BIOL 4141 Chapter : Metatheria2 Mammology 2014
Document Summary
Relict of an australian or antarctic radiation (australidelphia) Cloaca opens on ventral side of tail. Stores fat in tail and may undergo hibernation. 20 genera and 67 species of small generalist carnivores. Small incisors and large canines. Hallux (if present) is clawless and usually vesfgial, but somefmes absent. Marsupium oxen absent or insubstanfal. Order notoryctemorphia: family notoryctidae, 2 species of marsupial moles , fossorial adaptations. Order peramelemorphia: family thylacomyidae (bilbies 2 species, family chaeropodidae (pig-footed bandicoot extinct) Order peramelemorphia: hindfeet modified for cursorial locomotion. Family phascolarctidae: single species koala (phascolarctos cinereus, specialized arboreal herbivore, 8 12 kilograms, fairly sedentary, microbial fermentation in caecum, single young dependent on mother for 1 year. Family burramyidae: pygmy possums, 2 genera and 5 species, small, delicately built (6 40 grams, mountain pygmy possum capable of hibernation. 27 species of possums and cuscuses. Medium sized (1 6 kg) omnivores.
