Lecture 13-Mammals I

Question 1

What are the defining characteristics of mammals?

Answer 1

• hair (some don’t)
• “warm blooded” (endothermic)
• distinct jaw structure (unique to mammals, useful for identifying fossils)
• feed young on milk (unique to mammals)

Question 2

What are the two subclasses of mammals we’re talking about?

Answer 2

• Prototheria

- Theria

Question 3

What is the order in the subclass Prototheria?

Answer 3

Monotremata

• only 2 species
• only in Australasia

Question 4

What are the two families of Monotremata?

Answer 4

1. Ornithorhynchidae (platypus)

2. Tachyglossidae (echidna)

Question 5

How long have the Monotremata been around?

Answer 5

130 million yrs

Question 6

What are the two infraclasses of the subclass Theria?

Answer 6

1. Marsupialia

2. Eutheria

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the Theria infraclass Marsupialia?

Answer 7

• females carry their young in pouches

- In Australia: 4 orders, 17 families, approx. 156 known species

Question 8

How old is the oldest known marsupial?

Answer 8

• 120 MY
• from N. America and China
• in Australia= 60 MYA

Question 9

What are the four orders of Marsupialia?

Answer 9

1. Paramelina (bandicoots, bilbies)
2. Dasyuromorphia (Tas tiger, Tiger quoll,numbat)
3. Diprotodontia(wombats, kangaroos, koalas)
4. Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)

Question 10

What are the characteristics of the Marsupialia order Paramelina?

Answer 10

2 families

1. Paramelidae (bandicoots)
2. Thylacomyidae (bilbies)
   - 11 species, small animals, 0.5 -3kg , dwell on the ground= this is why many of them are endangered

Question 11

What are the characteristics of the Marsupialia order Dasyuromorphia?

Answer 11

• 3 families, 56 species
  1. Dasyuridae (dasyurids)
  2. Thylacinidae (Tas Tiger)
  3. Myrmecobiidae (numbat)

Question 12

What are the characteristics of the Marsupialia order Notoryctemorphia?

Answer 12

• marsupial moles, 2 species
• covergent with european moles in body form
• impossible to catch and have in captivity
• golden fur
• very little known
• more widespread than thought

Question 13

What are the three suborders of the Marsupialia order Diprotodontia?

Answer 13

1. Vombatiformes (wombats and koalas)
2. Phalangeriformes(possums)26sp
3. Macropodiformes (kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos)-56sp

Question 14

What are the five orders of the (subclass) Therian infraclass Eutheria?

Answer 14

1. Chiroptera (fruit bats, microbats)-64sp
2. Rodentia (rats and mice)-64sp
3. Carnivora(dingo, eared seals, earless seals)
4. Cetacea (whales and dolphins)
5. Sirenia (dugongs)

Question 15

How long has the Dingo been in Australia for?

Answer 15

3500-4000yrs (long association with aboriginal people)

Question 16

What is the comparison of the three subclasses of mammals in Australia?

Answer 16

1. Eutherians: 196 species (approx. 55%)
2. Marsupials: 156 species (approx. 44%)
3. Monotremes: 2 species (approx. 1%)

-Eutherian are dominant!, but marsupials are more radiated than anywhere else

Question 17

How many native mammals species are there in Australia?

Answer 17

354 approx.

Question 18

What two groups are Gondwanan?

Answer 18

1. Monotremes

2. Marsupials

Question 19

How does Australia compare in diversity to other continents?

Answer 19

• dominates diversity of Marsupials (they are also in S. America but only 2 families and 2 species overall)
• more limited in Eutheria