiErrolosteusE. goodradigbeensisReceptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeGoodradigbeeonG. australianumCavan; S. yassensis Limestone Mbr, TaemasArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeLunaspisL. sp.Young, G. C. (1985). Further petalichthyid remains (placoderm fishes, Early Devonian) from the Taemas–Wee Jasper region, New South Wales. BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics 9(2): 121–131.Uncertain, not stated in Young 1985Petalichthyida,MacropetalichthyidaeMurrindalaspisM. wallaceiNear Taemas Bridge (unknown unit)Acanthothoraci,WeejasperaspididaeNotopetalichthysN. hillsiWoodward, A.S. (1941). The head shield of a new macropetalichthyid fish (Notopetalichthys hillsi, gen. et sp. nov.) from the Middle Devonian of Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 11, 8(44): 91–96.Young, G. C. (1978). A new Early Devonian petalichthyid fish from the Taemas/Wee Jasper region of New South Wales. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 2. 103–116.Likely Cavan, as the remains were described from CoodravalePetalichthyida,MacropetalichthyidaeOhioaspisO. tumulosaReceptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasIncertae sedis(Rhenanida?)ParabuchanosteusP. murrumbidgeensisWhite, E. I., Toombs, H. A (1972). THE BUCHANOSTEID ARTHRODIRES OF AUSTRALIA. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology, 22. BM(NH): 379–419.S. yassensis, Bloomfield to possibly Crinoidal or Warroo Limestone Mbrs, Taemas. Possibly also Cavan.Arthrodira,BuchanosteidaeRichardosteusR. barwickorumLong, J. & Mark-Kurik, E. & Young, G. C. (2014). Taxonomic revision of buchanosteoid placoderms (Arthrodira) from the Early Devonian of south-eastern Australia and Arctic Russia. Australian Journal of Zoology, 62. 26–43.Uncertain, not stated in description paperArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeShearsbyaspis S. oepikiS. yassensis Limestone Mbr, TaemasPetalichthyida(incertae sedis)TaemasosteusT. novaustrocambricusS. yassensis Limestone Mbr and above, Taemas, and CavanArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeToombsosteusT. denisoniUncertain; stated to be on the shore at south-east end of Goodradigbee Lake, east of the track from Barber’s and Wee Jasper endsArthrodira,BuchanosteidaeWeejasperaspisW. gaviniReceptaculites, Receptaculites-Bloomfield boundary, and possibly Crinoidal Limestone Mbrs, TaemasAcanthothoraci,WeejasperaspididaeWilliamsaspisW. bedfordiUncertain; Goodradigbee RiverArthrodira,WilliamsaspididaeWijdeaspisW. warrooensisMiddle of Crinoidal Limestone Mbr, Taemas, and either uppermost Crinoidal Limestone Mbr, Taemas, or overlying tuffs and shalesPetalichthyidaincertae sedis

Sarcopterygii GenusSpeciesHorizonCladeImagesCathlorhynchusC. trismodipterusCampbell, K. S. W., Barwick, R. E., & Senden, T. J. (2009). Evolution of dipnoans (lungfish) in the Early Devonian of southeastern Australia. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 33(1), 59–78.Currajong Limestone Mbr, TaemasDipnoi,DipnorhynchidaeDipnorhynchusD. cathlesaeCampbell, K. S. W., & Barwick, R. E. (1999). A new species of the Devonian lungfish Dipnorhynchus from Wee Jasper, New South Wales. Records of the Australian Museum, 51(2), 123–140.Lowermost part of the upper part of the Taemas Limestone. This section has common marine macrofossils, and abundant tabulate & rugose corals (level uncertain)Dipnoi,DipnorhynchidaeD. kurikaeCampbell, K. S. W., & Barwick, R. E. (2000). The braincase, mandible and dental structures of the Early Devonian lungfish Dipnorhynchus kurikae from Wee Jasper, New South Wales. Records of the Australian Museum 52(1), 103–128.Currajong to Receptaculites Limestone Mbrs, TaemasD. sussmilchiEtheridge, R. (1906). The cranial buckler of a Dipnoan fish, probably Ganorhynchus, from the Devonian Beds of the Murrumbidgee River, New South Wales. Records of the Australian Museum 6(3), 129–132.Clement, A., Challands, T., Long, J. & Ahlberg, P. (2016). The cranial endocast of Dipnorhynchus sussmilchi (Sarcopterygii: Dipnoi) and the interrelationships of stem-group lungfishes. PeerJ. 4. 1-19.S. yassensis Mbr, Taemas.OnychodusO. yassensisBloomfield Limestone Mbr, TaemasOnychodontiformes,OnychodontidaeO. sp.Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasSpeonesydrionS. ianiCampbell, K. S. W., & Barwick, R. E. (1983). Early evolution of dipnoan dentitions and a new genus Speonesydrion. Memoir of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 1, 17–49.Campbell, K. S. W., & Barwick, R. E. (2007). The structure and stratigraphy of Speonesydrion from New South Wales, Australia, and the dentition of primitive dipnoans. Paläontol Z 81, 146–159.Bloomfield–Receptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasDipnoi,Dipnorhynchidae

Trilobita GenusSpeciesHorizonCladeImagesApocalymeneA. quadrilobataChatterton, B. D. E. Johnson, B. D. Campbell, K. S. W. (1979). Silicified Lower Devonian trilobites from New South Wales. Palaeontology, 22(4), 799–837Chatterton, B. D. E. (1971). Taxonomy and ontogeny of Siluro-Devonian trilobites from near Yass, New South Wales.Palaeontographica Abteilung, A 137 (1–3): 1–108.S. yassensis Limestone Mbr, TaemasPhacopida,CalymenidaeOtarionO. dabrowniReceptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasProetida, AulacopleuridaePhacops P. spedeniReceptaculites Limestone Mbr, TaemasPhacopida,Phacopidae

Incertae sedis