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Palaeo Down Under3 (PDU3), the now quadrennial conference of the Australasian Palaeontologists(AAP) association, was held in Perth, Western Australia, from the 10th–14th of July 2023. PDU3 showcased innovative research, outreach and education initiatives being conducted across Australasia and beyond by both local and international scientists. A total of 78 talks, 17 posters and 6 plenaries were presented across the five days, and covered a wide range of topics, geological timeframes, and fossil groups. AAP is proud to publish this compilation of PDU3 abstracts to illustrate the current and ongoing strength of Australasian palaeontology.Sarah K. Martin [Sarah.Martin@dmirs.wa.gov.au], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Michael Archer [m.archer@unsw.edu.au], School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Heidi J. Allen [Heidi.allen@dmirs.wa.gov.au], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Daniel D. Badea [badeadaniel.i13@gmail.com], Faculty of Geography and Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Bulevard “Carol I”, Nr.11, 707006, Iași, Romania; Eleanor Beidatsch [ebeidats@myune.edu.au], Palaeoscience Research Centre, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Marissa J. Betts [mbetts7@une.edu.au], Palaeoscience Research Centre/LLUNE, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Maria Blake [maria.blake@monash.edu], School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, 9 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Phillip C. Boan [pboan001@ucr.edu], University of California, Riverside, Geology 1242, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A.; Tory Botha [tory.botha@adelaide.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences Building, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Glenn A. Brock [glenn.brock@mq.edu.au], School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Luke Brosnan [Luke.Brosnan@postgrad.curtin.edu.au], WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, The Institute for Geoscience Research, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Jack Castle-Jones [jack.jones1@students.mq.edu.au], School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Jonathan Cramb [jonathan.cramb@qm.qld.gov.au], Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane BC, Queensland 4101, Australia; Vanesa L. De Pietri [vanesa.depietri@canterbury.ac.nz], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Sherri Donaldson [sherri.donaldson.oz@gmail.com], School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, The King’s Buildings, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, Scotland, U.K.; Elizabeth M. Dowding [dowdingem@gmail.com], Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstraße 28 91054 Erlangen, Germany; Ruairidh Duncan [ruairidh.duncan@monash.edu], Evans EvoMorph Lab, Room 226, 18 Innovation Walk, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Amy L. Elson [amy.elson@curtin.edu.au], WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, The Institute for Geoscience Research, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Roy M. Farman [r.farman@unsw.edu.au], School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Mahala A. Fergusen [mahala.fergusen@adelaide.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, Benham Building, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Alyssa Fjeld [alyssa.fjeld@monash.edu], School of Biological Sciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, and School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; David Flannery [david.flannery@qut.edu.au], School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia; Timothy G. Frauenfelder [timothy.frauenfelder@gmail.com], University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; John D. Gorter [johngorter1@gmail.com], PO Box 711, Claremont, Western Australia 6910, Australia; Michelle Gray [m.gray@research.deakin.edu.au], School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia; Nigel Gray [nlg2225@gmail.com], GPO Box 2902, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia; Peter Haines [peter.haines@dmirs.wa.gov.au], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Lachlan J. Hart [lachlan.hart@australian.museum], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Brooke E. Holland [b.holland@uq.net.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; James D. Holmes [jamesholmes83@gmail.com], Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden; Lars Holmer [lars.holmer@pal.uu.se], Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden; Ashleigh V.S. Hood [ashleigh.hood@unimelb.edu.au], School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Alexey P. Ippolitov [ippolitov.ap@gmail.com], School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka, 21 Kelburn Parade, Wellington 6012, New Zealand; Christine M. Janis [christine_janis@brown.edu], Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, U.K.; Benjamin P. Kear [benjamin.kear@em.uu.se], The Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden; Sophie Kelly [sophie.kelly@pg.canterbury.ac.nz], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Justin L. Kitchener [jkitche3@myune.edu.au], School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; John R. Laurie [john.r.laurie@gmail.com], Geoscience Australia, Symonston, Australian Capital Territory 2601, and School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Lucy G. Leahey [lucyleahey@hotmail.com], The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; John A. Long [john.long@flinders.edu.au], College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, PO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Daniel Mantle [dan.mantle@mgpalaeo.com.au], MGPalaeo, Unit 1, 5 Arvida Street, Malaga, Western Australia 6090, Australia; David McB. Martin [david.martin@dmirs.wa.gov.au], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Chris Mays [cmays@ucc.ie], School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland; Matthew R. McCurry [matthew.mccurry@austmus.gov.au], Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Peter McGoldrick [p.mcgoldrick@utas.edu.au], CODES, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 66, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Corinne L. Mensforth [mens0009@flinders.edu.au], Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Rhys D. Meyerkort [meyerkortr@gmail.com], University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Christina Nielsen-Smith [c.nielsensmith@uq.net.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Ryan Nel [ryan2nel@gmail.com], Geology Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Jake Newman-Martin [jake.newman-martin@student.curtin.edu.au], Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Yeongju Oh [yjoh@kopri.re.kr], Division of Earth Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, 26 Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, 21990 Incheon, Republic of Korea, and Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea; John R. Paterson [jpater20@une.edu.au], Palaeoscience Research Centre, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Jacob Pears [J.pears@imperial.ac.uk], School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Stephen F. Poropat [steve.poropat@curtin.edu.au], Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, and Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia; Catherine M. Reid [catherine.reid@canterbury.ac.nz], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; R. Pamela Reid [preid@rsmas.miami.edu], Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, U.S.A., and Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL 33158, U.S.A.; Stephanie A. Richter Stretton [srichte2@myune.edu.au], Palaeoscience Research Centre, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Ben Robertson [ben.t.robertson@adelaide.edu.au], School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Mawson Building Room 107, University of Adelaide, North Terrace Campus, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Helen E. Ryan [helen.ryan@museum.wa.gov.au], Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia; Steven W. Salisbury [s.salisbury@uq.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Donna Satterthwait [Donna.Satterthwait@utas.edu.au], CODES, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 66, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Natalie I. Schroeder [Natalie.Schroeder@ga.gov.au], Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia; Yogmaya Shukla [yogmayashukla@bsip.res.in; yogmayashukla@gmail.com], Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow-226007, India; Miriam Slodownik [miriam.slodownik@adelaide.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, South Australia 5005, Australia; Patrick M. Smith [Patrick.Smith@austmus.gov.au], Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia, and Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Nile P. Stephenson [nps36@cam.ac.uk], Department of Zoology, Downing Pl, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K.; Rachel L. Surprenant [rsurp001@ucr.edu], University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A.; Kailah M. Thorn [Kailah.thorn@museum.wa.gov.au], Department of Terrestrial Vertebrates, Western Australia Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6101, Australia; Kenny J. Travouillon [kenny.travouillon@museum.wa.gov.au], Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6101, Australia; Kate M. Trinajstic [K.Trinajstic@curtin.edu.au], School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Madison Tripp [madison.tripp@postgrad.curtin.edu.au], Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Vikram Vakil [vikram.vakil@uqconnect.edu.au], School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Elizabeth A. Weldon [l.weldon@deakin.edu.au], School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia; Joshua White [Joshua.white@anu.edu.au], Research School of Physics, Department of Materials Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, and Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Robbert J. Willink [robblink@ozemail.com.au], 11 Coral Sea Court, Sunshine Beach, Queensland 4567, Australia; Gemma L. Wise [g.wise@uq.net.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Christina R. Woltz [cwoltz@stanford.edu], Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305-2115, U.S.A; George Young [george.young@pg.canterbury.ac.nz], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; Zhiliang Zhang[zhiliang.zhang@nigpas.ac.cn], Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, People’s Republic of China; Yong Yi Zhen [yong-yi.zhen@regional.nsw.gov.au], Geological Survey of New South Wales, 947–953 Londonderry Road, Londonderry, New South Wales 2753, Australia; Tim Ziegler [tziegler@museum.vic.gov.au], Museums Victoria Research Institute, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.

AbstractFossil Bothriembryonspecimens were recovered from the northwestern edges of the Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia, ∼300 km inland from the current southern coastline. This locality is significant because extant species of Bothriembryonfrom the Nullarbor are confined to within 50 km of the coastline. Principle component analysis (PCA) was used to compare the Nullarbor Bothriembryonspecies with a morphologically comparable extant species from the Eucla Basin, Bothriembryon barretti, and geographically closest fossil species: Bothriembryon kremnobatesand Bothriembryon praecursor. Results showed strong support for a new fossil species herein described as Bothriembryon pilkiensissp. nov. Specimens were found as internal moulds within pisolitic calcrete overlying the early Miocene Colville Sandstone. The chronology of the pisolitic calcrete is poorly studied; here we discuss the results of palynological and U–Th disequilibrium investigations which attempted to constrain the time of deposition and fossilization, with palynology results suggesting the late Pliocene. The type locality of B. praecursor, Kangaroo Well, Northern Territory, was also re-evaluated in age to the early Miocene, using biocorrelation of two balbarid species to taxa found within Riversleigh World Heritage Area assemblages. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E33B1587-1023-419D-AFE8-11FD8C443A27Helen E. Ryan [helen.ryan@museum.wa.gov.au], Collection and Research Centre, WA Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA, 6106; Kenny J. Travouillon [Kenny.travouillon@museum.wa.gov.au], Collection and Research Centre, WA Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA, 6106; Lynne A. Milne [L.Milne@curtin.edu.au], School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102; Sarah K. Martin [sarah.martin@dmirs.wa.gov.au], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA, 6004; Kailah M. Thorn [Kailah.thorn@museum.wa.gov.au], Collection and Research Centre, WA Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA, 6106; Corey S. Whisson [corey.whisson@museum.wa.gov.au], Collection and Research Centre, WA Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA, 6106.