Metatherian Orders and Families Flashcards
Dasyuromorphia
Small carnivores (e.g. Tas devil, tiger, numbat)
Notoryctemorphia
Marsupial moles
Peramelemorphia
Bandicoots and bilbies
Diprotodontia
Most diverse order, contains 11 families
Didelphimorphia
Opossums
Paucituberculata
Shrew-possums of Andes mountains
Microbiotheria
Hibernating relict Australidelphian of Andes mountains (Dromiciops gliroides)
Dasyuridae
Small carnivores, including the Tasmanian devil; Order Dasyuromorphia
Myrmecobiidae
Numbat; Order Dasyurimorphia
Thylacinidae
Tasmanian wolf/tiger; Dasyuromorphia
Pelemelidae
Bandicoots; Peramelemorphia
Thylacomyidae
Bilbies; Pelamelemorphia
Chaeropodidae
Pig-footed bandicoot; extinct Peramelemorphia
Vombatidae
Wombats; Diprotodontia
Phascolarctidae
Koalas; Diprotodontia
Burramyidae
Pygmy possums; Diprotodontia
Phalangeridae
Possums, cuscuses; Diprotodontia
Tarsipedidae
Small, nectar-eating with prehensile tail (Tarsipes rostratus); Diprotodontia
Acrobatidae
Feathertail possum and feathertail glider; Diprotodontia
Pseudo heir idea
Ringtail possum and greater glider, largely herbivorous with caecum involved in microbial fermentation; Diprotodontia
Petauridae
Trioks, Leadbeater’s possum, lesser gliders (including sugar glider); Diprotodontia
Hypsiprymnodontidae
Musky rat-kangaroo (1 species); Diprotodontia
Potoroidae
Small rat-like forms with semi-prehensile tails; Diprotodontia
Macropodidae
Kangaroos, largest extant marsupial, adapted for herbivorous grazing/browsing lifestyle; Diprotodontia
