Lecture 17- Marsupials: Possums

Question 1

What is the taxonomy of possums and gliders?

Answer 1

class: Mammalia subclass: Theria order: Diprodontia suborder: Phalangeriformes

Question 2

What animals are in the order diprodontia wit possums?

Answer 2

kangaroos, wombats and macropods (based on dentition and syndactyly)

Question 3

How is grooming important in possums?

Answer 3

-otherwise get cold if they do not groom!

Question 4

Is there lot of diversity in the suborder phalangeriformes?

Answer 4

-yes -4 superfamilies -Petauroidea (remember)

Question 5

How many species of phalangeriformes are there?

Answer 5

-approx 27 in Australia -33 in mainland PNG and Melanesia (4 shared with Australia)

Question 6

What morphological diversity do phalangeriformes display?

Answer 6

-5g-4.5kg range in size -gliders have flaps that allow them to glide -different ears etc.

Question 7

What is the range of habitats of phalangeriformes?

Answer 7

-occur throughout Australia, tropical, temperate, alpine and semi-arid zones -not in extremely arid areas -must have vegetation

Question 8

How do the diets of phalangeriformes vary?

Answer 8

-some highly specialised, some generalists -vary across species and include: nectar, pollen, sap, fruit, seeds, leaves, insects, fungi, flowers, lichen, bird eggs, small invertebrates

Question 9

What is the distribution of the common brushtail possum?

Answer 9

-widespread across huge range of environments -not in central Australia probably -do well in suburbs, in forests much lower density

Question 10

What is the distribution of the mountain pygmy possum?

Answer 10

-highly specialised alpine species (VIC+NSW) -rare animal, thought it was extinct but not (1960s) -development of ski runs and global climate change= big danger

Question 11

What species are in the superfamily Petauroidea?

Answer 11

-3 genuses 1.Petaurus 4 species(gliders), very social, feed on nectar and insects 2.Gymnobelidus 1sp (no gliding, jumping instead) Leadbeater’s possum 3.Dactylopsila= striped possums (also no gliding, jumping instead)

Question 12

What are the distribution and habitat requirements for common striped possum?

Answer 12

-broad distribution AUstralia and PNG (mostly the north of Queensland and PNG) -closed forests (rainforests) -it is an australasian species

Question 13

What is true of mammals with increasing body weight?

Answer 13

-increase area required -IMPORTANT -larger animals have larger home ranges

Question 14

Do herbivores or insectivores need larger area?

Answer 14

-insectivores

Question 15

What are the unusual characteristics of striped possums? (3)

Answer 15

1. Klinorhynchy (rounded cranium)-withstand higher pressure on the skull 2. Large procumbent lower incisors (move independently of each other) 3. Tongue and 4th finger elongated

Question 16

In what forests do striped possums live?

Answer 16

-closed forest (+ open forest associated with closed forest)

Question 17

What is the diet of striped possums?

Answer 17

-insectivorous -get some grubs from wood= have to get them from the trees= the usage of the finger and long tongue etc.

Question 18

What are the area range required for striped possum?

Answer 18

-males= 150ha+ - females approx. 40ha -more solitary than the other petaurids -much larger home ranges than other petaurids

Question 19

How many species are there of brushtail possums?

Answer 19

-3 species (but 2 may not be separated actually) -1 genus -family phalengeridae

Question 20

What are the 4 types of mating systems?

Answer 20

1. Polygyny 2. Polyandry 3. Promiscuity 4. Monogamy -common patterns in mammals and birds

Question 21

What is polygyny?

Answer 21

prolonged association and exclusive mating, 1 male and 2 or more females

Question 22

What is polyandry?

Answer 22

prolonged association and exclusive mating, 1 female and 2 or more males

Question 23

What is promiscuity?

Answer 23

no prolonged association, multiple mating by at least one sex

Question 24

What is monogamy?

Answer 24

prolonged association and exclusive mating of 1 male and 1 females (pairing)

Question 25

How do resources influence mating systems and home ranges?

Answer 25

• it is driven by resources
• if abundant resources= then male can easily cover home ranges of more females but if limited= then 1:1

Question 26

What are the characteristics of Bobucks (Mt. Brushtail possums)?

Answer 26

-live in tall wet forest -adults 2.5-4kg (VIC largest possum) -diet: silver wattle, fungi -rest in tree hollows -one young per year ( common brushtail have 2) -sedentary -need big trees= big hollows -so must be old trees in the forest -babies stay with parents fro up to 18 months -males are the dispersing sex -the females often larger than males

Question 27

How were pairs of Bobucks observed to behave?

Answer 27

-pairing, strongly associated with each other -den trees= sometimes together sometimes on another -the baby is wither with male or female= both parents take care of the baby -males disperse, females stay so all in one place are related, the males are genetically distinct -each pair has exclusive use of suite of den trees -pair members=share dens 70% of the time -big overlap between pair members 78%

Question 28

What are the characteristics of the forest population of the Bobucks?

Answer 28

-socially monogamous -exclusive use of den trees by the pair -den sharing (among the pair) -high degree of home range overlap -close proximity of pair members while active -females pair at about 2-5 years -pair bonds ended only after death of one pair member

Question 29

What are the characteristics of the roadside population of the Bobucks?

Answer 29

-polygynous

Question 30

How come the roadside and forest Bobuck populations differ in social structure?

Answer 30

-more hollowbearing trees and more silver wattle in the roadside habitat so the females have smaller home ranges and the males can cover more and protect the range -the resources influence female range, that influences male behaviour and that impacts social system