Lecture 17- Marsupials: Possums Flashcards
What is the taxonomy of possums and gliders?
class: Mammalia subclass: Theria order: Diprodontia suborder: Phalangeriformes
What animals are in the order diprodontia wit possums?
kangaroos, wombats and macropods (based on dentition and syndactyly)
How is grooming important in possums?
-otherwise get cold if they do not groom!
Is there lot of diversity in the suborder phalangeriformes?
-yes -4 superfamilies -Petauroidea (remember)
How many species of phalangeriformes are there?
-approx 27 in Australia -33 in mainland PNG and Melanesia (4 shared with Australia)
What morphological diversity do phalangeriformes display?
-5g-4.5kg range in size -gliders have flaps that allow them to glide -different ears etc.
What is the range of habitats of phalangeriformes?
-occur throughout Australia, tropical, temperate, alpine and semi-arid zones -not in extremely arid areas -must have vegetation
How do the diets of phalangeriformes vary?
-some highly specialised, some generalists -vary across species and include: nectar, pollen, sap, fruit, seeds, leaves, insects, fungi, flowers, lichen, bird eggs, small invertebrates
What is the distribution of the common brushtail possum?
-widespread across huge range of environments -not in central Australia probably -do well in suburbs, in forests much lower density
What is the distribution of the mountain pygmy possum?
-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
What species are in the superfamily Petauroidea?
-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)
What are the distribution and habitat requirements for common striped possum?
-broad distribution AUstralia and PNG (mostly the north of Queensland and PNG) -closed forests (rainforests) -it is an australasian species
What is true of mammals with increasing body weight?
-increase area required -IMPORTANT -larger animals have larger home ranges
Do herbivores or insectivores need larger area?
-insectivores
What are the unusual characteristics of striped possums? (3)
- 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
In what forests do striped possums live?
-closed forest (+ open forest associated with closed forest)
What is the diet of striped possums?
-insectivorous -get some grubs from wood= have to get them from the trees= the usage of the finger and long tongue etc.
What are the area range required for striped possum?
-males= 150ha+ - females approx. 40ha -more solitary than the other petaurids -much larger home ranges than other petaurids
How many species are there of brushtail possums?
-3 species (but 2 may not be separated actually) -1 genus -family phalengeridae
What are the 4 types of mating systems?
- Polygyny 2. Polyandry 3. Promiscuity 4. Monogamy -common patterns in mammals and birds
What is polygyny?
prolonged association and exclusive mating, 1 male and 2 or more females
What is polyandry?
prolonged association and exclusive mating, 1 female and 2 or more males
What is promiscuity?
no prolonged association, multiple mating by at least one sex
What is monogamy?
prolonged association and exclusive mating of 1 male and 1 females (pairing)
How do resources influence mating systems and home ranges?
- it is driven by resources
- if abundant resources= then male can easily cover home ranges of more females but if limited= then 1:1
What are the characteristics of Bobucks (Mt. Brushtail possums)?
-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
How were pairs of Bobucks observed to behave?
-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%
What are the characteristics of the forest population of the Bobucks?
-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
What are the characteristics of the roadside population of the Bobucks?
-polygynous
How come the roadside and forest Bobuck populations differ in social structure?
-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
