Silvabestius

Silvabestius is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupial which inhabited Australia during the Late Oligocene. Its fossils have been found from various sites at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area (north-western Queensland). Two species are currently known, S. johnnilandi and S. michaelbirti. A pair of well preserved Silvabestius skulls were found close together, believed to be from a mother and cub.

==Discovery and naming== thumb|left|Silvabestius is known from several sites at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. The fossils of Silvabestius were discovered in various locations across the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, in the Boodjamulla National Park of north-western Queensland. The fossils were described in 1997 by Karen H. Black and Michael Archer as a distinct genus of zygomaturine diprotodontid. The type species is S. johnnilandi, described on the basis of a skull and lower jaw bone of a juvenile individual (QM F30504) as well as a complete adult skull (QM F30505) from the Late Oligocene VIP Site. Both specimens were found in close proximity to one another and are thought to represent a mother and cub. The second species, S. michaelbirti, was named in the same publication based on a relatively complete skull from the similarly aged Hiatus Site.